Bju Press Writing & Grammar Grade 10 (5th Edition)

This revised edition has multiple updates including new and removed chapters, new teaching strategies, and textual changes. Several sections have been added to different chapters. Because of these changes, it is not compatible with previous editions. Focusing on the essay, students learn how to write informative, persuasive, and narrative essays through a biblical lens. Students also learn good study and research skills, how to look for credible sources, being wise when writing internet articles, using onomatopoeia and alliteration, and much more. Four biblical themes are used throughout the student’s writing, including identity (writing should reflect God’s values); logic (using logic to declare truth); integrity (applying truth and grace with respect to others); and judgment (writing with wisdom and truth). Every other chapter teaches grammar concepts and applications of the concepts, including parts of speech, sentence patterns, phrases, clauses, and grammar usage and mechanics. The homeschool kit includes Teacher Editions Part 1 and 2, Student Worktext, Assessments, and Assessments Key.

The spiral-bound Teacher Editions Part 1 and 2 give parents/teachers an overview of each chapter and lesson plans for each day.  Eighteen chapters are divided into 180 lessons. A new teaching cycle implements four themes including engage (connecting prior knowledge with new content); instruct (direct instruction); apply (practicing skills); and assess (reviewing and testing). Teacher notes are wrapped around a reduced copy of the student text. Student discussion questions, impromptu writing assignments, and differentiated instruction for struggling learners are all included.  Although the thought-provoking questions, listening, and speaking activities are written for a classroom, they are easy to adapt for home use. A Writing Rubric to help parents evaluate students’ writing and other instructional aids are in the back. The teacher editions mention using BJU Press Trove for digital resources; however, this is only available for schools. The Homeschool Hub is specifically for homeschool parents, providing access to digital resources to support the lessons, a digital scheduler, and a gradebook.

The consumable Student Worktext allows students to practice writing and grammar skills. Informational text with annotations gives students a model of effective writing. Step-by-step instruction, graphic organizers, and checklists make it easy for the student to follow along. New sections called “Writing Studios”, “Lessons in Logic”, and “Brush-Ups” present techniques to improve writing and logic skills. Every chapter provides short sections on how to create better study habits. Chapter review is included at the end of each chapter. QR codes provide links to AfterSchoolHelp.com, which offers additional help with grammar concepts. Pages are perforated.

Assessments include six preassessments, eight grammar tests, and a final exam. An additional twenty-eight Concept Reinforcements provide more grammar assessment opportunities. The Assessment Answer Key includes a copy of the assessments with answers in red. A convenient Homeschool Kit combines all items into one package. For homeschool teachers, the only digital support available is the Homeschool Hub. This free sign up provides some help for each chapter: grammar concept reinforcement assignments (with differentiated instruction options) and answer keys, lesson plan helps, an Excel spreadsheet of web links (including video teaching links on the Web and on BJU’s AfterSchoolHelp). ~ Gina/Ruth