Community Question is a category inspired by you. Here and there readers write in with questions that are better served by the varied, experiential knowledge of those who read and contribute in the comments. Please respond to this post in the comments, but if you have a question for the community email it to Heather.
The following question is from Kim C.
“This is our 4th year homeschooling our son. Our curriculum is all from one company, and we’ve been very happy with all of it until we hit a roadblock with grammar. Last year, in 6th grade, we did the grammar book they suggested for 7th grade. That seemed to go well, though we did have to spend quite a bit of time on prepositions. Recently he told me he still doesn’t understand prepositions, though he is able to do the assignments associated with identifying them.
This year (7th grade), we ordered the 8th grade grammar book “Application of Grammar, Basics for Communicating Effectively.” The first page mentioned “predicate nominative” with a one-line explanation – meltdown time! He is having a hard time grasping the abstract concepts of grammar and dealing with some of the terminology. (In the sentence ‘Mark’s hair is brown’ he insists the subject of the sentence is Mark because that’s who we’re talking about.) He has a hard time moving on in any subject until he understands the why and how of a given topic. ”