Simply Grammar

I was so happy to have found Charlotte Mason's tiny, pocket-size book First Grammar Lessons, years ago. It so simplified the subject of grammar for me that it gave me the confidence I needed to teach grammar to my children. Therefore when I set out to share these lessons with other homeschooling mothers, I retitled it Simply Grammar.

Even though I have revised and expanded the book, I kept to Charlotte's format of teaching one grammar rule per lesson. The lessons can easily be kept short when no more than 10 to 15 minutes is spent on the accompanying exercises. For the young student the exercises can be completed throughout the week. Charlotte advised that the abstract subject of grammar be introduced to children at approximately age 9. I recommend Simply Grammar as a teachers resource for grades 4th through 8th. Because my children and I like pictures, I added many large, beautiful, 19th century ones and made them part of the exercises. They give the student ideas with which to create his own sentences and tell stories that employ his new knowledge of each grammar rule. The book's large print size was chosen to make it easy for my students and myself to read along together. Most importantly, the students have plenty of opportunity to use Charlotte's method of narration. With the gentle, simple, and natural use of narration much of the work is done orally. Yet, any of the work can be written as desired. In our home we do both. Some subtle review is built into the text, but the teacher is free to decide when and how often review is necessary. In other words, with Simply Grammar you are at liberty to follow a pace that suits your circumstances and your child's ability. No diagramming is required.

"Professional grammar terminology-nominative case, intransitive verbs-are introduced as simply as possible by explaining the meaning of these words' Latin roots." --Mary Pride

Simply Grammar is a teachers resource that can be used as a several year program and is non-consumable. That means it is designed to be used year by year, grade by grade, child by child.

This is the six-volume set of Charlotte Mason's original writing. Although Charlotte began writing in the 1880's, her principles for "bringing up" children still apply today. Charlotte's writings will challenge your thinking. Her books are not easy or light reading. Because they are meaty, whatever ideas are picked up by the reader radiate brilliantly in the thoughts of those who ponder them. Charlotte speaks from a lifetime of experience with children. Each idea is accompanied by a practical "how to" offering heartfelt guidance. When we sift through the 2400 pages of the set we find specific pearls of wisdom to suit our needs. From my years of reading Charlotte's books I have gleaned advice on how to teach things like reading, writing, history and nature study. Charlotte's insights have helped me to awaken within my children a love and appreciation of music, art, poetry, and classic literature. It is on her books that my own book, A Charlotte Mason Companion, is based. Perhaps Companion will whet your appetite to read more of what Charlotte had to say about what makes a well-educated, well-brought-up child.