Does anyone or has anyone here used Learning Language Arts Through Literature. If so, could you give me your pros and cons and what color you started with? Thanks.
I am currently using LLATL for my oldest 4 kids. We are working through the blue, yellow, orange and tan books. So far I like them and so do my kids. The only complaint I have about them is I feel it is lacking in the spelling area. For us that isn't a problem because we use spelling power instead. Also, they chapters aren't divided into lessons which can cause some confusion (at least it did for me when we first started using them). What I have done to compensate for that is just tell my kids to do X amount of pages per day. Currently they are doing 3-4 pages per day. I LOVE that they have books that they have to read and that there are book studies that go along with the book. It is sort of like a book report only better. This is the first LA program that my kids actually like to do. It is easy enough for them to do mostly on their own which is a huge bonus for me. Of course my dd that is in the blue book can't do any of it on her own because it requires a lot of parent involvement. I do like that the lessons in the blue book are divided into weeks and days. The manipulatives that come with the blue book are great, however I don't use most of them because my dd already knew her letters and sounds. The books that come in the kit are essential though. I would recommend them and will continue to use them for years but I will always add spelling because I feel it is lacking in that area. Edited to add: This is more of a classical approach to LA and it is also religious. If that would bother you, you wouldn't like these.
I used the "old" program. It's been revamped since then, so take what I say with a grain of salt! I don't remember ANY spelling in it, and felt the grammar was rather hit and miss. I've kind of "grown into" teaching grammar, and now feel it's very essential. We've used Easy Grammar, and Rod and Staff. And Rachael, when she had to take the Ohio Graduation Test, said that even Phillip could easily have passed the grammar part!
You might be able to use them both. I used the "old" Easy Grammar, and it was very short and to the point. It only took about five to ten minutes of my time, and then they did a worksheet page that was fairly easy. Combine that with LLATL, especially the literature part, and you might be good to go!
I use the newer edition and the grammar is ok. If you want to really enforce good grammar I woud add something else. I don't really worry about grammar too much until 4th grade and so far my kids breeze through any grammar I have given them. They do have an extra workbook that is strictly grammar but I don't have them do it very often.
I bought the blue book for my first grader to use this year, and I REALLY wish I had been able to look at it before purchasing because after the first month, I decided it was a waste of time. It focuses on letter sounds and site words and the first set of books were titles like "The Fat Cat Sat" and "Nat and Ann Ran"..... it was stuff she'd already learned EARLY in Kindergarten. I did save it to use to use with my youngest daughter who will be in Kindergarten this year, though. I think it will be perfect for her.
I used the blue set for a brief time, but my son at the time did not like the little stories. So, then for first grade, I tried the red set (someone gave it to me free). I thought we would like it enough so I purchased the work book. Once again, after the first few stories, my ds was not interested in the stories. I learned early on with him if he found it to be something he did not want to read, he was miserable. So, we ditched it and passed it on to someone else to use this year.
We tried the orange set for my 4th grader and it was not enough grammar for his needs, nor was it quite enough of any one thing for my taste. I wanted to love it, but we have since split LA apart to ensure he gets enough direct teaching and review/practice. I phased LLATL out and just made my own literature units. I think for the right student it would be perfect - I would have gotten a lot out of it; my 2 older ones just need more.
I would say yes. If you start out & feel like it isn't enough you can always add more. IMO I think if nothing else it is great to use as a spine for LA.
