Growing with Grammar

I don’t know about you, but I had always been a one-size-fits-all type of homeschooler.  Oh, I got my curriculum from different vendors, but I felt that everything in that one curriculum should be on the same grade level.  For instance, grammar, spelling, and writing are all linked, so they should all be on the same grade level, right?

Well, my son has taught me that this is not the case.  Actually, both kids have problems with writing, only it is more pronounced in my son.  His fingers don’t have the normal amount of pinch or grip strength, and his hand shakes when he writes.  Therefore, he balks at writing a lot.  He gets the grammar, but he just has a hard time writing lots at a time.  The point is that his writing and his grammar are on different levels, and he is no longer a one-size-fits-all kid.

This is where Growing with Grammar comes in.  The Growing with Grammar series comes in eight grades (or levels) of coursework.  The series is comprised of Growing with Grammar (teaching grammar rules and usage), Soaring with Spelling and Vocabulary (teaching spelling and vocabulary), and Winning with Writing (teaching writing techniques).  A new addition to the series is Digging into Diagramming that is an optional addition to Growing with Grammar and is available in levels 3-8.

What I like about this series is that I can mix and match the levels.  I chose to review Growing with Grammar level 3 and Winning with Writing level 1 with DS9, and I chose Soaring with Spelling level 7 for DD13.

I’ll start with Growing with Grammar and Winning with Writing and DS9.  The first grammar curriculum that we ever used with DS9 was a nightmare and produced tears EVERY day!  There were pages and pages of writing that threw DS9 over the edge!  Not so with Growing with Grammar and Winning with Writing.  These books teach the basics without the tedium of rote writing.  It is meaningful, and the author has found ways for the student to practice the concept without writing just to write.  DS9 is learning more and doesn’t dread the time of day that the grammar and writing books come out.

Now, we’ll move on to DD13 and spelling.  DD13 is a student of a different type.  She was reading at 4 1/2.  She reads ALL THE TIME!  I know, I can hear some of you talking at the computer screen, saying that I should be happy that she wants to read.  Yes, I am happy, but she shouldn’t be reading when it is time for dinner, time to help make dinner, time to do the laundry, time to sleep…  Well, you get the point.

Her problem is that she never got the spelling down.  Why?  She doesn’t do well with lists to memorize.  She needs things put into a different format, and Soaring with Spelling and Vocabulary certainly does that.  Each week, we start with a pretest.  Then, there are other fun and unique activities (like word search and cross out the word that is misspelled) from week-to-week to help ingrain the spelling words of the week.  On the last day, there is a final test.  I also like how the misspelled words from the previous week are carried over.

So, what did I think?  I like that I can mix-and-match levels to get what I need for each child.  Is it advanced enough?  I think so.  I didn’t review the upper grade grammar that DD13 is doing, so I can’t compare with her level, but I think it if perfectly fine for DS9.  The biggest thing for me right now is the ability to customize for DS9.

So, what do you think?  Do you have a child who needs different levels for grammar, spelling, and writing?  Even if your child needs all the same level, I would still recommend this series.

As far as cost goes, the price is cost efficient for the lower grades; however, it does go up for the upper grades.  While the upper grades are still likely cheaper than some other curriculum choices, it does make the gap closer.  I could list all the prices here, but it would be best if you checked out the price of the grade you need to make sure you have the correct price:  Growing with Grammar, Soaring with Spelling and Vocabulary, and Winning with Writing.

Growing with Grammar is giving one of my readers 1 Growing with Grammar, 1 Soaring with Spelling and Vocabulary, and 1 Winning with Writing.  The winner will be able to pick the desired levels.  Just read the rules below and enter on the Rafflecopter widget.

Rules: Giveaway starts at 12:00 am EST on January 8, 2013 and ends at 12:00 am EST on January 22, 2013. Open to U.S. residents 18 years old and older.  No purchase is necessary to win. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries collected. The winner will be chosen by Random.org via Rafflecopter and will have 48 hours to respond after being contacted by email. Please make sure to use a valid email address. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+ do not endorse this, nor sponsor this giveaway. Nor are Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Google+ affiliated with this giveaway in any way. Pixie Dusted Homeschool is not responsible for prize fulfillment.  Additional rules here.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer:  I received the above mentioned curriculum free of charge for the purpose of this review.  I have received no other compensation, nor was I required to post a positive review.