We went with Shurley Grammar for 3rd and 4th grades, but are feeling the need for a change. Since I only school one child (10yo dd going into grade 5) we'd like to have a curriculum that is not so geared toward a whole classroom. Shurley has been good, but we need to take another approach.

* We will be using TOG next year and I have looked briefly at Easy Grammar that is recommended here. I've also checked into R&S. It seems that EG doesn't teach on classifying sentences, but R&S does. How important of a difference would that be for a 5th grader?

* I'd also like to know if EG and R&S are as teacher intensive as Shurley. Has anyone here used Shurley or reviewed it enough to know?

* I have purchased Writing Strands and plan to use it either for a summer study or along with next year's composition. Would adding that to the mix make too much work for dd?

* What would be your recommendation for us?

Thanks for your input and suggestions. It is greatly appreciated!

Blessings,
Lucinda

Dear Lucinda,

I'll give a go at answering your questions, though I hope others will chime in as well.

*I would not think of classifying sentences as an important skill for a fifth grader. (In fact, can I just share with you that none of my six children ever classified sentences, and I had to go and look up what this meant. If it is essential at all, it is a new grammar concept that is now being taught. You could check Internet samples of current SAT tests to see if it's a skill your children will ever need.

*I have not used R&S for years, but EG is largely independent work; nothing like the teacher intensity of Shurley.

*I would think of Writing Strands during the school year as overkill with TOG. It's good for summer work, if you think your kids need summer academics, though.

*I used EG with all my kids before Jr. High years, when we studied Latin. Honestly, it was the study of the foreign language (any Romance language will do this) that solidified for them the concepts and usefulness of grammar for the English language. I think EG is quick, easy on moms, and sticks with the kids. That's why we recommend it.

HTH!
Marcia

EG does have the student classify sentences, but their teaching order is unusual and sentence classification comes at the back of the book in a section that I've privately called the "standardized test" section.

For an independent student EG can be almost totally self done. You would probably want to check over the work but some students could even self-check.

I am really liking the sound of this!! It sounds like EG is well worth checking into.