I can tell you my plans with my children regarding ILL. I am using it till age 12/13, then after that we will move into OMT. I made that decision based on the fact that they (both of mine) will be taking Latin, too, and I think JAG/AG would be a little overkill in that combination. (But if I were to use AG, I wouldn’t skip to it in 8th, just start whenever the ILL was finished) From looking at samples, I like the format of OMT better than JAG or AG, too. Plus, highly formatted, regimented programs drive me crazy and I look at JAG and AG that way, deservedly or not. Here’s an OMT review:http://www.exodusbooks.com/details.aspx?id=5245 There is also a Teacher’s Key. There are many here who like JAG/AG and others that tried it and didn’t. I hope you get some feedback from others’ experience. Just don’t jump the gun on swicthing unecessarily.
SOme ideas:
If the children are responding well w/Queens, stay with Queens for all and switch the older next year into OMT or AG, or
use Queens for the younger two (because you really don’t want something too workbooky, esp, at their ages), but switch the older to AG (6th gr. and up) or OMT (7th and up) now. I would try to keep the younger ones in the same program, be it PLL/ILL or Queens.
However, if you don’t like Queens, switch the 9 yr. old to ILL now (for ages 9-12), PLL for the 7 yr. old ( for ages 7-9) and AG or OMT for the 12 yr. old. If your 7 yr. old likes reading colorful books, the Ruth Heller books are great at teaching grammar concepts in colorful, rhyming books, too.
Yes, you could put the 9 yr. old into JAG, but I wouldn’t if the Queens is going well or you like tha same style but would like to try PLL/ILL. IMO, younger ones should have a more gentle approach to grammar.
Since I don’t know the learning styles of your children, or your teaching preference, I can’t tell you what would be best for them or you; and I haven’t used JAG or AG. But I hope some of these ideas put forth help you, instead of making you more confused!
Rachel
