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MCT: Practice Sentences: Student Workbooks
These workbooks offer a tremendous instructional opportunity—beyond anything all but the very luckiest students will ever experience again. In conjunction with our grammar, vocabulary, poetics and writing series, they offer students a universe beyond their imagining—and far beyond the ken of their peers who do not get the opportunity to learn from the works of Michael Clay Thompson.
It is a series of consumable workbooks that covers both elementary and secondary levels and in each book there are one hundred sentences for Thompson's unique, four-level, analysis practice. Throughout, he has taken enormous care to instruct students in the nuances of great writing while bringing them face-to-face with the intricacies of grammar at its most creative levels.
The author writes in 4Practice Vol 2: “We think of grammar and vocabulary as different areas of language study, but doing these analyses is a sharp reminder that every part of speech is a word, and every word is a part of speech without exception. Formal language study requires rigorous and connected grammar and vocabulary development.”
In the student manuals there is a sentence on each page and underneath four lines with blank spaces to fill in the parts of speech, the parts of the sentence, phrases and clauses.
The teacher manuals give not only the correct answers but also extensive explanations, comments and topics for classroom discussion. It is essential to have both the Student Book and the teacher manual.
The Secondary level workbooks are the 4Practice volumes.
Click on the images below to view and print the full-size poster PDF:
Support Groups for users of Michael Clay Thompson's Language Arts series
Homeschoolers and parents are invited to join the 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. There is a Complete Package with student books and teacher's manuals for each stage of the curriculum and lower-cost Basic Packages: Homeschool Packages
These workbooks offer a tremendous instructional opportunity—beyond anything all but the very luckiest students will ever experience again. In conjunction with our grammar, vocabulary, poetics and writing series, they offer students a universe beyond their imagining—and far beyond the ken of their peers who do not get the opportunity to learn from the works of Michael Clay Thompson.
It is a series of consumable workbooks that covers both elementary and secondary levels and in each book there are one hundred sentences for Thompson's unique, four-level, analysis practice. Throughout, he has taken enormous care to instruct students in the nuances of great writing while bringing them face-to-face with the intricacies of grammar at its most creative levels.
The author writes in 4Practice Vol 2: “We think of grammar and vocabulary as different areas of language study, but doing these analyses is a sharp reminder that every part of speech is a word, and every word is a part of speech without exception. Formal language study requires rigorous and connected grammar and vocabulary development.”
In the student manuals there is a sentence on each page and underneath four lines with blank spaces to fill in the parts of speech, the parts of the sentence, phrases and clauses.
The teacher manuals give not only the correct answers but also extensive explanations, comments and topics for classroom discussion.
The Secondary level workbooks are the 4Practice volumes.
Click on the images below to view and print the full-size poster PDF:
Support Groups for users of Michael Clay Thompson's Language Arts series
Teachers and educators in schools are invited to join the Group: MCTteachers
Michael Clay Thompson Course Packages
We have made available special examination packages of the curriculum to help make your ordering easier. Includes student book and teacher's manual for each stage of the curriculum: School Examination Packages
Books in this series:
Practice Island, One Hundred Four-level Analysis Sentences: Student Workbook
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Writing; Grammar
- Age:
- 8, 9, 10, 11
- Grade:
- 3, 4
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-680-5
- Latest edition:
- September 2011
- Order code:
- 6805
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
- Class sets:
- 25 or more: $9.00 each. (Order code: 6805S)
Part of Michael Clay Thompson's Language Arts Curriculum, Practice island is the first of the elementary level Practice Workbooks. Its aim is to improve students' grammar, writing and vocabulary through analysis of individual sentences. His proven and effective approach to teaching English begins with the basic principles and in later books progresses to advanced levels, all the while in a wonderfully fresh and accessible style and original format.
This is primarily a supplement to Grammar Island and Sentence Island; students work through the sentences using a unique four-level analysis and thereby reinforce their grammar and writing skills.
Each of the hundred sentences has a separate page with four blank lines to fill in the parts of speech, the parts of the sentence, phrases and clauses. By the end of the workbook, by examining a wide and often amusing set of sentences, students experience the success and satisfaction of a clear understanding of the principles of English sentences.
A really useful, low-cost and consumable workbook.
Part of Michael Clay Thompson's Language Arts Curriculum, Practice island is the first of the elementary level Practice Workbooks. Its aim is to improve students' grammar, writing and vocabulary through analysis of individual sentences. His proven and effective approach to teaching English begins with the basic principles and in later books progresses to advanced levels, all the while in a wonderfully fresh and accessible style and original format.
This is primarily a supplement to Grammar Island and Sentence Island; students work through the sentences using a unique four-level analysis and thereby reinforce their grammar and writing skills.
Each of the hundred sentences has a separate page with four blank lines to fill in the parts of speech, the parts of the sentence, phrases and clauses. By the end of the workbook, by examining a wide and often amusing set of sentences, students experience the success and satisfaction of a clear understanding of the principles of English sentences.
A really useful, low-cost and consumable workbook. The practice books have class set prices depending upon the quantity ordered; schools and school districts can combine orders of the practice books for maximum discount:
25 books: $9.00
50 books: $8.00
100 books: $7.00
250 books: $6.50
500 books: $6.00
750 books: $5.50
1,000 books: $5.00
Any mix of practice books can be ordered. Please note that in most cases, the shopping cart will not show the actual discount; this will be applied when you are billed, and no matter what the shopping cart says, you will never be billed or charged at a higher rate than that to which you are entitled.
Practice Island, One Hundred Four-level Analysis Sentences: Teacher Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-681-2
- Latest edition:
- January 2010
- Order code:
- 6812
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
The Teacher Manual gives an introduction to the course, advice on implementation, correct answers and comments about each sentence.
Sample: Sentence 46 and Comments: page 57
The Teacher Manual gives an introduction to the course, advice on implementation, correct answers and comments about each sentence.
Sample: Sentence 46 and Comments: page 57
Practice Town: Student Workbook
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Vocabulary; Writing; Grammar
- Grade:
- 4, 5
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-682-9
- Latest edition:
- April 2010
- Order code:
- 6829
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
- Class sets:
- 25 or more: $9.00 each. (Order code: 6829S)
Practice Town is the second in the Practice series. This is primarily a low-cost, consumable, workbook supplement to Grammar Town and Paragraph Town and uses vocabulary from Caesar's English Iand poetics from Building Poems; students work through the sentences using a unique four-level analysis and thereby reinforce their grammar and writing skills.
Each of the hundred sentences has a separate page with four blank lines to fill in the parts of speech, the parts of the sentence, phrases and clauses. By the end of the workbook, by examining a wide and often amusing set of sentences, students experience the success and satisfaction of a clear understanding of the principles of English sentences.
Practice Town is the second in the Practice series. This is primarily a low-cost, consumable, workbook supplement to Grammar Town and Paragraph Town and uses vocabulary from Caesar's English Iand poetics from Building Poems; students work through the sentences using a unique four-level analysis and thereby reinforce their grammar and writing skills.
Each of the hundred sentences has a separate page with four blank lines to fill in the parts of speech, the parts of the sentence, phrases and clauses. By the end of the workbook, by examining a wide and often amusing set of sentences, students experience the success and satisfaction of a clear understanding of the principles of English sentences.
The practice books have class set prices depending upon the quantity ordered; schools and school districts can combine orders of the practice books for maximum discount:
25 books: $9.00
50 books: $8.00
100 books: $7.00
250 books: $6.50
500 books: $6.00
750 books: $5.50
1,000 books: $5.00
Any mix of practice books can be ordered. Please note that in most cases, the shopping cart will not show the actual discount; this will be applied when you are billed, and no matter what the shopping cart says, you will never be billed or charged at a higher rate than that to which you are entitled.
Practice Town: Teacher Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-683-6
- Latest edition:
- April 2010
- Order code:
- 6836
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
Practice Voyage: Student Workbook
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Poetry; Vocabulary; Writing; Grammar
- Grade:
- 5, 6
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-684-3
- Latest edition:
- December 2009
- Order code:
- 6843
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
- Class sets:
- 25 or more: $9.00 each. (Order code: 6843S)
Practice Voyage is primarily a low-cost, consumable, workbook supplement to Grammar Voyage and Essay Voyage. It uses vocabulary from Caesar's English II and poetics from World of Poetry; students work through the sentences using Thompson's unique four-level analysis and thereby reinforce their grammar and writing skills.
Each of the hundred sentences has a separate page with four blank lines to fill in the parts of speech, the parts of sentence, phrases and clauses. By the end of the workbook, by examining a wide set of sentences, students experience the success and satisfaction of a clear understanding of the principles of writing good English sentences.
Practice Voyage is primarily a low-cost, consumable, workbook supplement to Grammar Voyage and the not yet published: Essay Voyage. It uses vocabulary from Caesar's English II and poetics from World of Poetry; students work through the sentences using Thompson's unique four-level analysis and thereby reinforce their grammar and writing skills.
Each of the hundred sentences has a separate page with four blank lines to fill in the parts of speech, the parts of sentence, phrases and clauses. By the end of the workbook, by examining a wide set of sentences, students experience the success and satisfaction of a clear understanding of the principles of writing good English sentences.
The practice books have class set prices depending upon the quantity ordered; schools and school districts can combine orders of the practice books for maximum discount:
25 books: $9.00
50 books: $8.00
100 books: $7.00
250 books: $6.50
500 books: $6.00
750 books: $5.50
1,000 books: $5.00
Any mix of practice books can be ordered. Please note that in most cases, the shopping cart will not show the actual discount; this will be applied when you are billed, and no matter what the shopping cart says, you will never be billed or charged at a higher rate than that to which you are entitled.
Practice Voyage: Teacher Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-685-0
- Latest edition:
- January 2011
- Order code:
- 6850
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
The Teacher Manual gives an introduction to the course and advice on implementation, correct analysis and extensive comments for each sentence.
4Practice Vol I: Student Workbook
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Vocabulary; Grammar
- Age:
- 11, 12, 13, 14
- Grade:
- 6, 7
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-686-7
- Latest edition:
- 2012
- Order code:
- 6867
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
- Class sets:
- 25 or more: $9.00 each. (Order code: 6867S)
The upper grades of Practice Sentences make a breath-taking addition to the Language Arts Curriculum by Michael Clay Thompson.
The huge innovation is the extension of the method of four-level analysis, beyond grammar to vocabulary, poetics and writing. For this reason the advanced level volumes have been titled 4Practice. The intellectual demands are, of course rigorous, but what makes them so pedagogically compelling is their breadth of reference.
In 4Practice Volume I, Michael Thompson has produced 100 sentences about the ancient world of the Greeks and Romans. Each sentence uses vocabulary from Word within the Word I, complements the grammar learned in Magic Lens I and the poetic devices studied in Poetry and Humanity. Each sentence challenges students on points of grammar, vocabulary, poetics and writing, and the content of many sentences will propel students to reference works to understand the context. The focus on the ancient world emphasizes the importance of classical Greek and Latin to modern English.
The practice books have fully-annotated Teacher Manuals with the correct answers filled in and comments on the sentences.
The upper grades of Practice Sentences make a breath-taking addition to the Language Arts Curriculum by Michael Clay Thompson.
The huge innovation is the extension of the method of four-level analysis, beyond grammar to vocabulary, poetics and writing. For this reason the advanced level volumes have been titled 4Practice. The intellectual demands are, of course rigorous, but what makes them so pedagogically compelling is their breadth of reference.
In 4Practice Volume I, Michael Thompson has produced 100 sentences about the ancient world of the Greeks and Romans. Each sentence uses vocabulary from Word within the Word I, complements the grammar learned in Magic Lens I and the poetic devices studied in Poetry and Humanity. Each sentence challenges students on points of grammar, vocabulary, poetics and writing, and the content of many sentences will propel students to reference works to understand the context. The focus on the ancient world emphasizes the importance of classical Greek and Latin to modern English.
The practice books have fully-annotated Teacher Manuals and class set prices depending upon the quantity ordered.Schools and school districts can combine orders of the practice books for maximum discount:
25 books: $9.00
50 books: $8.00
100 books: $7.00
250 books: $6.50
500 books: $6.00
750 books: $5.50
1,000 books: $5.00
Please note that in most cases, the shopping cart will not show the actual discount; this will be applied when you are billed, and no matter what the shopping cart says, you will never be billed or charged at a higher rate than that to which you are entitled.
4Practice Vol I: Teacher Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-687-4
- Latest edition:
- August 2010
- Order code:
- 6874
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
The Teacher Manuala have the sentences with the analysis completed, and comments on Grammar and Writing, notes on words or stems from The Word Within the Word, and on elements of poetics encountered poetry texts. It all comes together.
Sample pages: Introduction page 5 / page 7 / Sentence 36 page 47
The Teacher Manuala have the sentences with the analysis completed, and comments on Grammar and Writing, notes on words or stems from The Word Within the Word, and on elements of poetics encountered poetry texts. It all comes together.
Sample pages: Introduction page 5 / page 7 / Sentence 36 page 47
4Practice Vol 2: Student Workbook
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Vocabulary; Grammar
- Age:
- 12, 13, 14
- Grade:
- 7, 8
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-688-1
- Latest edition:
- August 2010
- Order code:
- 6881
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
- Class sets:
- 25 or more: $9.00 each. (Order code: 6881S)
The sentences in Volume 2 of the Practice Workbooks series are taken from works of classic literature, giving illuminating insights into how great writers achieve meaning, beauty and depth in their writing.
This book is a vital supplement to the 2nd volume of the grammar course, Magic Lens . It uses vocabulary taken directly from Word within the Word 2 and refers to poetic devices in Poetry, Plato, and the Problem of Beauty.
The authors whose sentences are used in 4Practice 2 include: William Shakespeare and John Milton to Daniel Defoe, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Upton Sinclair, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Toni Morrison, Marjorie Kennan Rawlings, Jane Austen, Stephen Crane, Thomas Hardy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, H. G. Wells, James Joyce, Mary Shelley, Virginia Woolf, Frederick Douglass, Charles Dickens, Alan Paton, Mark Twain, Kate Chopin, Joseph Heller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Bram Stoker, William Makepeace Thackeray, Henry David Thoreau, , Rachel Carson, James Hilton, Maya Angelou, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and Eudora Welty.
View: 4Practice Vol 2 front and back cover (0.5MB PDF)
The Teacher Manual is essential, to give the answers.
The sentences in Volume 2 of the Practice Workbooks series are taken from works of classic literature, giving illuminating insights into how great writers achieve meaning, beauty and depth in their writing.
This book is a vital supplement to the grammar course, Magic Lens 2. It uses vocabulary taken directly from Word within the Word 2 and refers to poetic devices in Poetry, Plato, and the Problem of Beauty.
The authors whose sentences are used in 4Practice 2 include: William Shakespeare and John Milton to Daniel Defoe, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Upton Sinclair, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Toni Morrison, Marjorie Kennan Rawlings, Jane Austen, Stephen Crane, Thomas Hardy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, H. G. Wells, James Joyce, Mary Shelley, Virginia Woolf, Frederick Douglass, Charles Dickens, Alan Paton, Mark Twain, Kate Chopin, Joseph Heller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Bram Stoker, William Makepeace Thackeray, Henry David Thoreau, , Rachel Carson, James Hilton, Maya Angelou, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and Eudora Welty.
View: 4Practice Vol 2 front and back cover (0.5MB PDF)
There is a Teacher Manual (see below) and the student workbooks can be purchased at a class set price depending upon the quantity ordered. Schools and school districts can combine orders of the practice books for maximum discount:
25 books: $9.00
50 books: $8.00
100 books: $7.00
250 books: $6.50
500 books: $6.00
750 books: $5.50
1,000 books: $5.00
Please note that in most cases, the shopping cart will not show the actual discount; this will be applied when you are billed, and no matter what the shopping cart says, you will never be billed or charged at a higher rate than that to which you are entitled.
4Practice Vol 2: Teacher Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- ISBN:
- 978-0-88092-689-8
- Latest edition:
- 2007
- Order code:
- 6898
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
4Practice Vol 3: Student Workbook
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Subjects:
- English Language Arts; Writing; Grammar
- Age:
- 13, 14, 15
- Grade:
- 8, 9
- Order code:
- 6904
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
Even more practice with this volume which supplements the grammar of Magic Lens 3, uses vocabulary from Word within the Word 3 and demonstrates poetic devices from Poetry, Plato, and the Problem of Truth.
The authors whose sentences are used in 4Practice 3 include: William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Robert Penn Warren, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, H. G. Wells, James Joyce, Mary Shelley, Frederick Douglass, Ralph Ellison, Mark Twain, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Bram Stoker, William Makepeace Thackeray, Henry David Thoreau, James Hilton, Maya Angelou, Thornton Wilder, Benjamin Franklin, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, George Eliot, James Joyce and Joseph Heller.
Sample pages: page 5, Introduction / page 27 Sentence 16
Even more practice with this volume which supplements the grammar of Magic Lens 3, uses vocabulary from Word within the Word 3 and demonstrates poetic devices from Poetry, Plato, and the Problem of Truth.
The authors whose sentences are used in 4Practice 3 include: William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Robert Penn Warren, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, H. G. Wells, James Joyce, Mary Shelley, Frederick Douglass, Ralph Ellison, Mark Twain, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Bram Stoker, William Makepeace Thackeray, Henry David Thoreau, James Hilton, Maya Angelou, Thornton Wilder, Benjamin Franklin, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, George Eliot, James Joyce and Joseph Heller.
There is a Teacher Manual (see below) and the student workbooks can be purchased at class set prices depending upon the quantity ordered. Schools and school districts can combine orders of the practice books for maximum discount:
25 books: $9.00
50 books: $8.00
100 books: $7.00
250 books: $6.50
500 books: $6.00
750 books: $5.50
1,000 books: $5.00
Please note that in most cases, the shopping cart will not show the actual discount; this will be applied when you are billed, and no matter what the shopping cart says, you will never be billed or charged at a higher rate than that to which you are entitled.
Sample pages: page 5, Introduction / page 27 Sentence 16
4Practice Vol 3: Teacher Manual
- Author:
- Thompson, Michael Clay
- Order code:
- 6911
- Price:
- $15.00
- Online Price:
- $10.00
Sample page: Page 27, Sentence 16 with answers and comments
Sample page: Page 27, Sentence 16 with answers and comments



























