Analytical Grammar

by Spetzi
(NJ)

Product: Analytical Grammar
Subject: grammar
Levels Used: grades 4-5
Dates Used: 2009

Likes: Analytical Grammar approaches grammar in a logical fashion that there are rules to understand and apply. Once these rules are learned, the student does not need to be drilled in grammar every year.

Each week there is a lesson with three practice pages. The student is free to review the lesson page while s/he completes the practice pages. There is also a Skills Support page where the student will be asked to paraphrase or rewrite part of a speech or poem. My son particularly enjoyed this challenge. The fifth day is an assessment to see if the lesson of the week and every previous lesson have been learned. The student is free to review any notes while completing the assessment. We found that this was rarely necessary as it was explained so well the student had full understanding after the second practice page. The author encourages the student to skip the third page of practice if s/he demonstrates complete grasp of the topic.

One feature that makes Analytical Grammar a good value, even though it's pricey, is the lesson/workbook. When the student is finished with the course, s/he can rip out the workpages and then has a book of just the notes of the lessons. This will serve as a reference as they continue on through school.

Dislikes: There were a couple of typos in the text. Sometimes the diagramming got a bit tedious. We found it quite expensive until we realized what a phenomenal course this is.