Get Smart Grammar question

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  • March 22, 2015 at 5:40 am
    Angelina
    Participant

    Thought I should start a new thread so as not to confuse the other discussion on Winston Grammar and the other programs…

    Christie, I am looking at the Get Smart website, but I am swimming a bit with all the details.

    Given that you know the program so well, would you mind just giving us a quick snapshot of Get Smart in terms of items to purchase, best age to begin (generally) and duration (how long you intend to use this with your children)?

    Did you purchase both the softcover instructor manual and the student book – and is that all that’s needed for one year of grammar?   Is this program, like Analytical Grammar, intended to be a “get all your grammar learning done in 1-2 years” type of program?

    Thanks in advance,

    Angie

    March 22, 2015 at 7:19 am
    missceegee
    Participant

    Angie, the website is full of info! I posted a review at my blog – http://www.learningwithcharlotte.blogspot.com

    To answer your specific questions:

    ages – I’d say 11+ would be fine. im using it with 4 kids – 12-14 – right now. I taught all of these kids plus 10 others using Analytical Grammar season 1 and Junior Analytical Grammar last year. EVERY.ONE.OF.THEM greatly prefers Get Smart and so do I. We have regular aha moments. Interestingly, the teaching sentences are often short and simple, but because the understanding is there, it translates to other longer ones. The explanations are exceedingly clear. We went through quickly until we got to new material and now we’ve slowed. We will finish in late April or early May and the kids will know all the grammar there is.

    Duration – like analytical grammar, get smart is a get it done approach.  The main program Get Smart can be done in one school year. Then they offer Stay Smart (which I bought as part of the pkg, but haven’t used yet) to use to keep sharp.

    Needed – the teacher manual and student book (I bought the PDFs and printed for $9-10 each in bw.) The videos are good and worthwhile, especially if you would benefit from the extra help.

    Next year my ds11 will use the program on his own. I’m not planning to teach a class. It will be an independent study for him with the videos.

    Hope that helps,

    Christie

    March 22, 2015 at 2:30 pm
    Angelina
    Participant

    Christie, that does help a great deal, thank you.  I will check your blog, too.  It is amazing to hear that Get Smart is so clear for the students you’re mentioning.  The “ah-ha” moments must be wonderful!

    Next year, where your plan is to have your DS11 using it on his own, is it your thinking that he will use the Teacher Manual and the Student Guide as his key resources, or will you put him on the videos?  Next year, I’ll have DS11 and DS12, so I’m definitely considering your plan (at times they don’t do wonderfully when we do group subjects – so having each DS embark upon Get Smart independently would be ideal…)

    Thanks again!  Angie

    March 22, 2015 at 3:15 pm
    missceegee
    Participant

    I’ll have him use the videos and student book.  I’ll check the work or let him check with the teacher book.

    March 22, 2015 at 7:06 pm
    Angelina
    Participant

    Great to know, thanks again 🙂

    March 22, 2015 at 8:30 pm
    suzukimom
    Participant

    Thanks here too!  I’m hoping to use it next year with Delta.

    March 23, 2015 at 11:46 am
    Misty
    Participant

    Thanks for the information I’ll looking at your information today.  I like the on your own approach also the videos as my children tend to all do well with that.  Thanks

    March 28, 2015 at 1:53 pm
    kellywright006
    Participant

    Yup, bc of Christie’s recommendation we are looking at switching too.!

    Christie, I do have a question for you…….My dd13 has done AG, seasons 1 and 2, so far. How would you recommend switching her? Or is she too far with AG to switch?

    Any suggestions, please? (Don’t know anyone else with experience with it)!

    March 28, 2015 at 2:24 pm
    missceegee
    Participant

    @Kellywright006 – I would not switch your dd13. If she’s done seasons 1 & 2 of AG, she has covered all of grammar. Season 3 of AG is different and more mechanics than anything. I’d have her do season 3 of AG and call it done. You could use Stay Smart or AG HS Review periodically in HS to keep things sharp, but she need not relearn what she knows.

    Christie

    April 13, 2015 at 12:24 pm
    Christy
    Participant

    This looks so good!  I have looked at Christie’s review and also the website and I have a question that I did not see answered.  It says that this curriculum has 37 lessons.  How many days does each lesson take?

    What about the Stay Smart?

    I am trying to see how many days each week you would be doing grammar because I am thinking of combining this with Essentials in Writing program.

    Thanks!

    Christy  🙂

    April 13, 2015 at 1:10 pm
    Christy
    Participant

    Almost forgot, is there a video for every lesson?

     

    Christy

    April 15, 2015 at 11:51 am
    Christy
    Participant

    Anybody?  🙂

    Christy

    April 15, 2015 at 1:20 pm
    missceegee
    Participant

    One lesson per week. There are 5 exercises per week and some weeks have 5 extra practice exercises. Every few lessons there is also a quiz.  You could spend a few minutes daily or a bit longer 3 times per week. No, there is not a video for every lesson, But the explanations are so clear that is not problematic. We’ve not used the videos this year.

    April 15, 2015 at 3:57 pm
    Christy
    Participant

    Thank you!  That was exactly what I was looking for.  🙂

    Blessings,

    Christy

    April 15, 2015 at 9:12 pm
    kellywright006
    Participant

    Just thought of another question…..

    It seems as though this is a one year curriculum? So, is this all we need to cover for grammar, during the child’s education? Or is there something after this that is recommended? Only asking as Analytical Grammar is 3 years…..And trying to get a FULL view of what switching involves. Thanks

     

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