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Grammar
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I am wondering how to correct my daughter’s writing such as summaries, reports, creative stories etc, when I do not know grammar rules well. I understand the way from scm to learn grammar is through dictation from spelling wisdom but how do I teach or help my daughter with grammar in her writing that does not come from spelling wisdom. I am wondering if I should hire a tutor or send her to a class at public school. She is 8 years old and at I’d estimate at least 6th grade level for reading, writing, and is in Saxon 7/6. So I am thinking she would have to take a class that would be in a different grade than her age. Thanks for any help.
There is a book called Our Mother Tongue that is written to adults or older children who want a course in grammar. You can learn along with her (when she’s ready at age 10 or so) or ahead of her by using OMT or another book. I’ve learned so much grammar since we started homeschooling and they pick it up quicker than I do. You don’t have to correct every issue as it pops up, just focus on correcting one thing at a time. With a younger writer, I’m more concerned that they are getting their ideas down on paper than I am with grammar. There is time later to focus on grammar.
First, at 8 yrs old, she doesn’t need rigid, formal grammar lessons and all the other writing you mentioned and it’s still too early for dictation, generally. Just because her reading level is high doesn’t mean her abstract thinking processes are equally high for a lot of grammar. Being able to orally narrate to you is more important than writing a narration/summary/report. The process within the brain which occurs with oral narrations lay the foundation for organized writing instruction later.
Here’s some good articles by Janice Campbell:
http://everyday-education.com/you-can-teach-your-child-to-write-part-1/
and PT. 2: http://everyday-education.com/you-can-teach-your-child-to-write-part-2/
You can start teaching her the basic parts-of-speech and sentence parts with her copywork. This site has a rhyme to help learn some:
There’s a book series called World of Language by Ruth Heller, which is excellent.
She can learn these things and work on them orally with you and not so much in the written form, yet.
If you want more structure, you can also use Writing Tales Level 1 (something I wish I’d done around 9) or Primary Language Lessons with its TG, but done mostly oral. Some people have created workbks for them, but it’s unnecessary, IMO. A notebook for anything written is sufficient. Simply Grammar around age 10, too; but I found it very challenging to implement, but it is an example of the stringent requirements of orally telling about grammar aloud (it is very good for the brain). CM did use “textbooks”.
Then afterwards, WT 2, Intermediate LL, Growing with Grammar (probably L2), First Language Lessons, Rod and Staff, Analytical Grammar (age 11ish?), Our Mother Tongue (gr. 8+) and there’s a newer one that’s a classical/CM blend, which hopefully others can tell you about. Some of these are strictly grammar, others combine dictation, copywork, and picture and lit into one. So, you’ll to decide how you want to organize this and that determines what you choose. I never liked an “all-in-one”.
Educate yourself in the process, too.
https://www.englishgrammar101.com/
HTH!
I forgot to mention Winston Grammar in my list of grammar choices from 12+. It approaches grammar in a different way that the others and is worth checking out, too, as you find something that works best for your family.
I also agree with the above recommendation to use OMT for yourself, as well.
Are you using the Using Language Well book that is the grammar/English usage companion to Spelling Wisdom?
The Using Language Well series is set up to teach your child grammar in a gentle way. Included in the Using Language Well Teacher’s Book are rubrics for you to use to help evaluate your child’s writing.
Thank you for all the help. I will be looking into these options. I had known about the Useful Language so that is an obvious tool for us as we are already using Spelling Wisdom. Thank you for that tip. Thankful for all the helpful responses!
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