Fix It! Grammar Curriculum Review

In my homeschool, we approach language arts in a holistic way. This means children learn to spell, speak, and write primarily through narrations, dictation, copywork, notebooking, hearing stories read aloud, reading independently, and organic writing opportunities. While some homeschooling parents prefer to have separate curricula for each language arts “subject,” my approach is to use living books as the foundation and let it all happen through that lens.

Around third grade, I like to add in simple grammar lessons to give my children vocabulary for parts of speech and tools to grow in their composition skills. For years we have used and loved the curriculum Fix It! Grammar and the opportunities it provides for learning and repetition through storytelling and passages of literature. I find this curriculum is the perfect complement to our studies, as the lessons are short and can be done mostly independently. It maintains a focus on literature while pairing basic grammar skills with copywork in a fun and engaging way.

In this blog post I will detail Fix It! Grammar, including what it is, how we use it, and our honest reviews.

In this blog post:

Benefits of a strong grammar foundation for children
Charlotte Mason grammar teaching philosophy
What is Fix It! Grammar
Benefits of Fix It! Grammar curriculum
How we use Fix It! Grammar in our homeschool
My honest opinion of Fix It! Grammar
What my kids are saying about Fix It! Grammar
More language arts resources from Treehouse Schoolhouse

Benefits of a strong grammar foundation for children

A solid foundation in grammar supports effective communication in both writing and speaking. As children engage with proper sentence structure, verb usage, punctuation, and parts of speech, they cultivate the ability to express themselves clearly. Good grammar enriches not only their writing, but also their understanding of what they read and how they communicate verbally. When children have a strong command of grammar, they can articulate their thoughts with confidence and accuracy, essential skills for their overall education and interactions.

Developing grammar skills fosters confidence in both writing and speaking. When children grasp the rules of language, they are more inclined to be confident in expressing their creativity through speaking and writing. A strong foundation in grammar empowers them to read and comprehend texts with greater ease, enriching their overall education. Mastering grammar helps to prevent the establishment of poor habits that may be challenging to correct in the future.

Parents can nurture these skills through thoughtful, engaging activities, and regular practice. Reading aloud, encouraging oral and written narrations, and providing opportunities for creative writing can transform grammar learning into an enjoyable pursuit. By cultivating a rich, language-centric environment, we can inspire children to develop a lasting appreciation for effective communication and the beauty of language in their everyday lives

Charlotte Mason grammar teaching philosophy

Charlotte Mason teaching methods do not begin teaching grammar until children are around age 10, and can have a better grasp of abstract concepts. Prior to age 10, Charlotte Mason method focuses on reading living literature and practicing copywork.

When children are ready to explore grammar, Charlotte Mason encourages this study by analyzing passages of literature in living books. This may look like taking a passage of literature and pointing out an element of grammar like capitalization or a complete sentence. It could look like using a text to look for parts of speech, or showing how the punctuation or sentence structure was used to express the writer’s idea.

The Charlotte Mason approach to teaching grammar relies on seeing how the English language is used in passages of existing literature.

What is Fix it! Grammar?

Fix It! Grammar is an engaging and effective program that helps students develop strong grammar skills through daily editing practice and copywork. Each lesson presents a passage with embedded errors, allowing students to hunt for and correct mistakes while following a continuous storyline. This approach encourages students to apply their grammar knowledge in context, reinforcing their understanding and aiding in the transfer of skills to their own writing. Spanning six levels, Fix It! Grammar provides a full year of instruction and editing practice, making grammar learning both systematic and meaningful.

The program follows a structured five-step process designed for mastery learning. Each week, students:

Learn It: Students first learn by being introduced to new grammar concepts.
Read It: Students read a passage, encountering new vocabulary words within the passage.
Mark It: Students identify parts of speech and key grammar rules.
Fix It: Students correct errors using proper editing marks.
Rewrite It: Students rewrite the passage with corrected errors, ensuring the corrected sentence is properly written while also practicing penmanship.

The lessons are structured with short, 5-10 minute lessons. My children have been able to complete this work almost completely independently.

Because the lessons are centered around a storytelling passage, this curriculum is compatible and a great complement to Charlotte Mason teaching methods, but instead of finding passages of literature, it lays it out for you.

Fix It! Grammar offers six levels tailored to different learning stages. Each level includes a teacher’s manual with a comprehensive grammar glossary, ensuring instructors have the tools needed to guide students effectively. By integrating grammar instruction with engaging storytelling and practical editing exercises, Fix It! Grammar transforms grammar learning into an interactive, meaningful experience.

Fix It! Grammar placement

To place your student in the new Fix It! Grammar program, review the book descriptions and the Student samples to determine. Students with little or no grammar background should begin in Level 1 regardless of their age. Read more about each level here.

Benefits of Fix It! Grammar curriculum

Strong grammar foundation

Fix It! Grammar is a great option to help children build a strong foundation in grammar. Mastering grammar helps children construct clear, well-structured sentences, enhancing their ability to express ideas confidently. A strong grasp of grammar improves reading comprehension and allows students to understand complex texts more easily. By learning grammar systematically, students develop critical thinking and analytical skills that support their overall academic success. When grammar is taught in an engaging and meaningful way, students are more likely to retain and apply what they have learned in their writing and daily communication.

Learning grammar through storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful tool for teaching grammar, as it allows students to learn language concepts in a meaningful and engaging context. Fix It! Grammar incorporates a continuous story where students identify and correct grammatical errors, reinforcing their understanding while following an interesting narrative. This approach makes learning enjoyable and helps students see how grammar functions in real-world writing. By connecting grammar instruction to storytelling, students develop a natural intuition for language structure and usage, making it easier to apply their knowledge to their own writing.

Learning grammar through practical application

Rather than memorizing isolated rules, students benefit most from applying grammar concepts directly in context. Fix It! Grammar encourages students to analyze and edit passages, helping them see how grammatical rules operate in actual writing. This hands-on approach strengthens retention and reinforces critical thinking skills, as students must actively engage with the text. By correcting errors and rewriting sentences properly, students gain confidence in their ability to use grammar effectively in their own writing, ensuring long-term mastery.

Opportunities for grammar practice and repetition

Consistent practice is key to mastering grammar, and Fix It! Grammar provides daily opportunities for students to reinforce their learning. Each lesson builds upon previous concepts, allowing students to gradually develop their editing and writing skills. The program’s repetitive structure ensures that key grammar rules and principles are reviewed frequently, helping students internalize them over time.

Short, efficient grammar lessons

Fix It! Grammar is designed with short, focused lessons that fit easily into a student’s daily routine. With just 5-10 minutes a day, students can make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed. This efficient format keeps students engaged and ensures that learning remains manageable and effective. The brief but targeted approach allows learners to absorb grammar concepts gradually while still having time for practicing those skills in narrations and organic writing. By keeping lessons concise, the program maximizes learning retention and minimizes frustration.

My kids often bookmark the “Learn It!” sections to refer back to lessons or grammar concepts.

Excellent complement to an existing language arts curriculum

Fix It! Grammar works seamlessly alongside any language arts curriculum, reinforcing grammar concepts while supporting broader literacy skills. Whether used as a primary grammar resource or as a supplement to writing and reading instruction, the program enhances students’ understanding of language mechanics. Its approach ensures that students are not just memorizing rules but actively applying them in meaningful contexts. By integrating Fix It! Grammar with other language arts studies, students receive a well-rounded education that strengthens their writing, reading, and critical thinking skills.

How we use Fix It! Grammar in our homeschool

My children, ages 10 and 11, complete one page of Fix It! Grammar each school day. We started with Level 1: Nose Tree around 3rd or 4th grade and when they completed it, moved to Level 2: Town Mouse and Country Mouse.

They read the Learn It section independently whenever a new lesson is introduced. Most days, their lessons take between 5 to 10 minutes. They fix the sentence, label the parts of speech, and rewrite it correctly. I check their work when they’re finished, and I refer to the Teacher’s Manual for reference as needed.

My honest opinion about Fix It! Grammar

Fix It! Grammar blends seamlessly with our homeschool studies. Because I lean heavily into a Charlotte Mason approach, I love that this study relies on reading a passage of literature to anchor the study. I love how we can cover grammar in 5-10 minutes each day, and that my children can do this study independently. It has been a great fit for our homeschool.

What my kids are saying about Fix It! Grammar

Here is what my kids have to say about Fix It! Grammar:

Titus (age 11): I like Fix It! Grammar because it’s not just random sentences everyday, but an ongoing storyline and it teaches what I need to know in a quick and basic way.
Josie (age 10): Fix It! Grammar makes grammar more fun because it is a whole story. I like the repetition because it just adds a little bit at a time, so it’s not overwhelming, but I am learning a lot!

More language arts resources from Treehouse Schoolhouse

Book studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse

Dive deep into living literature in your homeschool with book studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse. These studies study the story in detail, and then connect the story to themes in science, nature, geography, history, and language arts for further learning. These studies can be a great supplement to your homeschool curriculum, or a language arts reading curriculum that can be used for multiple ages.

Study favorite young adult books like My Side of the Mountain, The Twenty-One Balloons, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and more!

Each Book Study Guide includes four Weekly Lesson Grids. The Weekly Lesson Grid is intended to be used as a menu for how to study the assigned reading each week. Lesson plans are compiled in a weekly format, so the parent can choose which activities to use each day. These lessons offer opportunities to READ, DISCUSS, LEARN, EXPLORE, and MAKE, bringing the books to life. The Book Study Guide also includes materials lists, recipes, worksheets, and reference links to enhance your study.

Each book study also includes:

Book Report Booklet: Children will complete a book report using the study’s Book Report Template. They’ll illustrate their own covers, journal about their favorite characters, and write summaries of what they learned.
Illustrated Dictionary: As children come across unfamiliar words in the story, they will create an entry in the Illustrated Dictionary. They will write the unfamiliar word, look it up in a dictionary, write the definition, and write it in a complete sentence. As the weeks go by, they will compile their own Illustrated Dictionary which can be saved and bound.
Book Meet-up Guide: The Book Meet-up Guide provides ideas for food and activities specific to each book study, perfect for meeting with friends or with a book club.

View all of the Treehouse Schoolhouse Book Studies here.

Related: Sign of the Beaver Book Study

Wonder of Nature Alphabet Collection (Print and Cursive)

The Wonder of Nature Alphabet Collection – including Print Cards, Cursive Cards, and Alphabet Sheets – were designed to offer young children a multi-sensory invitation to recognizing letters. The watercolor illustrations coordinate with each letter of the alphabet to teach early phonetic awareness by introducing them to beginning letter sounds. These beautiful cards can be displayed in your school room or used for hands-on learning activities like matching, sorting, and reading.

The Wonder of Nature Alphabet Sheets were designed to offer young children a multi-sensory invitation to recognizing, forming, and writing letters. Slide these sheets into a restaurant menu cover or into dry-erase pouches so that your child can practice them again and again. Use dry-erase markers and wipe clean after each use.

Download a free sample of the Letter A here.

Wonder of Nature Cursive Copywork

Wonder of Nature Cursive Copywork offers children a beautiful invitation to learn and practice cursive letter formation with engaging copywork activities. The watercolor nature illustrations, beautiful language, and thought-provoking facts bring beauty and delight as they work through the collection.

Copywork is a long-standing practice in education. It is the practice of copying words, phrases, and passages to help children improve grammar, punctuation, letter formation, and spelling. This collection offers nature-themed vocabulary, literary quotes, poetry excerpts, facts, and even a few jokes as the source for copywork. The illustrations coordinate with the copywork selections.

How to you study and practice grammar in your homeschool? Let us know in the comments below.