Fix It! Grammar -- my REVIEW

The grammar you use can define you, or at least make a large first impression on people.  This is something I tell my children when they wonder aloud why I make such a big deal about them learning and using correct grammar, whether in writing or in speaking.   I have some favorite grammar curricula which we have used through the years, but I'm always interested to check out new options.  The latest grammar curriculum which we were able to sample for this review is called Fix It! Grammar and is a publication of the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW).

Since we had not used this program before, we began with the first book (Book 1) in the series, which is entitled The Nose Tree.  When we received it and began to use it, we understood that  Fix It! Grammar  is not actually a full grammar curriculum. It is a supplement, really meant to be used for about fifteen minutes a day, four days a week, for thirty-three weeks (for a full schoolyear). For older students, the recommended use is to double up and complete a book in one semester.  After my children had begun using this, we agreed that the semester usage for high schoolers was totally do-able (even within that fifteen minutes a day stipulation). 

The student workbook is meant to be used with an additional notebook in which the student will do their writing/copying exercises.  

This is basically a program which stresses "real life" use of grammar, namely editing.  Students read a sentence (passage), mark the parts of speech which have been reviewed/learned thus far in the book, and make any additions or corrections which are needed.  There are some vocabulary exercises (looking up bolded words and writing those definitions in your notebook) as well as quite a focus on using strong, definitive words (called "dressing up") to say what you really mean in a clear way.  At the ends of the lessons is a segment where the student copies the corrected sentence or passage into their notebook--joining it with the ones from the other weeks--until the story is completed and revealed.   At the back of the book is a series of notecards to cut out to remind you of the parts of speech you have learned thus far.  There is also a section which is entitled the Glossary, which is full of information about the parts of speech as well as other writing topics and norms.

The teacher's manual is very easy to use. The teacher's notes are full of good information about how to teach different topics and how to make it applicable to life.  

I liked how this curriculum is really meant to be a supplement to grammar learning.  In the introduction to the teacher's manual they actually suggest that this not be done for a "grade" but as a part of a larger learning system.

Although the student workbook contains directions to the student about what should be done each day, I think that the teacher book was very helpful and really smoothed the way through.  So the way that this is created is that you would purchase the Teacher's Manual for the book you are using and then you may either purchase a spiral bound student book or you are actually given a download code in the teacher's manual so that you can download the student materials (along with some other helpful videos) for use with your students in your homeschooled family or in your homeschool class.

We used this book by Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) with my high schoolers (9th and 11th grade).  I am not sure how much they actually "learned" from it, but it is good review of critical skills for editing.  I would recommend this curriculum in its capacity as a supplement. 

If you would like to read more reviews by other homeschoolers about the books in the Fix It! Grammar series, please click on the link below!