I also use Easy Grammar. I especially like the first book. Eventhough it's not technically CM, the lessons are super short, and a easy intro to basic grammar. This year my older 2 kids are just doing the Daily grams for review and again, very short lessons they can do independently.

We love Easy Grammar. It is not in the CM style but so good. Easy Grammar teaches the student prepositions and prepositional phrases first. When the prepositional phrases are crossed out in a sentence it makes it much easier for a student to pick out the noun, verb, etc. Dd is in 7th grade and we are still working our way slowly through the 5/6 grade book. Hope to finish it this year. Next year we will take a break and use Language Lessons from Queen Homeschool and then in high school us the Easy Grammar High School book plus Daily Grams for review.

We love Easy Grammar. It is not in the CM style but so good. Easy Grammar teaches the student prepositions and prepositional phrases first. When the prepositional phrases are crossed out in a sentence it makes it much easier for a student to pick out the noun, verb, etc. Dd is in 7th grade and we are still working our way slowly through the 5/6 grade book. Hope to finish it this year. Next year we will take a break and use Language Lessons from Queen Homeschool and then in high school us the Easy Grammar High School book plus Daily Grams for review.

We did Serl's PLL a couple years ago and Grammarland last year. We loved both, but dd is iin 5th and ready for more. If you want the royal fireworks, pm me. ;) I'll make you a good deal!

Thanks, Christie, for the thoughts on both programs. Thanks, as well, to others for the additional suggestions. Next year one son will be in 5th grade, and the other will be in 3rd. I was hoping to find a basic grammar program that both could do together. We are currently enjoying Grammar Land as a side study (and plodding through First Language Lessons for the boys' respective grades), and I wondered whether the Royal Fireworks Press might be a better fit than First Language Lessons.

I agree with above. PLL, done mostly orally, starting around age 7/8, then ILL done regularly for 2 years, and then around age 10 or 11, Grammarland with the worksheets, once a week.

Also, my dd, when she was around 7/8, she enjoyed reading the Ruth Heller World of Language Series.

I second Becca's recommendation of Emma Serl's books. We love them in this house!

At what age do you plan to begin teaching grammar? My favorite CM style resources are Emma Serl's Primary Language Lessons and Intermediate Language Lessons. I also try to point out grammar rules during copywork. My children use readers aling with luving books throughout their education. The readers tend to lend themselves to short grammar lessons early on.
Becca<><

Christie here, I actually bought the Michael clay Thompson program you mentioned. It sits on my shelf waiting for a new home. It is narrative in nature and looks quite good. I simply neve used it. I need some things to be a bit more independent and focused, grammar being one of them. Both use alternative analysis techniques to traditional diagramming, but both are effective. The MCT program just wasn't as easy for "me" to implement. I think both can be effective, though.

I see that Winston Grammar was recommended by Christie recently. Any other thoughts on the benefits of this program?

I also had a friend recommend Grammar Island, Grammar Town, and Grammar Voyage by Royal Fireworks Press recently. These seem to be somewhat narrative based. The accompanying writing program (Sentence Island, Paragraph Town, Essay Voyage etc.) is especially this way. Any thoughts on these?

Thanks.