The Grammar Ace

by STEPHANIE " on 2010-04-13
This book LOOKS like a lot of fun, but, in fact, vague instruction (don't get me started on the lessons on phrases and clauses!) and 2 very skimpy exercises on each subject is just not enough to cut it. Also frustrating is the placing of basic lessons on commas and quotations near the end of the book, when I could really have used them much earlier. I have high hopes for the natural language learning method, and my dd (10yo older 4th grader)appears to be flourishing in general with this, but when it comes to grammar, it seems like using a book with topics that can be skipped over if not needed will be MUCH better than using a book that is light on instruction and even lighter on practice. I would give this 2 stars if it wasn't for the practice (at the end) on paragraph construction. Not what I think of as grammar, but still useful. (This rating is just for book/workbook set, not DVDs.)

by DAWN W on 2009-11-05
Great program! Very easy to use. My daughter loves the DVD and we have fun using the workbook together. I think this is a great introduction to grammar and will be extremely helpful as a foundation for years to come.

by KELLIE V on 2009-10-20
I think the DVD was excellent! The songs are fun and even my 5 year old is singing "Mr. Morton is the subject of the sentence" But the workbook was difficult. I think more explanation is needed. No where near enough time is spent on phrases and clauses - as an example. And the more complicated sections toward the end of the book do not have any fun songs to help the student out.

by JULIE K on 2009-06-26
I agree with Robin E. I found this program lacking in instruction as well and I have a degree in English. I need enough instruction to remind me of things I once knew and I didn't get that here. We abandoned it mid year...

by PHILIP H on 2009-06-18
The only part of this set that I found helpful was the DVD. I attempting to use the book with a 4th grader, which may have been part of the problem. I think it is suitable as a review book only.

by ROBIN E. W on 2009-04-23
I hate to give such a low rating to a Sonlight product, but I think this grammar program falls short. Grammar is one area where I am not comfortable teaching, and this product did not help me to get over that. Way too many of the lessons had "answers may vary" as the only thing written in the answer key. I understand Sonlight's desire to use the natural approach and "real" writing to teach from, but if I couldn't understand the lesson on direct objects well enough to locate them in a newspaper article, how can I help my child do that assignment? In addition, the lesson on gerunds was not only confusing, I think it may have been wrong. Grammar Ace implies that using gerunds is poor writing and should be avoided. Indeed, the whole assignment for that lesson is taking sentences that contain gerunds and rewriting them without gerunds. My son and I tried to work these together and we couldn't find a way to do the assignment without changing the meaning of the sentences. Again the answer had the very unhelpful "answers may vary". I have later read that gerunds aren't bad or good, they simply are.

by Marena N. on 2008-01-27
LOVE LOVE LOVE this product!!! My daughter and I have had tons of fun playing some of the suggested games and School House Rocks is excellent. (We actually already had School House Rocks, but to have it work right in with the lessons is fantastic!)