Greetings! Today’s topic here at Down Home is Grammar. More specifically, grammar in the younger grades. Here at SLO Classical Academy we use First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind as our grammar program in grades 1-4. Parents are teaching lessons at home using the easy, scripted format of the curriculum.
We know that following a script can sometimes seem boring or repetitive – we are going to address that today! Sticking to this program will solidly build that foundation in the English language that is critical to the Grammar stage of Classical Education. So we want to encourage you today with a fun resource: Mrs. Dillon, our Intermediate Lead teacher, graciously agreed to help with a little video project for us, demonstrating a grammar lesson at home with her 4th grade daughter, Lyla.
This was not rehearsed and we did one take – so you will be able to relate to this very real home grammar lesson in action! Hopefully you will glean some great tips from her advice, as well as motivation to keep at it with grammar. This applies to all parents working with First Language Lessons at home, regardless of the level you are currently using:
Thank you, Lisa Ann and Lyla! It was great to sit in your living room and have a grammar lesson together. Parents, we hope this was helpful, and remember that your teachers are there to answer questions and help you through any issues you may be running into.
One more grammar tip: As your kids learn the various lists in First Language Lessons – the pronouns, helping verbs, prepositions, etc., also quiz them in reverse. Meaning, start reciting a list to them, and ask them which list you are saying. Do they know the difference between the pronoun and preposition lists? I (Jenny) ran into this with my son at the beginning of the school year. Although he had memorized every list from First Language Lessons, it was harder for him to see a word and know what it was – he knew it was on one of those lists he had memorized, but didn’t solidly connect the name/definition of the list with the group of words. Good to know, right?
