Tressa
Jan 21 2005, 11:49 AM
I use Rod and Staff for my 4th grader and I really like it. I was just wondering, from those
of you out there that use it, how much writing do you make your children do from it? We
usually just do the lessons orally. My son loves that, but it really takes up a lot of my time.
But the whining and moaning I get from him if I make him write it is so painful to my ears!
Is there a good balance? I like the worksheets, and that helps to get him to work on his
own some. Any ideas?
Thanks!


Appliejuice
Jan 21 2005, 01:20 PM
We are using 5th grade. We also love it (I should say "I" love it ). We do the oral, orally
and all written work is done, in writing by, the boy. He also hates to write and sometimes I
let him type his lessons on the computer. That might be something you son could do.


Melanie
Jan 21 2005, 01:42 PM
I just ordered the 4th grade grammar book from Rod & Staff, but now I have questions I
should have asked before I ordered it. Does the program only do parts of speech, or will it
take the child through sentence and paragraph construction, punctuation, and all the rest? I
guess what I want to know is, will my son get lessons in how to write clearly? And, how
much time will this take, and do you do a new lesson every day, or do you split it up?


Appliejuice
Jan 21 2005, 04:59 PM
Melanie, yes they cover everything.
As for writing clearly, they expect all answers given in full sentences. Ex. What is your
favorite color? The student is not allowed to say "red". He must say, "My favorite color is
red". They also give examples what is clear and what isn't.
We do one lesson a day and daughter also has to do the worksheet, if there is one for that lesson.
If there is a review and a test, we do the review one day and the test the next. This last time
we did the review twice, because son all of a sudden forgot when to use commas .
I will be ordering 2nd and 6th for next year.
Hope this helps.


Tressa
Jan 21 2005, 06:10 PM
Thanks! I think I do need to get him to write more of the writing parts. I really think
that it would help with his general writing. Plus, it would give me more time with the other
kids. I think typing is a good idea. I just let him type his last paragraph and he liked that. I
never thought to let him do it for his lessons. Maybe I will have him write every other day for
awhile as a compromise.


Melanie
Jan 21 2005, 07:55 PM
Thanks for the information! I'm glad it covers everything - I can quit worrying now.


Melanie
Jan 24 2005, 08:35 PM
I just received the Rod & Staff package today - it's exactly what I needed. I'm so excited and
I can't wait to start using it!


Kathie
Jan 24 2005, 09:01 PM
Where do you purchase Rod & Staff? I've been searching for grammar help for my 3rd grade
twins. Is there any curriculum for 7th grade?


Sherinova
Jan 24 2005, 09:16 PM
Rod & Staff publishers do not have a website. Their # is 1-606-522-4348 and they are very
nice. You may ask them for a catalog and also ask them for the curriculum guide for the
specific grade levels you want to look at. There is also a website that sells R&S called
Milestone Ministries. Both of them ship quickly in my experience.


Kathie
Jan 24 2005, 09:25 PM
Thanks Sherinova. I've heard so many good things about them. I will check out the website
and give them a call tomorrow


Appliejuice
Jan 24 2005, 09:53 PM
I also like it very much and will continue to use it. I'll also be getting some
of their other subjects.


Tressa
Jan 25 2005, 07:28 PM
This is my second year using the grammar. I purchased the spelling this year for my
daughter. The content is so good for the price. I love their prices! And they have great
customer service.


Melanie
Jan 25 2005, 09:05 PM
I was surprised at the price, too - such nice, hardcover books that can be
used by both of my kids, and then resold or traded!
My son did the first lesson in the 4th grade book today, and really wanted
to do more, but I decided to just take it easy. So far, so good!


================
Some Course of Studies

We also follow The Well-Trained Mind approach but I think this year I am going to change my history a little.

For my 5th grader:
Wordly Wise 2
Rod and Staff Grammar 5th
Saxon 6/5
Real Science for Kids ( I think)
American History (but I haven't decided on a spine yet)
continue Latina Christiana 1
Piano (taught by me)

For my 3rd grader:
Rod and Staff Spelling 3
Explode the code 4 1/2 and 5
Rod and Staff Grammar 3
Saxon 3
American History
Real Science for Kids
Piano (taught by me)

I still have to decide what to do for writing. I know that Rod and Staff is considered by some to be enough writing in the early grades, but I kind of want to add something more formal for my 5th grader. I have Writing Strands but I am only so-so on that program. I like it, but I need a little more hand holding in the writing department.

==============
A Schedule
==============
This is what I am doing right now... but I am looking to add it up..

Our schedule:
Bible
Penmanship
Phonics
Math
Art/Science/Canada Studies (read FUN)
Spelling (for DS)
Reading (for DS)
Phys. Ed (for both)

I start off with Bible for both DC. Each story has a picture page. The page is colored as the day goes by when I am busy with the other student.
Then its penmanship... Son does A reason for Handwriting, DD does some work in her Adventures with Books or Counting with Numbers from Rod and Staff.
Then Phonics, both are in Explode the Code. Son basically does his own work, but I mark each page as he goes and decide if he does another one or fixes up the work he has done. I am particular! He does one lesson a week. I want a well laid foundation. DD does various activities and workbook pages.

Math is Math...
Art/Science/Canadian Studies is basically fun hands on moving around stuff, rotated through the week.
Spelling, Son is working on McGuffies lists off the internet.
Reading, Son is working on Pathway's Reader Days Go By and its comprehension workbook. DD and I sit at the whiteboard and work on small three to four letter words that start with the letter of the week. Then she does a few more pages from Everywhere and Finding books from Rod and Staff.

Then we work on phys. ed.
The whole process has been taking us about 2 - 3 hours depending on moods and such. If it is going really poorly, I stop send them outside and we start again in half an hour. I am thinking about getting DD a reader from Pathway as well. She is doing amazingly well.

==END==