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Michael Clay Thompson: Secondary Grammar, Magic Lens
A Spiral Tour Through The Human Ideas of Grammar
The new, Third Edition, of Magic Lens Volume One, is now available.
The new Volume One is now in its Third Edition, beautifully designed in full-color and with an improved layout that offers greater clarity for student and teacher.
The entire emphasis is on the four-level sentence analysis. Sentence diagramming accompanies the text. Punctuation is dealt with at each level and practice is incorporated at every stage.
Our aim in producing this greatly improved version is to clarify, simplify, and illuminate the endlessly fascinating complexity of English grammar, whilst maintaining the price the same as before. We believe this revised version is visually and thematically more accessible and will be a great asset to our constantly improving RFP LA Curriculum.
The program follows on from the elementary grammar series: Grammar Island, Grammar Town and Grammar Voyage, but can also stand alone.
"From a utilitarian point of view, I think Grammar is an intellectual pocket-knife; it is small, easily purchased, and so useful that one would not dream of being without it.
"Grammar is so lovely that even if it were useless, one would irresistibly explore it, as one explores chess, or architecture, or the spiral geometries of shells. It is a sort of magic aesthetic lens, through which we can view the delicate structures of ideas." - Michael Clay Thompson
Grammar is an easily teachable subject because its concepts are so few and well defined there are only forty or so terms to grasp to understand the elements of basic grammar. The first part of the year is devoted to teaching students the four parts of grammar that comprise the whole package: Parts of speech, Parts of the sentence, Phrases, and Clauses. Once the students have been introduced to all four elements of grammar, they are reminded about some common English grammar and usage problems
There is a low-cost homeschool parent guide that accompanies the main student book for home-educators.
For a complete overview go to the Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts Curriculum page.
Go to our Practice Workbooks series to see the new supplements to all our vocabulary and grammar programs. These low-cost, consumable workbooks provide in-depth instruction with 100 practice sentences for four-level analysis.
Support Groups for users of Michael Clay Thompson's Language Arts series
Homeschoolers and parents are invited to join the Royal Fireworks Press Support Group: MCTLA
Michael Clay Thompson Course Packages
We have made available special packages of the curriculum to help make your ordering easier and to help you save money. Includes student book and teacher's manual for each stage of the curriculum: Homeschool Packages
Featuring the new, Third Edition, of Magic Lens Volume 1
Volume 1 is now in its Third Edition, beautifully designed in full-color and with an improved layout that offers greater clarity for student and teacher.
The entire emphasis is on the four-level sentence analysis. Sentence diagramming accompanies the text. Punctuation is dealt with at each level and practice is incorporated at every stage.
Our aim in producing this greatly improved version is to clarify, simplify, and illuminate the endlessly fascinating complexity of English grammar, whilst maintaining the price the same as before. We believe this revised version is visually and thematically more accessible and will be a great asset to our constantly improving RFP LA Curriculum.
The program follows on from the elementary grammar series: Grammar Island, Grammar Town and Grammar Voyage, but can also stand alone.
"From a utilitarian point of view, I think Grammar is an intellectual pocket-knife; it is small, easily purchased, and so useful that one would not dream of being without it.
"Grammar is so lovely that even if it were useless, one would irresistibly explore it, as one explores chess, or architecture, or the spiral geometries of shells. It is a sort of magic aesthetic lens, through which we can view the delicate structures of ideas." - Michael Clay Thompson
Grammar is an easily teachable subject because its concepts are so few and well defined there are only forty or so terms to grasp to understand the elements of basic grammar. The first part of the year is devoted to teaching students the four parts of grammar that comprise the whole package: Parts of speech, Parts of the sentence, Phrases, and Clauses. Once the students have been introduced to all four elements of grammar, they are reminded about some common English grammar and usage problems
The classroom tests are now in the school Teacher's Manual on a CD.
For a complete overview go to the Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts Curriculum page.
Go to our Practice Workbooks series to see the new supplements to all our vocabulary and grammar programs. These low-cost, consumable workbooks provide in-depth instruction with 100 practice sentences for four-level analysis.
Support Groups for users of Michael Clay Thompson's Language Arts series
Classroom teachers and educators in schools are invited to join the Group: MCTteachers
Michael Clay Thompson Course Packages
We have made available special packages of the curriculum to help make your ordering easier and to help you save money. Includes student book and teacher's manual for each stage of the curriculum: School Examination Packages
Books in this series:
Magic Lens, Vol 1: Student Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- Language Arts; Grammar
- Age:
- 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
- Grade:
- 6, 7, 8, 9
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-790-1
- Latest edition:
- November 2011 3rd Edition
- Order code:
- 7901
- Price:
- $30.00
- Online Price:
- $20.00
- Class sets:
- 25 or more: $18.00 each. (Order code: 7901S)
This Student Book of the Third Edition of Magic Lens Vol 1 is entirely based on the four-level sentence analysis. This analysis of parts of speech, parts of sentence, phrases, and clauses, is Michael Clay Thompson's original and enormously successful approach to teaching grammar.
The Student Books and Teacher Manuals are now in full color. There is improved layout and enhanced sentence diagramming, whilst the "loops” of the previous edition and class tests are on a CD with the Teacher Manual. Punctuation is dealt with at each level of the analysis.
This Student Book of the Third Edition of Magic Lens Vol 1 is entirely based on the four-level sentence analysis. This analysis of parts of speech, parts of sentence, phrases, and clauses, is Michael Clay Thompson's original and enormously successful approach to teaching grammar.
The Student Books and Teacher Manuals are now in full color. There is improved layout and enhanced sentence diagramming, whilst the "loops” of the previous edition and class tests are on a CD with the Teacher Manual. Punctuation is dealt with at each level of the analysis.
MagicLens Student pages:
View online or
Download PDF
Magic Lens Vol 1, HOME SCHOOL Parent Answer Guide
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Grammar; Homeschooling
- Age:
- 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
- Grade:
- 6, 7, 8, 9
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-796-3
- Latest edition:
- April 2011 3rd Edition
- Order code:
- 7963
- Price:
- $20.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
This is the homeschool parent's manual to accompany the new, Third Edition of Volume One Magic Lens, launched March 2011. It is now entirely based on four-level sentence analysis. This book is in black and white, whilst the student book is full-color throughout.
Grammar is an easily teachable subject because its concepts are so few and well defined and there are only forty or so terms to grasp to understand the elements of basic grammar.
It is the fundamental starting point for the MCT Curriculum which recommends front-loading language arts teaching with grammar. Then Vocabulary and Writing and Poetics can be added once the student has grasped the basics: Parts of speech, Parts of the sentence, Phrases, and Clauses.
This book accompanies the Student Manual (Order Code: 7901). It does not replace it. Homeschoolers need both.
The 4Practice1 Workbook provides an extra 100 practice sentences for four-level analysis.
The CD of 'Loops" is an optional extra for those who wish even more practice.
MagicLens1 Parent guide pages 1-15:
View online or
Download PDF
Magic Lens, Vol 1, Teacher Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Grammar
- Grade:
- 6, 7, 8, 9
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-791-8
- Latest edition:
- April 2011 3rd Edition
- Order code:
- 7918
- Price:
- $40.00
- Online Price:
- $30.00
This Teacher Manual contains the student book, classroom teaching notes and the "loops" and class tests that were in the previous edition on an attached CD. The whole book is in full-color.
MLensTeacher pages:
View online or
Download PDF
Magic Lens CD of Loops
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- Teacher Resources; Grammar
- Age:
- 11, 12, 13, 14
- Order code:
- 7963D
- Price:
- $10.00
This is available separately if you would like extra exercises for teaching grammar with the CD that is otherwise part of the Classroom Teacher's Manual.
It contains more grammar teaching ideas, the examples from classic literature, and 'writing labs and recipes' that were in the old Magic Lens 1 Teacher's Manual, together with answer pages, and student punctuation test cards. In all there are 202 pages of exercises and answer keys.
The 4Practice1 workbook contains 100 sentences for analysis and teaching and most parents find this sufficient. However, the CD is an optional extra teaching aid for those who wish even more practice.
Sample pages from Magic Lens1 Loops CD:
View online or
Download PDF
Magic Lens Vol 2, HOME SCHOOL Parent Answer Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Grammar; Homeschooling
- Age:
- 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
- Grade:
- 7, 8, 9, 10
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-582-2
- Latest edition:
- 2008
- Order code:
- 5822
- Price:
- $20.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
Note for Homeschooling Parents: This book accompanies the Volume 2 Student Manual (Order Code: 2117). It does not replace it.
Magic Lens 2 Parent Guide sample pages:
View online or
Download PDF
Magic Lens, Vol 2: Student Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Grammar
- Grade:
- 7, 8, 9, 10
- ISBN:
- 978-0-8802-2111
- Order code:
- 2117
- Price:
- $30.00
- Online Price:
- $20.00
- Class sets:
- 25 or more: $18.00 each. (Order code: 2117S)
Magic Lens2, Loop 2:
View online or
Download PDF
Magic Lens, Vol 2, Teacher Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Grammar
- Grade:
- 7, 8, 9, 10
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-213-5
- Latest edition:
- 2002
- Order code:
- 2133
- Price:
- $40.00
- Online Price:
- $30.00
NOTE: This book is for sale only to teachers; we will ship only to school addresses.
Magic Lens, Vol 3: Student Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Grammar
- Grade:
- 8, 9, 10, 11
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-214-2
- Latest edition:
- July 2011
- Order code:
- 2141
- Price:
- $30.00
- Online Price:
- $20.00
- Class sets:
- 25 or more: $18.00 each. (Order code: 2141S)
Magic Lens 3, Loop 3:
View online or
Download PDF
Magic Lens Vol 3, HOME SCHOOL Parent Answer Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Grammar; Homeschooling
- Age:
- 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
- Grade:
- 8, 9, 10, 11
- ISBN:
- 9780-0-88092-583-9
- Latest edition:
- 2008
- Order code:
- 5839
- Price:
- $20.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
Note for Homeschooling Parents: this book supplements the Volume 3 Student Manual (Order Code 2141). It does not replace it.
Magic Lens, Vol 3: Teacher Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Grammar
- Grade:
- 8, 9, 10, 11
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-215-9
- Latest edition:
- 2003
- Order code:
- 215X
- Price:
- $40.00
- Online Price:
- $30.00
NOTE: This book is for sale only to teachers; we will ship only to school addresses.
























