What makes R & S English a diamond in the rough?
Rod & Staff (R & S) English has more to offer than the average grammar program. I like that it teaches grammar for the purpose of improving all language arts skills – as in speaking properly, writing properly, spelling properly, communicating properly, etc. R & S English is difficult to replace because it covers so many areas so thoroughly.
Clear, Step-by-Step Writing Skills
Of course, it does an outstanding job of teaching grammar! However, it is also (in my opinion) a necessary counterpart to creative writing because it teaches clear, step-by-step writing skills that can be applied to any subject area. R & S English has taught our sons how to take notes from a speaker, how to create outlines, how to use outlines to write reports, how to write with unity and coherence, how to properly use dialogue in a story, how to use rhythm/rhyme/onomatopoeia/alliteration in poetry, how to use varied sentence structures and transitional words, how to organize writing chronologically or spatially, etc.
Proper Etiquette Within Language Arts Skills
R & S English also teaches proper etiquette in regard to language arts skills. These lessons are lessons I can see my sons need, but I can also see me forgetting to teach them, if they weren’t a part of the curriculum. For example, R & S English includes lessons on how to introduce people properly to one another (i.e. introduce your pastor first and then introduce your friend), how to answer the phone, how to write down a phone message to be shared, how to use courtesy in conversation, how to give directions orally, etc.
At Least a Year Advanced
This English is considered at least a year advanced. Heart of Dakota (HOD) paces English levels so they are in balance with other language arts counterparts, such as literature and composition. So, students in fourth grade would do Level 3. Students in fifth grade would do Level 4. Of course, the background of exposure to formal English skills makes a difference for student’s placement as well.
As far as levels, R & S English 5 is considered integral. If students have not done any diagramming or have not had much formal grammar instruction, this is a not-to-be-missed level. For high school, I’d rather see students do English 6 or higher if possible. To read more about Carrie’s pacing for older students, click here.
In Christ,
Julie
