Registration is closed for Fall 2021. Please contact me if you are interested in a spring semester class.
About the Live Intensives
The Grammar Matters live intensive courses are open to students in grades 6-12. Grammar Matters I is designed for students who need to master the basics of grammar. Grammar Matters II is designed for students who need a review of grammar basics but are ready to learn more. They are "intensives" because they cover a lot of material in only a single semester. This is because most of today's students have heavy course loads that don't leave much room for systematic grammar study. The Grammar Matters courses are designed for busy students who need to master English grammar, mechanics, and style but who also need a minimal impact on their overall course load. A Grammar Matters III course may be offered to students who are ready to advance beyond the first two courses, but it has not yet been created.
Although I use the classic Warriner's Grammar and Composition textbook, I use my own teaching methods. Classes will typically include a review/warm-up exercise, a time for questions and comments about the previous assignment, a lesson on the day's concept, and group practice exercises. Sometimes I deviate from the textbook by linking students to websites, and sometimes I use my own handouts. In most classes we will also practice parsing sentences using a six-level analysis exercise, which allows students to examine every aspect of a sentence's grammar. Consistent practice with six-level analysis enables deeper mastery in a shorter amount of time.
Because mastery is only possible through extensive practice and because the end goal is improvement of writing skills, I also include editing exercises in each course. Students will be given a short prose or poetry selection that is edited to contain mistakes or various opportunities to identify sentence parts. Their task will be to find all of the mistakes or identify all the parts. This will sharpen their eye for mistakes in their own writing. Finally, to facilitate mastery I offer a weekly, self-graded parsing exercise for 12 weeks following the end of the course. This is included in the tuition price.
Following each lesson, students will practice the lesson concept and will also practice other concepts by completing a six-level parsing exercise. In this way, students move toward mastery more quickly, because they are constantly reviewing everything they've learned.
Although I use the classic Warriner's Grammar and Composition textbook, I use my own teaching methods. Classes will typically include a review/warm-up exercise, a time for questions and comments about the previous assignment, a lesson on the day's concept, and group practice exercises. Sometimes I deviate from the textbook by linking students to websites, and sometimes I use my own handouts. In most classes we will also practice parsing sentences using a six-level analysis exercise, which allows students to examine every aspect of a sentence's grammar. Consistent practice with six-level analysis enables deeper mastery in a shorter amount of time.
Because mastery is only possible through extensive practice and because the end goal is improvement of writing skills, I also include editing exercises in each course. Students will be given a short prose or poetry selection that is edited to contain mistakes or various opportunities to identify sentence parts. Their task will be to find all of the mistakes or identify all the parts. This will sharpen their eye for mistakes in their own writing. Finally, to facilitate mastery I offer a weekly, self-graded parsing exercise for 12 weeks following the end of the course. This is included in the tuition price.
Following each lesson, students will practice the lesson concept and will also practice other concepts by completing a six-level parsing exercise. In this way, students move toward mastery more quickly, because they are constantly reviewing everything they've learned.
General Course Schedules
Option 1: Level 1 or 2 complete course -- Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00-1:50 p.m. Eastern time; beginning Monday, September 13; 18 weeks / 2 days per week / 50 minutes per class + 12 weeks self-graded mastery exercises; orientation class, Wednesday, September 8, 1:00
Option 2: Custom courses -- 45-minute class/ student -- Courses may begin on the first week of any month throughout the year, including summer. Courses are always prefaced with an orientation meeting to ensure that all students know how to use the necessary Google apps and how to prepare their assignments. Please fill out the registration form below to request a class. No payment will be required until all details are finalized and an invoice is sent.
Note: Classes will not be recorded. Students who miss a class will need to catch up through independent study.
SPECIAL NOTES:
Option 2: Custom courses -- 45-minute class/ student -- Courses may begin on the first week of any month throughout the year, including summer. Courses are always prefaced with an orientation meeting to ensure that all students know how to use the necessary Google apps and how to prepare their assignments. Please fill out the registration form below to request a class. No payment will be required until all details are finalized and an invoice is sent.
Note: Classes will not be recorded. Students who miss a class will need to catch up through independent study.
SPECIAL NOTES:
- All classes will be conducted via Google Meet with both audio and video.
- Although I do my best to accommodate all student needs and capabilities, I cannot be held responsible for technical difficulties with Google services. Usually it is very reliable, but if a student cannot participate due to technical difficulties, I will modify the lesson as best I can. After two instances of a student not being able to participate due to technical difficulties, families will have the option of doing an independent study instead or receiving a pro-rated refund.
