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I hate "Grammar"…
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Ok I have said it. I hate grammar. I don’t like it, I don’t always understand it and that makes it very hard to correct and judge.
I have used Language Lessons for the past few years with my kids. So I will start with that questions.
Has anyone “just” used LL (by Queens) for grammar for all there school years through high school? My kids liked it, was easy to understand and they did well.
This year we switched my now 7th grader in order to do a bit more of a structured, more focused learning to Our Mothers Tongue. I like the layout, the examples etc. But again I don’t do grammar so I can’t always be sure. I have had some awesome help and suggestions from a very wonderful women ;o) you know who you are. I thought we were back on track before Xmas/newYears. So I thought we’d just hit a few example questions and review. AHHH it was terrible. And we only took a week and a half off.
I want to give up, I’m no help and I don’t always know what to say if it’s not in the answer key.
I have Jump in and wanted to do it after OMT. I have also tried for a full year AG and we totally lost it there.
Am I the only one with this problem? Are you all great in grammar and think I am nuts? Can I just go back to LL and finish there grammar and know my kids will be ok, though not major grammar students? Will LL count for a full credit every year? Ahhh
Will someone come teach me and the kids grammar?
What do i do? Where do I go from here?
Any suggestions, advice or even hugs would be welcome.
You are not alone, I hate grammar myself. It seems that our English language is too full of rules.
My son is ADHD so trying to get him stay focus and remember these rules is a bit frustrating then you add in my 3rd grade daughter, who also hates grammar because “it’s boring” and she hates writing. I am also stuck on how to teach them when they don’t understand what the books says…sigh..HELP!!!I am in Texas and the few subjects they “require” us to teach are reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship.
My hopes of not teaching grammar next year in 4th were crushed when I saw the above in my notes about Texas homeschool
I am thining of using the free book on my Kindle, Intermediate Language Lessons, but I am just not sure how to use it.I also want my kids to be college ready so our school needs to be focused in that direction. I hate “textbooks” now that I am the teacher, if that makes any sense. I just finished the “Books and Things” Seminar and I honestly think not only do textbooks kill the desire to learn in children, it kills the desire to teach in homeschooling parents.
You can certainly have a hug….
if I can use your shoulder to on.Have you considered getting Writer’s Inc.? It’s a resource book, a handbook of rammar and writing rules (plus some other interesting bits of info). I don’t remember everything from school, so I got it and it’s been extremely helpful and easy to read through and apply. You can get it dirt cheap.
I remember last year when you were moving from Queen’s LL. I think you’re right to have him challenged more than what Queen’s LL offers. Writer’s Inc. may give YOU the info. you need to be more instructive or even have him look through the book himself for self-correction; it is, after all, a student handbook.
I suggest not giving up.
Rachel
Oh, Misty, hugs! I’m so sorry you are having trouble again. I hope someone has some suggestions that might help you. If there is anything I can do I will happily do it. I wish I lived closer, then I could come over! LOL Maybe we could have marathon sessions if my son ends up going to college up there!
I’ll try and think of anything else I can think of. “Be not weary in well-doing.”
Hugs,
Michelle
Thanks for the hugs. I have writers Inc but as I said I just can’t grasp it.
I did worry that LL was to easy, but now as I try to teach it I wonder if it might be enough with some type of extra’s on the side. Something more concrete. What I mean is like writing a report, or something that has an outline of how it has to be done and then they need to follow it.
I don’t even know what to do at this point. I can’t help him, don’t know where to go and feel like I am doing him a disservice. Oh, well I guess we keep trying and I will re-look at the writer’s inc and see if that helps. I’m almost to the point of having a dictionary and having to open it to every word to see what it is…. that’s terrible.
Misty
Yes I do, but the problems arise when it asks a question with a personal answer, example like if it said”add a noun to this sentence” the ______ waled across the street. Ok that one I could figure out but when you are up there I don’t know if they are right or wrong. then I wonder what good does it do. Do I look up every word they try to fill in the blank with?
I might start another post on HS grammar? Thanks
Misty,
I am sorry you’re having such a hard time with grammar! I really wish we lived closer, so maybe I could come over and help!!
This may not be very well-received, but have you thought about looking for a tutor? I’ll be the first to admit that, when our kids start calculus or trig, Mom and Dad will have them signed up for a class at the local community college instead of trying to teach that ourselves! I think that it’s good to recognize your own weaknesses and find someone who can teach your child what you feel like you can’t.
My son just started Tae Kwon Do. Why did I enroll him in a class? BECAUSE I CAN’T TEACH HIM MYSELF! I know nothing about martial arts, nor do I have the desire to learn. That, however, shouldn’t keep him from learning if he’s interested and needs to know. If he wanted to learn Suzuki violin, I’d probably call suzukimom because she knows WAY more than I do. If my dd wanted to crochet or knit, I’d buy the SCM handicraft DVDs because they can teach her more than I can. That’s all I’m trying to say in your situation.
I’m sure there is a high school student in your area who might be willing to tutor your son once or twice a week for $8-10 an hour. Your son might enjoy the friendship as well. Or, there could be a single teacher looking to make a little extra money or start a side tutoring business. The resources are out there, and you’ll find them if you’re as desperate as I will be when calculus time comes.
I have to agree with Lindsey. Usually it doesn’t cost that much to get a tutor. I was so happy to have one in college. I learned so much more when she graded my English papers. I was at the point where I didn’t need her anymore. It took about 3 months but it was worth a world of good. I went to public school and was in honors English and still had problems that didn’t get worked out until college. If you have problems don’t be to proud to ask for help. I never knew I had a problem until college. If I didn’t learn it in public school you are probably doing better than you think. LOL 🙂 don’t be so hard on yourself. At least you realize you are having problems. My parents couldn’t help me and never knew I had a problem. I never knew either. So at least your kids are better off than most public school kids. Besides, you can give them an assignment and have a teacher ,out of work ,look it over. When you give them term papers for High School you can always have them tutored by a English Major from a local college. Blessings! Everything will be fine. 🙂
Misty,
English and grammar classes always came pretty easily to me when I was in school, but when I began homeschooling 20 years ago I realized that I didn’t really understand grammar all that well. I had to totally relearn it in order to teach it, and still I struggled. The turning point came for me when we tried Easy Grammar which uses a prepositional approach. Finally I really understood it! My older children who used it went to a private school for high school and were miles ahead of their peers in their grammar knowledge.
My .02….
Jean
Jean – does easy grammar have an answer key for all questions? LOL I know that’s terrible but I feel like that’s where I am at. :0( What grades did you teach it to? What grade did your children go to PS?
Since I’ve been using it for a loooong time, my version of EG is quite old. The one I have is about 600 pages long and had a purple cover. I think that what I have translates to what is now called Easy Grammar Plus and is recommended for use in jr. high through adult. My version has the answer key pages facing the student pages and the student pages may be copied for family use. So, yes, the answer key is right there. I also feel that it contains good explanations in both teacher pages and student pages.
Oops, missed one question…. My older children went to a private school for high school and used EG in their jr. high years.
I’ll admit that grammar is not my most favorite subject to teach and writing essays (at least knowing that their format is correct) is beyond me. I have some materials I can use (Writer’s Inc) and plan to purchase another one if necessary, but I also plan to have my 7th grader take a short class to give him a little bit of what I feel I lack at the moment.
Just saying that you’re not alone feeling unsure in this area and in need of possibly seeking outside help.
I’ll admit that grammar is not my most favorite subject to teach and writing essays (at least knowing that their format is correct) is beyond me. I have some materials I can use (Writer’s Inc) and plan to purchase another one if necessary, but I also plan to have my 7th grader take a short class to give him a little bit of what I feel I lack at the moment.
Just saying that you’re not alone feeling unsure in this area and in need of possibly seeking outside help.
My son is ADHD so trying to get him stay focus and remember these rules is a bit frustrating then you add in my 3rd grade daughter, who also hates grammar because “it’s boring” and she hates writing. I am also stuck on how to teach them when they don’t understand what the books says…sigh..HELP!!!
if I can use your shoulder to 
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