“My daughter’s learning experience with Mr. Gold was excellent. The class was very interactive and informative. There were class note summaries and practices provided by Mr. Gold after each class. To learn about the techniques of sentence diagramming would help kids better read and write. My daughter benefited a lot from this class. Highly recommended.” –Li S., parent, “Sentence Diagramming Grammar Class, Session 1,” 16 Dec 2020

Sentence diagramming helps us master sentence construction, which helps us write better, read better, and think better. 

Just as builders need to know the nature of their tools -- hammer, saw, screwdriver, wrench, etc. -- and how they work, so also we who communicate and think need to know what our tools of communication and thought are and how they work.

Hence, in this class -- through lecture, interactive discussion, and interactive work -- we will identify and define the parts of speech and we will learn how to diagram sentences containing them. Building on Session 1 -- parsing sentences, seeing to the kernel of a thought/sentence, and grasping how all the concepts of a thought/sentence connect -- we will learn how to parse and think about other grammatical elements: noun clauses, verbals, and more.

“Well organized and patient teacher. Teacher works hard to engage all students. This a great class! Not many schools are teaching this anymore. Great skill to have.” –Margaret S., parent, “Sentence Diagramming: Lesson 1,” 20 Mar 2020

Come prepared to listen, take notes, answer some questions, ask some questions, do some work, and start to make a life-long habit of clear communication, writing, and thinking. We will lay down the basic foundation using sentence diagramming; we will start the journey to better thinking and better living through better grammar. 

“This was a great introduction to sentence diagramming for my son. Mr Gold provided a lot of great resources as follow up to this class. Very helpful!” –Jenni C., parent, “Sentence Diagramming: Lesson 1,” 17 Aug 2020

Tentative Schedule
Week 1
Day 1
Review the parts of speech from session 1: noun, verb, pronoun, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction.
Review the four kinds of verbs.
Practice diagramming sentences with prepositional phrases, sentences with compound elements, and sentences with subordinate clauses.
Day 2
Restrictive and non-restrictive clauses.
Practice diagramming sentences with prepositional phrases, sentences with compound elements, and sentences with subordinate clauses.

Week 2
Day 1
Diagramming prepositions of three words.
Implicit "you," "to," and "that."
Diagramming introductory words, direct address, and interjections.
Diagramming elliptical clauses.
Diagramming adverbs that modify adjectives and adverbs. 
Day 2
Noun clauses.

Week 3
Day 1
Diagram noun clauses and more
Day 2
Verbals: the infinitive, the gerund, and the participle
Diagramming gerunds

Week 4
Day 1
Review
Practice diagramming gerunds and more
Day 2
Diagramming participles 

Week 5
Day 1
Practice diagramming participles 
Day 2
Infinitives 
Diagramming infinitives

Week 6
Day 1
Practice diagramming infinitives and more
Day 2
The appositive, the objective complement, the adverbial noun

Time permitting:
Improving your writing: starting sentences with prepositional phrases and participles.
Using the adjective and adverb questions to improve your writing.


“Great class! My 12 year old learned a lot!”
–Margaret S., parent, “Sentence Diagramming: Lesson 2,” 20 Mar 2020

“Excellent! An important skill for kids to have.”
–Margaret S., parent, “Sentence Diagramming: Lesson 2.5,” 24 Mar 2020

“Very helpful class!”
–Margaret S., parent, “Sentence Diagramming: Lesson 3,” 23 Mar 2020

“Lively discussion of words. Great review of basic concepts before delving into diagramming.” –Kendra W., parent, “Sentence Diagramming: Lesson 1,” 28 Mar 2020

“My son (14) took two pages of notes and seemed to learn grammar faster in the session than I could have possibly taught him myself! Probably because it’s easier to listen to someone (anyone, really) who isn’t your parent. Mr. Gold was engaging and informative, and sent not only one follow-up email (a TY to attendees, with some encouragement and advice) but two follow-up emails (the second had two pages of additional work students could do to practice diagramming sentences). I’d say anyone could benefit from this class; I know my son did because I’ve seen little in his notebooks/binders over the years from school covering grammar/parts of speech, with the exception of Spanish class.” –Amy H., parent, “Sentence Diagramming: Lesson 1,” 24 Jul 2020

(Image from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Examples_of_Reed-Kellogg_diagrams.jpg)