In This Series Magic Lens, Volume I Magic Lens, Volume I, Teacher Manual Magic Lens Vol 1, HOME SCHOOL Parent Answer Manual Magic Lens, Volume 2 Magic Lens, Volume 2, Teacher Manual Magic Lens Vol 2, HOME SCHOOL Parent Answer Manual Magic Lens, Volume 3 Magic Lens, Volume 3: Teacher Manual Magic Lens Vol 3, HOME SCHOOL Parent Answer Manual

Grammar, The Magic Lens Program, by Michael Clay Thompson

A Spiral Tour Through The Human Ideas of Grammar

The Magic Lens is designed and written so that it can be implemented along with The Word Within The Word with parallel lessons using the same vocabulary week by week.

The program stands alone as a middle and secondary curriculum and also follows on from the elementary grammar series: Grammar Island, Grammar Town and Grammar Voyage.

"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

This is a grammar curriculum unlike any other. The difference begins in the attitude toward grammar, continues in the instructional method, and culminates in the depth and breadth of the students' achievement.

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, and then introduced to ten Loops that cumulatively and repeatedly cover the same ground with the aim of ensuring that they master all parts of grammar together, that they understand the entire structure, and that they get how the parts go together to form a whole. At every point, the students are challenged to do four-part analysis of sentences.

The Teacher Manuals come with an excellent set of tests for each loop and for the year as a whole.

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 Yahoo! Group: MCTLA
Teachers and educators in schools are invited to join the Yahoo! 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: Homeschool Packages | School Examination Packages

Recommend this series to a friend or colleague

Magic Lens, Volume I

Class sets of 25 or more: $18.00 each; includes free teacher manual. (Order Code: 2109S) Add to Cart

  | Table of Contents

Magic Lens 1, Loop 3

View Magic Lens 1, Loop 3

Download Magic Lens 1, Loop 3

Magic Lens, Volume I, Teacher Manual

Magic Lens Vol 1, HOME SCHOOL Parent Answer Manual

A Spiral Tour Through The Human Ideas of Grammar

The Magic Lens has been redesigned and rewritten so it can be implemented along with The Word Within The Word with parallel lessons using the same vocabulary week by week.

"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 geome-tries of shells. It is a sort of magic aesthetic lens, through which we can view the delicate structures of ideas." -Michael Clay Thompson

This is a grammar curriculum unlike any other. The difference begins in the attitude toward grammar, continues in the instructional method, and culminates in the depth and breadth of the students' achievement.

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, and then introduced to ten Loops that cumulatively and repeatedly cover the same ground with the aim of ensuring that they master all parts of grammar together, that they understand the entire structure, and that they get how the parts go together to form a whole. At every point, the students are challenged to do four-part analysis of sentences.

This book supplements the Student Manual (Order Code:2109) It does not replace it.

Magic Lens, Volume 2

Class sets of 25 or more: $18.00 each; includes free teacher manual. (Order Code: 2117S) Add to Cart

Magic Lens2, Loop 2

View Magic Lens2, Loop 2

Download Magic Lens2, Loop 2

Magic Lens, Volume 2, Teacher Manual

Magic Lens Vol 2, HOME SCHOOL Parent Answer Manual

Note for Homeschooling Parents: This book supplements the Volume 2 Student Manual (Order Code: 2117). It does not replace it.

Magic Lens, Volume 3

Class sets of 25 or more: $18.00 each; includes free teacher manual. (Order Code: 2141S) Add to Cart

Magic Lens 3, Loop 3

View Magic Lens 3, Loop 3

Download Magic Lens 3, Loop 3

Magic Lens, Volume 3: Teacher Manual

Magic Lens Vol 3, HOME SCHOOL Parent Answer Manual

Note for Homeschooling Parents: this book supplements the Volume 3 Student Manual (Order Code 2141). It does not replace it.