G.U.M Drops

Description

...as in Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics practice presented through short daily doses of editing practice! Editing is a valuable skill for children to learn, both as a stand alone skill and to help them become better writers themselves. Good writers are also frequently those students who actively read good writing. This series combines these two elements by focusing students on editing passages from classic literature, covering grade appropriate concepts in grammar, usage, and mechanics at each level. To ensure that students are not editing above their skill level, the books present worksheets covering each rule or concept before the student is expected to edit for it. For example, the first page may cover complete sentences, and then the next page offers students a passage to edit which contains both complete sentences and sentence fragments. At least three out of every five pages are editing passages, as this remains the focus. Worksheets in the back of the book switch to various language and usage concepts after the rules have been covered. In this way, the workbooks progress through age-appropriate concepts, continually building on previous skills and increasing in difficulty. As mentioned, the focus of the workbooks is on the actual editing passages. Because the original works are often too advanced in vocabulary or do not follow the same rules as modern English, the excerpts included in these workbooks are not from the original books. Rather, the passages in the first three books have been taken from the EDCON Classic Worktext series (see description in our Reading Comprehension section), adaptations of the classics written specifically for younger grade levels, yet retaining the original flavor of the books. The later four books include passages especially rewritten for students, summarizing the entire story into a series of shorter passages to be edited. Students not only get editing practice, they are also familiarized with six classic works per level. The G.U.M. drops series is useful for a light introduction to English and grammar for younger grades, or as a refresher or daily review for any grade to supplement any curriculum. Teacher pages are included in the back of each book. 123 pgs.

Download PDF Samples:Grades 1-2  |  Grades 3  |  Grades 4  |  Grades 5  |  Grades 6  |  Grades 7  |  Grades 8

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Religious Content
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.