English grammar homeschooling resources?

[merpk]

Hi. Have tried doing this on my own but am ridiculously crappy at it, and I didn't see anything remotely relevant in the resources review forum, so am trying here.

My oldest is in 6th grade, and I'm pretty much looking for stuff for him. Particular workbook recommendations would be great, or even an online location for a reasonably organized lesson plan that he could work with.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks.





(His reading skills and vocabulary are very high, well above his grade level, but actual working knowledge of grammar is just nonexistent. We don't live in an English-speaking country, and I really had the best of intentions to homeschool English properly when we moved here 4 years ago, but you know what they say about the best intentions ...)

[cappuccinosmom]

We haven't really needed worksheet etc.

But one thing my younger kids have enjoyed is me reading "Grammar Land" aloud to them. You can find it in various places online for free. I think through Google books (HERE is one blog that just posted the book)

Your son might find it helpful to read a chapter occasionally. It's a lot more fun than a workbook but it gives very good lessons on the parts of speech, and what they're for, and what the exceptions are.

[mom2ponygirl]

We love Michael Clay Thompson books from www.rfwp.com

[AAK]

Check out the Easy Grammar series. It is a workbook, we spend about 15 min./day on it. My dd doesn't like workbooks, but she has never learned so much about grammar (really learned it--not just for the day) as she has with this. There aren't any bells and whistles--no pretty pictures. But it is clear and it builds on itself. It explains everything very well. Anna is pretty self sufficient with it. I am just there to correct and clarify if needed.

Amy

[merpk]

Originally Posted by AAK

Check out the Easy Grammar series. It is a workbook, we spend about 15 min./day on it. My dd doesn't like workbooks, but she has never learned so much about grammar (really learned it--not just for the day) as she has with this. There aren't any bells and whistles--no pretty pictures. But it is clear and it builds on itself. It explains everything very well. Anna is pretty self sufficient with it. I am just there to correct and clarify if needed.

Amy

It looks good, have been digging around for it. Question: Do you have the teacher's manual, or just the workbook, or both? Is everything in the workbook in the teacher's manual (meaning, if I buy the teacher's manual, do I have to have the workbook, too)?

[merpk]

Originally Posted by mom2ponygirl

We love Michael Clay Thompson books from www.rfwp.com

Am downloading sample pages now.

Anything you care to elaborate on here? (Meaning, what you love about it in particular? And the kids, what do they have to say? or do they?(

[lach]

I've heard really good things about both the Michael Clay Thomas and the Critical Thinking Company's grammar books.

[merpk]

Bumping.

[AAK]

Originally Posted by merpk

It looks good, have been digging around for it. Question: Do you have the teacher's manual, or just the workbook, or both? Is everything in the workbook in the teacher's manual (meaning, if I buy the teacher's manual, do I have to have the workbook, too)?

I actually just bought the workbook based on a friend of mine's recommendation. So far, I haven't ever needed the teacher's guide. There isn't an answer guide in the student workbook though, but I haven't needed one--even with the stuff that I forgot about. I just read through the lesson and it is enough.

Amy

[zeldamomma]

If you've got broadband, OnlineG3.com offers a grammar class built around Michael Clay Thompson's Grammar Town and Caesar's English I that friends have just loved (we're trying out a different class with them this fall).
http://www.onlineg3.com/mod/resource/view.php?id=162#gt

[mom2ponygirl]

Originally Posted by merpk

Am downloading sample pages now.

Anything you care to elaborate on here? (Meaning, what you love about it in particular? And the kids, what do they have to say? or do they?(

My daughter shares my recommendation. We loved curling up on the couch together to read Grammar Island. :-) We've used the grammar, vocabulary, and poetics books for the first 4 levels. The writing books came out a bit behind where we were at in the program. We've started Academic Writing 1 and it is also good, but sometimes I think perhaps we should go back to Essay Voyage....

Anyway, I loved the way the first 3 levels really seemed to develop a love of classic literature and exploration of language. I'm a math and science girl and never imagined I would willingly discuss word origins and sentence construction and how a certain structure would give a sentence its power or its feeling. My daughter loves to play with language and that is not her area of great strength. (She's a math girl too.)

I like the fact that it isn't scripted with a set schedule. We read and discuss and work as quickly or slowly as we want or need.

[annethcz]

My (currently schooled) 10yo tests far above grade level for language and reading comprehension, but I've noticed that he's lacking when it comes to grammar. I'm leaning towards Intermediate Language Lessons for him this summer.

ETA: you can buy a hard copy, or download/read online on Google Reader.