Good day.
I am in a dilemma about teaching grammar; diagramming in particular.
I can teach grammar in the elementary years. My son is now 13 and I am starting to get concerned. He writes really well (when I can get him to put his pen to paper) and understands the grammar and mechanics that I have taught him. We have used a combination of “gentle methods”: PLL, ILL, Weavers Wisdom Words and sometimes just my own LA using CM methods.
I live in South Africa, and I was not taught much grammar at all in high school. We certainly never did diagramming. I have taught myself more about grammar by homeschooling 🙂
We have tried a few more grammar intensive curriculum, and I cannot help my children when we get to the diagramming part. (CLP was SO difficult, LLATL jumped around too much) Of course, I can figure out simple diagramming, but I honestly do not understand how my children will ever need diagramming. I have read previous topics, and and that understand that some people love diagramming. But it is so hard to teach something I have never been taught, from basics up.
I bought the R&S English handbook to assist me in teaching, but I can only understand the first basic bit of diagramming. Then the lines go all over the place and make no sense! The rest of the book is helpful.
I have always wanted my children to have the tools they will need for future life, and so I am a bit afraid they will be missing something if I don’t teach diagramming. My common sense tells me we don’t use it here in SA, but …… ?
Any thoughts please?
Thanks,
Lindy