Analytical Grammar

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  • July 5, 2008 at 8:12 pm
    CindyS
    Participant

    Help me figure this out, please. Junior Analytical Grammar covers the first 10 units of Analytical Grammar, just on an easier reading level, correct?

    So, if one does not put a student in JAG in 5th grade, would it make more sense ($$$ & repetition sense) to wait until 7th grade and skip the junior and go right into three years of AG? Why would I want to do both the junior and the ‘senior’? Is the reading level such that a 6th grader could not do AG?

    I am always wary of ‘junior’ programs because I have seen so many times that an older version does well on the market and so the publisher puts out a ‘junior’ so that they benefit from that market as well. Boy, I sound really codgety, don’t I??!!

    Blessings,

    Cindy

    July 6, 2008 at 1:55 am
    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    Yes, you can definitely do just the AG without the Junior. That’s what I did with my first two. I think the Junior was published in response to moms who were not comfortable with the idea of waiting until 7th grade, or thereabouts, to do a formal grammar study.

    July 7, 2008 at 1:58 pm
    CindyS
    Participant

    Sonya,

    So, would you recommend waiting? Did you ever use JAG? If so, would you do it again?

    Thanks,

    Cindy

    July 7, 2008 at 7:53 pm
    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    Yes, I used JAG with daughter #3 because she was eager to learn more since she heard Daughters # 1 and 2 talking about the AG concepts with me but she was in 5th grade.

    I did only AG with the older two because that’s all that was available at the time. And I discovered it when they were in 8th and 10th grades, respectively, so we just dove right in (or would that be “dived”?).

    Once JAG came out, I thought it would make a nice little introduction to AG, using the same terminology and approach, and adhering to the same philosophy of concise lessons in a short period of time. It’s not that AG’s reading level is difficult; it’s just that it seems like the child can complete it quicker and easier if she’s older and ready for it. I wanted grammar to be as easy as possible. 🙂

    Would I use JAG again? Yes, if I wanted a quick introduction and planned on using AG later. Do I think it needs to be used in every case? Nope.

    I wish you lived close to me, Cindy, so I could just show you my copies of both. It’s so much easier when you can look through the whole thing, isn’t it?

    July 7, 2008 at 9:40 pm
    CindyS
    Participant

    Thanks, Sonya. I think I’m going to wait until 7th grade. He’s not exactly jumping up and down eagerly anticipating grammar instruction at this point, and we can work on other things. You have been helpful as always!

    August 4, 2009 at 8:40 pm
    cswartze
    Member

    For those of you using analytical grammar,

    Is this truly easy enough for a mom that is not strong in grammar to learn and present to her children?

    How much time is necessary for a mom to teach the Jr as well as the analytical grammar?

    Thanks for your time!

    Cristy

     

    August 5, 2009 at 6:34 pm
    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    That’s a tough question for me to answer, Cristy. I think it’s very user friendly and easily understood, but then I’m pretty strong in grammar. The explanations are written directly to the student, if that information helps any. Have you looked at the sample unit pages on their Web site? (The link is down on the page, close to the first chart.) Those pages would give you a good feel for how concepts are explained.

    As far as time goes, we probably spent about 30 minutes on the first day of a unit to go over the notes and to do the first exercise together. On subsequent days the children did the follow-up exercises on their own, including correcting them, so those days required very little time from mom.

    August 6, 2009 at 1:16 am
    Daniellemomof4
    Member

    Hi Cristy,

    I don’t know if this helps answer your question, but I thought I would tell you what I know.  I have not used AG yet, but just bought it from our local homeschool convention.  The writer’s daughter was there and gave an hour class to learn how AG works. I do not like grammar and am not good at it at all and she explained it so well that I was actually diagramming sentences on my own by the end of the class.  I thought that was very impressive!  I am actually excited to use it with my 7th grader this year.  

    Blessings, Danielle

    August 6, 2009 at 2:00 am
    cswartze
    Member

    Thanks so much for your responses Sonya & Danielle. They did help. Honestly, I am excited about giving this curriculum a try. The videos seemed to give me the impression that grammar doesn’t have to be so difficult. We’ve used so many different big name grammar programs for me to find not only was it so over my sons head, but mine as well. I would sit with him and watch the videos and be completely overwhelme…while for days trying to figure it all out. The author’s of analytical grammar say that this is going to prepare our kids for college. With you experience using it would you tend to agree?

    What will you ladies be using or have used for your childrens writing program? One of my kids (11th grade) has language processing issues so writing can be overwhelming. Any suggestions?

    Thanks again.

    Love in Jesus,

    Cristy

     

     

     

     

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