REVIEW AND LESSON | MCT Michael Clay Thompson Island Level Grammar Curriculum

Come plan and do a lesson with me using the Michael Clay Thompson Island Level grammar curriculum!

Hi guys! I'm a SAH homeschooling momma of two, just wrapping up 3rd grade and preschool. I know how overwhelming it can be trying to find resources on using MCT method curriculum here on YouTube, and I had been asked a couple of time to show how I put a lesson together, so here's that video! This curriculum is unique in so many ways, and one is that there is not a designated plan that lines out for the instructor on how exactly to implement these lessons for your learners throughout the week. It's narrative/ conversation style, versus workbook. I find it presents grammar in a way that's really absorbable- if figuring out how to use the curriculum doesn't scare you off! Hopefully the tips and the lesson I planned give you guys some ideas on how to use MCT in your homeschool space and for your students. Leave me a comment down below if you need any further explanation, or if you're going to be using this for your grammar curriculum!

MCT Island Level Poetics and Vocabulary Flip Through and Review

MCT Level 2 Review

Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts Curriculum
(We started with the Island Level)

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[MindfullyLiv]

As requested, here is the lesson walk-through with the Michael Clay Thompson grammar curriculum and how we use it in our homeschool space. The lesson plan starts at the 14:00 minute mark. I do want to note that I cut it off at the end when I was wrapping up the video, I mention Royal Firework Press includes a suggested lesson plan with the curriculum. This is only if you purchase the *entire* set of the level. That would include the student and teacher books for each unit- the grammar, the writing, the literature, the vocabulary, and the poetics unit.That was out of my price range and altogether unnecessary for our family. We use only the teacher manuals (and I explain why in the video) except for the four-level analysis practice sheets, of which I bought and use both teacher and student books for. Let me know in the comments if you guys are veteran MCT users, planning on implementing it into your schedules, or are just now hearing about it! Other than the little amount of information about it online, and how exclusive the price is, I really have very little negatively to say about the actual curriculum itself. It's been a wonderful way of learning grammar for us that we enjoy a ton better than learning via workbook.

[LizGnagy]

We started using MCT this last fall and I just love it! My 9yo son really likes it too!

[apl]

I appreciate this video so much! I was so scared to dive into this program that I initially only purchase half the years worth of curriculum, but my daughter loved it so much I ended up getting the rest as well. I like how you structure your week. I have been trying to go through it completely winging it and it makes me a little stressed even though my daughter loves it for just that reason. Thanks for giving me some idea of how I can go about putting a bit of structure into it if only for mom’s sanity LOL.

[ErstwhileEducation]

Hi, I know this is an old post, but I'm wondering if I could pick your brain about MCT. I have the chance to grab the Grammar Island, Practice Island and Sentence Island [all] student books for a great deal. Which of these do you recommend also getting the instructor guide for (if any)? I think I'd grab the ebook version for the teacher guides... Thanks :)

[amandamckay]

This is by far the best explanation. Thank you for some clarification

[ravenbird]

Thank you for this! I’ve been interested but I was kind of unsure because it seems like everyone who uses it then includes IEW for writing and other vocabulary programs. I thought that this had a vocab section?

[sarapatton]

Wow! Royal Fireworks should sponsor you as this was SO much more helpful than anything I’ve been able to find on their site. We just purchased mostly teacher manuals of several levels to implement with my 2 learners (so expensive!). Also found several used copies online for much less. It’s unfortunate how many kiddos miss out on a good curriculum like this due to the astronomical pricing, especially for homeschooling families with several learners. Anyway, just want to say how much I appreciate your walk-thru, I feel much more confident in how to implement this after watching.

[rebeccavanderkooi]

Thank you. Would you be willing to do a video about the poetics book when you get to it? My daughter is six and I want to use this course, but her favourite part of read out louds is poetry.

[jonnahearn]

Thank you for doing this! Definitely helpful!

[jennythomas]

This was very helpful! Thank you for doing this video. I thought that this was an open and go program I guess I need to do more prep for my coming year. Bummer I thought I was done with prep work.

[liljdw]

This was very helpful. Thank you for posting this!

[racheleldred]

I’m planning to use this with my second and fourth grade boys together.. do you think that combining them could be done? My second grader is advanced and my fourth grader, while he loves learning, has dyslexia. With teaching two, would you suggest adding the student book(s)? Btw, thanks so much for this video.. incredibly helpful!

[Grannaml]

I was curious if you tried to combine MCT with B&R reading? I love the B&R student journals and the book selections but didn’t know if that would be overload with also doing MCTs full language arts curriculum.

[BustlingHome]

Any idea if you would adapt this in some way to work with multiple kids at once? I have twins... and more twins.

[lorisobeski]

do you have a link for the green draft/lined notebook for Sentence Island??

[itswrittenbroadcast-withbr]

Hi, another Youtuber shared that if a parent is not strong in Language Arts than they should not use this MCT. I prefer Math over Grammar any day from your experience do you think any parent could use the curriculum?

[laurausa]

Thank you so much for this walk-through of your lessons! I’ve been really on the fence about trying less but now I feel like it can actually talk talk to my daughter about it and describe it in a way that she might be able to understand. I really don’t Want to spend the money and have her not like it. She might like this better than her current structured lessons.

@MindfullyLiv I tried listening a few times but I couldn’t understand what you were saying. What is the name of the notebook that you are using? It’s green and says third grade on the cover.

[Homeschoolology]

This was incredibly helpful! Thanks for sharing!