For a native speaker, grammar is largely intuitive. Nevertheless, we recognize the homeschool parent's need to include grammar instruction as a part of their curriculum. The Arrow program uses an inductive approach to teach grammar, cycling around to various grammar constructs regularly. This provides a strong foundation of grammar understanding.
Some families who prefer a more sequential approach to grammar instruction do choose to use additional programs to teach kids grammar three times in their children’s education:
- one year in elementary school to teach parts of speech,
- one year in junior high using a program like Winston Grammar or Daily Grams (or whatever you like—they are all equally ineffective), and
- two years in high school through the study of a foreign language. Whatever didn’t stick when you taught grammar conscientiously will be covered much more effectively when your kids learn a foreign language. They will backdate all that information to their understanding of English.
Our Groovy Grammar Workshop also provides a powerful supplement, empowering parents to implement a natural approach to teaching grammar and stands the whole concept of grammar on its head. Rather than studying terminology and dissecting sentences, students are encouraged to play with language, to explore how words bump up against each other and generate meaning.
To learn more about the Brave Writer approach to grammar, read here:
Check out this free Brave Writer Resource:
Five Tips for Real Grammar Instruction
Learn more about our Groovy Grammar Workshop here:
Make Grammar Work for You, Not the Other Way Around