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Need help!! 9th grade – grammar, narration, writing, AND dyslexia
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I need serious handholding and am feeling pretty helpless.
Here goes…
Grammar: Our dyslexic son has been slowly doing Easy Grammar for years. Now, as a 14 year old in 9th grade, he says grammar is still like a foreign language to him. Recently, I switched him to the online grammar program, thinking it might be easier for him than using Easy Grammar, but it has been a complete fail. (Additionally, SCM grammar never worked for him, although I really, really hoped it would.) Nothing about grammar is intuitive to him.
I have no idea what to do, considering that everything in high school is now for credit. I feel like we’re in a sink or swim situation. Is grammar really that important for a dyslexic to have to sludge through, painstakingly?? Is it possible to issue a Language Arts credit without grammar?
Narration: We started SCM a few years ago and I have never required a written narration because oral narrations have been so sparse and difficult for our son to do. Our son is a great communicator, but when it comes to giving me a even a short narration, it has been so difficult for him to put his thoughts into words.
Writing: Last year in 8th grade, our son started IEW’s Structure and Style – something I postponed for years because his spelling has been so bad, but discovered that he could speak his writing into a Word document using the microphone tool, so now he has some formal writing under his belt now. Major win!
A week ago, it occurred to me that that the IEW 1B level our son has been continuing from 8th grade, doesn’t count for credit in high school. In a panic, I purchased a high school literature/writing program from 7 Sisters, which explains methodically how to do essays, etc. I have no idea if it will be a good fit, I was just so afraid that our son will fall further behind, and was concerned that doing narrations alone wouldn’t be enough structure for him, considering his lack of narration skills. Plus, I don’t see how there will be time during the day for him to finish IEW, in addition to doing 9th grade Language Arts for credit, so I figured I would have to scrap the remainder of IEW 1B, which is really middle school work.
Should I just trust the CM process and have our son continue doing CM narration, and encourage/push him to do written narrations, and continue finishing IEW and hope his narration and writing skills will catch up? But, what if it doesn’t work, and even more time is lost?
Or should I just switch over completely to the 7 Sisters Language Arts program and try to squeeze some oral/written narrations in? And what should I do about grammar?
I love, love, love the CM method, and love SCM, but I’m really wondering what on earth I can do so our son will actually have earned a language arts credit this year.
Thank you so much in advance for any responses.
Wow! Sweet mama take a breath. He will be fine. I have no experience with dyslexia, but do have a son who had horrific spelling, never really got grammar, and his sum total composition instruction was one semester of IEW – it turned his stomach to be so stifled by IEW “rules.” I would check your state’s rules for counting credits first. You may find it is easier than you think. Where I am it is about hours mostly. So 150 ish hours is a credit. An English credit does not necessarily mean grammar, composition, and literature. I think most universities expect composition and lit. HS transcripts often just list “American Literature” for the english credit, no specifics of what that specifically includes. I always use English 9, English 10 etc.
Grammar – dont sweat it. Let him keep plugging along at whatever is easiest. Being able to name parts of a sentence does not really help you in life, knowing when your sentences sound wonky and how to fix them does. Can he write a proper sentence? Can he fix a wonky one? My son could never do grammar worksheets but he knew when his sentences weren’t correct.
Narrations – I would keep trying and count them toward english credit. Help him write them out correctly and count it toward composition.
IEW – if he likes it and it works for him keep going. Who says it cannot count toward HS credit? Just because the publisher says middle school doesn’t mean it cannot count. IEW plus narrations, easy grammar, and literature. Plus poets. Easily an english credit.
It is perfectly acceptable to piece together an English class that meets the student where he is. As long as progress is happening and those credit hours are met you can give him credit.
My DS did not choose to go to college but to work straight out of school. He can spell just fine, his grammar is fine, he can communicate in writing better than most when it comes to real life. I have “edited” a number of emails to bosses, questions about products, help inquiries, etc. and I am always impressed at how well he can make his point in as few words as possible. And sound mature and intelligent to boot!
I hope you get some good advice. I just wanted to encourage you. I bet your initial plan to continue from last year will be perfectly fine.
Yes to what Crystal said!
I have an 8th grade dyslexic son. We did 1 year of old Analytical grammar and now he’s doing fine with SCM Using language well book 3. I have heard great things about Winston Grammar for kids who struggle-especially dyslexia. If he still needs grammar you could look at it.
If IEW is working stick with it! Or try a theme book that includes 9th grade if you need it too. Yes to count hours instead if you can and go with what’s working.
Keep plugging away at narrations. The ability to summerize is important. Try stopping after a short part and have him talk to text that and then continue with the next bit. After the whole reading he could redo it to make it sound cohesive. IEW should help with this.
I’m using All About Spelling with my son. We’re only on level 4. It is slow going. He is making some improvement since age 12 though. He was really stuck before that. Megawords or Apples and pears (sound foundations) may also help if you want to work on spelling.
He will be better off in life if you meet him where he is and help him grow then push him. Community college is fine;) no college may be fine too;) What does he want?
I was going to suggest Winston Grammar, too. It makes learning grammar feel like a card game. 🙂 If your son likes games he will probably like (or at least accept 😉 ) Winston Grammar.
Thank you all so much for your comments! I didn’t realize that I had slipped so far from doing actual CM until I spent the last several days binge-reading this website. I am back in the place I used to be, where homeschooling is a delight and lovely, thanks to the Charlotte Mason methodology, and Sonya’s wonderful products. I’m back trusting in the beauty found this wonderful way of learning.
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