Accent Your Syllables Author(s): Cathy BehrensNumber of pages: 30 pagesCopyright: 1999Publisher: Cathy BehrensBinding: Stapled Softcover Subject(s): GrammarResource Type: SupplementReview: This is a 30-page, self-published book with an answer key that fits into a unique category within the language arts curriculum. Accent Your Syllables is a brief worktext that first introduces the rules for syllabication and accents in English, then provides many exercises to practice applying those rules. The rules are printed in a blue ink and are easy to find on the pages. This course would be best suited for a student who is reading fluently, as the words are generally multi-syllable. Choosing words at random from the exercises provides this list: displease, exported, scripture, soapstone, Mediterranean, bacteria, and sedimentary. I plan to use this course over the period of a few weeks, rather than using it once a week throughout a school year. This course promises to be an excellent preparation for a student beginning the formal study of a foreign language as well as a course in a specific part of the study of English.Additional notes: Available from the author at 300 Marsh Street, Sedan, MN 56334 Reviewed by: Susan KalisFirst reviewed: 4-9-01
Eats, Shoots and Leaves Why, Commas Really DO Make a Difference!Author(s): Lynne TrussIllustrator(s): Bonnie Timmons Number of pages: 32 pagesCopyright: 2006Publisher: G.P. Putnam's SonsBinding: Sewn Hardcover Subject(s): GrammarGrade / Age level: All agesResource Type: SupplementPicture BooksReview: Reviewed by: Alicia Van HeckeFirst reviewed: 2-3-07
Elementary Diagramming Worktext Author(s): Mary DalyNumber of pages: 68 pagesCopyright: 2000Publisher: Ye Hedge SchoolBinding: Softcover Sample Pages Subject(s): GrammarGrade / Age level: ElementaryResource Type: SupplementReview: This is simple, clearly presented, and in a pleasing font; examples are profuse, and exercises numerous. It includes a complete answer key, on different colored paper, in the back of the book. Ours was just a shrink-wrapped set of 3-hole-punched pages which we put into a simple binder. No fancy bindings, but an excellent presentation. The eight chapters include The Sentence: Subject and Verb, Three Articles, Adjectives, Direct Objects, Linking Verbs, Adverbs, Prepositions, and A Peek Ahead. The introductory paragraph sums up the book succinctly: "Usually, we teach diagramming very gradually and even spread it over several years because there are so many details to learn. The trouble is, diagramming is a sort of language, though only a written language, and until you can use it for everyday thinking, you can't get used to it...Perhaps grammar could be taught a lot earlier and faster if it were made simple and visual." That is what the author has done...simply and visually. Update:The second edition (2002) contains 71 pages plus a 38 page answer key. The binding is now a "perfect bound" softcover binding. The content is essentially the same.Perspective: CatholicAdditional notes: Copyright 1998 / 2002 Reviewed by: Susan KalisFirst reviewed: 4-9-01
How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear? What are Homonyms and Homophones?Author(s): Brian P. ClearyIllustrator(s): Brian GableNumber of pages: 32 pagesPublisher: Millbrook Press Subject(s): GrammarGrade / Age level: Grades K-2Grades 3-5Resource Type: SupplementReview: Do you know what homonyms and homophones are? If not, this book will certainly help you understand them. With clever writing and silly cartoon illustrations (and a somewhat obnoxious typeface), they give many clever and memorable examples of each. Here's a small sampling of text from each of the two segments: Homonyms are words that sound and also look alike. But they have different meanings, as in "Can you pass that can, Mike?" Or "May I sail with you in May and coast along the coast? and Now, some words sound identical but are spelled in different way. These words are known as homophones. Like praise and preys and prays. Though homophones have matching sounds, their meanings aren't the same. And there isn't any question, they're as fun as any game. The homonym and homophone pairs are highlighted in matching colors to make it easy to identify each set. On the whole, we found this book both entertaining and helpful.Reviewed by: Alicia Van HeckeFirst reviewed: 6-27-2009
The First Whole Book of Diagrams Author(s): Mary DalyNumber of pages: 196 pagesCopyright: 1999Publisher: Ye Hedge SchoolBinding: Spiralbound Subject(s): GrammarGrade / Age level: Grades 6-8High SchoolAdultsResource Type: SupplementReview: Perspective: CatholicAdditional notes: The Complete Book of Diagrams is the public school version of the original diagramming book. It does not contain references to God. That version is available from the Riggs Institute. Reviewed by: Suchi MyjakFirst reviewed: 1-29-2008
The World of Language Series Author(s): Ruth Heller Subject(s): GrammarResource Type: SupplementReview: This series of six books introduces young children to concepts of grammar through very entertaining and sometimes humorous poetry and extremely colorful pictures. The titles are: Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs, Behind the Mask: A Book About Prepositions,A Cache of Jewels and Other Collective Nouns, Merry-Go-Round: A Book About Nouns, Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives and Up, Up, and Away: A Book About Adverbs. Within the context of a fast-moving collection of widely-varying and very colorful illustrations, these poems explain, list and give examples of each of the parts of speech. For example, in the book Behind the Mask, you'll find the following sentences (emphasis is the same here as it is in the text) " Of PREPOSITIONS have no fear. They help to make directions clear. Along the northern shore bear east... beyond this green, reptilian beast... past its hungry, gaping mouth... veer directly... to the south, toward a place where mermaids flock upon, beside and near a rock." These particular sentences are spread out over six pages which include pictures of an antique-looking map illustrated with ships, a treasure chest, a Tritan, etc., a large pictures of a green serpent and a page full of mermaids. My children have really enjoyed these books and I have to admit that they are a decent refresher course for moms as well. Unfortunately, almost every book has something (usually only one thing in each book) of a possibly-objectionable nature, such as: some scantily-clad mermaids and illustrations of witches (although appropriately portrayed as ugly and scary). The series is also recommended by Seton Home Study in their online reading resource lists.Reviewed by: Alicia Van HeckeFirst reviewed: 5-13-2000
