>  This year we are doing subjects and predicates.  He
 > can find subject allright
 >  and predicates, but we are learning about will and
 > other words being part of
 >  the predicate (if I am not explaining this right it
 > is because I am exhausted).
I think I understand....I think you just might explain that the subject is 
what the sentence is all about, and the predicate is the rest of the 
sentence. For instance, in the sentence "Jerry will go to the store", "Jerry" 
is the subject, and the rest is the predicate.
 > about getting Grammar Key, but am wondering if this program could be too
 > difficult for him?
I haven't evaluated that particular program, but you might want to look at it 
thru the eyes of a child, if you can. Perhaps let him sample it a little in a 
store, and see what he thinks?
I just found out two days ago that my kids' school will be starting to teach 
"real grammar" this year! Last year they only touched on it just before the 
MAT tests. This year, it will be taught right off the bat. I'm thrilled! Yet, 
at Back to School Night, I was the only parent that reacted in any way to the 
announcement (made me wonder if the teacher had put the rest of the parents 
to sleep).
 >  Another thing, my children are getting to the point
 > of wanting me to explain
 >  too much.  If I don't they protest completely.  It's
Maybe this is a time when you can do less of the direct approach, and more 
"self study" type work. Stuff that they can do almost independently without 
your help.
 > like giving the answer
 >  away.  I am trying to teach them to think for
 > themselves and ask themselves
Always a tough thing. Mine have the same trouble.
 > all right.  If she misses
 >  one question she whines and cries to heaven's end.
Hmmmm.....have you tried ignoring her when she goes into those tirades? It 
worked for me with Jennifer. Maybe you've tried that, tho.
 >  each one of them are and how one may need more help
 > than the other one, but
 >  then they seem to get jealous.  So now I am in a
I better not try to answer that one - I don't have the answer to it either. 
My children are Extremely Competitive with each other, and I've tried that 
same explanation. It works for about a day, then goes back to the same old 
thing. Maybe someone else here has an answer for both of us!
                                 -donna
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