Top English / Grammar Homeschool Curriculum Picks

[@sharoncain4179]

I have been watching several of your videos over the last couple of days and just wanted to let you know that you have been extremely helpful. Thank you!!

[@erica_arndt]

Hi Sharon, thanks so much!

[@melodramatic7904]

Thank you so much for publishing this. I am not planning on homeschooling my children technically, but we live in Italy (American mom, Italian dad). I want to put them in the Italian public schools, but I know that their English education will be geared for non-native speakers. I don't want that for them. I want them to be able to speak, read, and write in English at grade-level so I plan on homeschooling them only when it comes to English. The only thing is I have no idea where to start! This video alone has been a lifesaver. My son is 4 so we are only on tracing letters for now, but now I have a way forward for when he enters kindergarten and grade school. I've already bookmarked all of the websites. I will probably mail the books to my mom (in the States) and then take them back with me whenever I visit. :) Thank you so much for the great content!

[@JanelleKnutson]

Great video! I agree with you on Abeka and BJU. I love Abeka Language for the early elementary years and then am liking BJU better for upper elementary. I also am finding that BJU English for middle school is not a great fit for us. We LOVE Fix It Grammar (and all IEW curriculum). One thing my middle school child is enjoying is BJU literature.

[@gisellecarr2099]

Do you suggest fix it Grammer for 4th grade?

[@keligsp8962]

I love IEW Grammar too My son grasp it so well he does all the weeks in one day.

[@HerLovesBooks]

You sold me on Fix It Grammar for my rising 6th grader. I'm so tired of Abek a. 😁 Thanks so much for this review.

[@andreaculver9357]

We love abeka I've used it for all 5 so far... but am looking at switching it up for the older kids! Thank you for your trusted input :)

[@alejandroezequiel265]

i guess im randomly asking but does someone know a way to log back into an Instagram account? I was stupid lost my login password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me.

[@ElementaryExplorers]

I’ve been using Write Shop to help motivate and encourage my kiddos, but I’m considering switching to something different. These review videos are always helpful. Thanks for sharing!

[@charli2565]

Your reviews are very helpful and informative, thank you for that!

[@petagayejolly7577]

Thank you so much for sharing! I have been struggling to find a language curriculum that works for my kids, i think i will try the fix it.

[@heidi6544]

I’m going to switch from bju to fix it grammar for my 6th grader. I’m getting tired of the big long worksheets!!

[@boybossmamahomeschool]

Thanks for the review ! Very helpful

[@tinafirestone3820]

Regarding Fix It Grammar, do you find that your kiddos are retaining what they are learning? I’m currently using Growing with Gammar and concerned my son is not retaining what he is learning.

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, I feel like they're retaining information pretty well. Much better than with the curriculum we were using before anyway LOL!

[@beckeroo1618]

We will be starting Fix-It Grammar next school year. We are moving over from Growing with Grammar. I will have an 8th grader and a 6th grader using Fix-It. I chose to start both with Nose Tree being we are new to the program. I saw that you started your kiddo's on Nose Tree as well and was wondering how quickly your older children moved through the books? Did they end up completely Nose Tree and Robin Hood in one year? Thanks!

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, they did two books in one year. We did two sentences per day instead of one.

[@HSingMomto5Kids]

I love Fix It Grammar!! Trying to decide for my younger kids how long to do Logic of English for. Are you familiar with it? For beginning reading we use Logic of English until level D. Just unsure if I should stop it sooner before starting with Fix It Grammar. Any advice?

[@DebbieBratton]

I watched your Fix It Grammar review from 2016 and I know you said you doubled up on lessons because your students were older. I'm doing the same with my junior highers this year and will move on to Robin Hood about halfway through the year. I'm curious to know whether you doubled up on lessons with Robin Hood or was it better to do one day at a time by then?

[@erica_arndt]

The older books have longer text sections for the kids, so I probably wouldn't double up on those.

[@sarahfrost2803]

Hi

[@bwallace1205]

Have you tried The Good And The Beautiful? I was wondering what you thought about the curriculum?

[@erica_arndt]

I haven't tried it, but have heard good things :) You might check my COAH Community page, you can post questions on curriculum there! community.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/search?q=good%20and%20beautiful

[@rbeal89]

Hi, great video! I will have a 2nd and a 3rd grader next school year. They are both somewhat advanced. My now 1st grader tested into 3rd grade English/Language Arts and even higher for reading. They are both on the same reading/comprehension and LA level right now. I am considering using IEW writing intensive A and IEW Fix it for both kids next year. Do you think it would be too difficult for an advanced 2nd grader?

[@erica_arndt]

As long as they are advanced you'll may be okay. My 3rd grader is doing it this year, and it's definitely a challenge for her. But we're just taking it a bit slower than the schedule they recommend which is working well for her. You can give it a go, and if it's not working just wait and do it again the following year.

[@rbeal89]

Erica Arndt I think that is what we may do. Thanks for getting back to me! :)

[@rachelmorris7829]

Great video, thanks! Which levels would you recommend for high schoolers that haven't used this curriculum before?

[@erica_arndt]

Hi, I would still start with a higher level book. Check their website, if you click "shop" you'll see Fix It! Grammar then you can select grades 9-12 and they'll show you which are applicable for those grades. They're pretty self explanatory. They also have a "descision tree" and "pathway" on the Shop link that will help you decide which to use for your grade levels as well.

[@julieseiber4679]

Hi! I have a 3rd and 8th grader that are both excellent in grammar. Which book level should I get do you think? Also, my 8th grader....does she still need a traditional grammar book or just writing skills now? What do you think? Thanks so much!

[@erica_arndt]

I would start IEW Fix It level 1 book for your 3rd grader. For your 8th grader, look on their website. Click "intro to sew" then "where do I start?" and it will guide you to the best level to start with.

[@squizzyicetea]

Starting homeschooling 2 kids this year and I feel woefully unprepared! Any advice on organization or scheduling?! Thx fellow parents!!

[@erica_arndt]

Hi Elizabeth, check my website I have a lot of information on creating a good schedule, organizing etc. I also have a HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATION eCourse that covers all of that as well! go.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/

[@magglrock8839]

Hi Elizabeth, I am homeschooling 2 kids this year as well. You are watching the right channel to help you get prepared. You are starting early enough to get your curriculum and have time to look it over before you start. Don’t try to do too much the first year, cover the basics first, you can always add things as you go along. Take it easy and don’t fret over a ridged schedule! I purchased Erica’s book, if that is an option for you it contains a ton of printable organizational tools to help you sort it all out.

[@annmarie1689]

Can you please share with me what health book you use (7th grade) my school requires the lesson include alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse? Thank you for all the great information your videos are the best.

[@erica_arndt]

We use Abeka Health and Science

[@linseyk5728]

For Abeka 1st grade - do you think the Language 1 would be good enough for english without adding the Letters and Sounds? We will be doing All About Reading 2 as well.

[@erica_arndt]

If you're doing AAR 2 then that should be fine. I would use one or the other of L&S or AAR2.

[@Kaylin09]

We are finishing up 5th grade BJU English this year but I would love to start IEW writing and Fix it Grammar next year. What level do you recommend we start at?

[@erica_arndt]

Hi, I would recommend starting at book 1, they cover a lot of style techniques in it and I think if you haven't used IEW before that's a great place to start. You may find that your child goes through it faster and that's fine too.

[@peachy_reina]

Would I need to use a wiring and reading curriculum alongside this? Are there any suggestions other than IEW? Just a mama on a budget with 5 littles lol

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, this is just Grammar, so you'll want to add in reading and writing. You can see what we use by grade level here: www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/help-by-grade-level

[@Sunrisesunset999]

👍

[@linseyk5728]

Along with this program, what do you use to cover the entire language arts subject?

[@erica_arndt]

Nothing, we just use IEW Fix It! Grammar. We do also use IEW Writing, but technically writing is a different subject :)

[@JessicaDiaz411]

Hi, I have a 7, 8 and 10-year-old. Starting September will be our first year of homeschool. Would they be okay starting off with IEW or should I start them off with BJU?

[@erica_arndt]

They recommend starting IEW at third grade, so it might be a stretch for your 7 and 8 year old, but your 10 year old should be fine.

[@shelly82mm]

Hello! I know you did this video a few years ago, but I am in the process of trying to decide and find a new grammar program for my kids. The question I have is with the program I am using now we do A LOT of diagramming sentences. Does fix it grammar have diagramming in their lessons especially in the older grades?? Thanks so much!

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, it's all diagramming sentences, then re-writing them in once edited.

[@shelly82mm]

@@erica_arndt thanks! 😊

[@ChristiansMommy100]

I'm new to homeschooling. I'm really looking for a way to teach my first and fourth grader some subjects together. I know you have spoken about doing that with a couple of your kids. what curriculum for Science, History, health, would you recommend to do that with?

[@erica_arndt]

My Road Trip USA(Geography/History/Science) and Expedition Earth (Geography/Science) are perfect for your kids grades. They're very easy to do together and a lot of fun too!

[@ChristiansMommy100]

Thank you so much!! I'm really interested in possibly starting off with fix it grammer. I'm excited to homeschool, but I'm so intimidated by finding the correct curriculums. I'm also wondering if you have a video explaining the range of how teacher intensive some of the curriculums you have used are?

[@x0brandee0x]

How do you handle reading? Our current curriculum has them read 7 or 8 books and then write about what they've read. I'm really interested in the IEW writing and fix it grammar, just curious how to incorporate reading along with it.

[@erica_arndt]

If they need phonics work, I usually stick with Abeka phonics lessons until they're doing well. Once they're doing well, I move on to my literature units.

[@username00009]

In case anyone else has this same question, IEW SSS includes suggested literature 😀

[@linseyk5728]

Do you think Abeka Language 2 would prepare students for Fix It Grammar in third grade?

[@erica_arndt]

Hi Linsey, yes that's the order I do it in.

[@rzharovski]

Do you need to get spelling and writing curriculum in addition to Fix It Grammar for a 5th grader?

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, spelling and writing are separate subjects from English/Grammar

[@shalon4jc2]

So do you use one or the other? Or both bju press grammar and fix it grammar in one year?

[@erica_arndt]

I would not use both at the same time, they are both English curriculum. I am just showing you our top picks so you can find one that fits your needs best. We started out using BJU Press English then switched to IEW Fix It! Grammar a few years ago. Both are good programs, just depends on what you're looking for.

[@tess04231211]

Would structure & style along with FIG be a full LA curriculum? Grades 3 through 7 Just looking into IEW Have my now 6th grader using FIG

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, that is what we do, IEW writing + FIG

[@tess04231211]

@@erica_arndt TYSM, structure &style...that'd be good starting point? You think?

[@yelortiz]

Would you say this be Highschool appropriate? Thank you for the information and review 💛

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, they do have high school level units on their site. You can search by grade to get ones that are geared towards high schoolers.

[@AimeeCVaj]

My charter school does not allow any religious curriculum. Is there any other you would recommend?

[@erica_arndt]

I believe Shurley English is secular, but you'll want to verify that.

[@awkwardartist7628]

Can the Fix it Grammar be used for 9th grader?

[@erica_arndt]

Yes

[@mistyespinosa147]

Im not having luck finding sights with used books for sale. Where do you look?

[@erica_arndt]

eBay or local used curriculum fairs. You can also check my buy/sell/trade section in my community here: community.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/c/buy-sell-trade

[@mistyespinosa147]

Thank you!

[@erinowens]

Lots and lots of Facebook sites for buying and selling, also homeschoolclassifieds.com

[@Mtripp27]

I like Homeschool Market on Facebook. It's a Facebook group. I find great deal there all the time.

[@cy8125]

Does the curriculum require them to write out the sentence afterward and the vocabulary word, or is that something you require of your child? My son hates to write things out and it would make him hate the curriculum. He is ready for the subject matter and the editing stuff, but his handwriting ability and his writing endurance are still pretty immature.

[@erica_arndt]

The curriculum has them re-write their corrected sentence. They also have vocabulary word flashcards they pull out each week to study. If you start with The Nose Tree (It's book 1) he might be able to handle it. I have them correct the sentence each day then re-write it that same day. The sentences are short and it's usually just one sentence each day which is easier than writing all four sentences at the end of the week.

[@thebrauerbunch6994]

So Fix It is an entire curriculum for language and grammar? My daughter will be in 5th.

[@thebrauerbunch6994]

It seems like with one sentence a day you would need to supplement? Wondering if Fix It along with Daily Grams would be sufficient.

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, it is a full Lang/Grammar curriculum. I don't supplement it with anything at this time.