So I've been looking at a lot of different stuff lately. I really thought I would want to go with one curriculum, but now I'm starting to think differently. The one thing I'm not sure on is LA though. Obviously to start they just need phonics/learning to read and handwriting. But what about after that? And what curriculums do you use/like? I'm not ready to think about making up my own curriculum, but maybe in several years I will be able to.
At first, I started with phonics and handwriting. That's it. Then I moved into reading comprehension, and then English grammar. We liked Explode the Code for phonics, Handwriting w/o Tears and Abeka for handwriting (and will almost certainly use Pentime next year), Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter for reading, and Rod & Staff for English. (Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something...?) OH! Sequential Spelling is our spelling curriculum. (Anything else? Guess not?)
I have used and like R&S English 2, 3, 4, and 5. They don't start English until grade 2, because their first grade is all phonics and handwriting and learning to read. I've also used their Phonics 2 which is quite thorough, and Spelling 2 which I found to be more like 1st (but it builds through 8th grade). Alongside this, I've used Pentime for handwriting, and like this A LOT! I also love CLE LA which includes in first grade a continuance (from the learning to read program) of phonics, handwriting, and learning to read. The second and up includes spelling, handwriting, grammar, usage, and mechanics, and composition. It's very gentle, but also thorough. I've also used some levels of the Christian Liberty spelling series, which gets to be quite advanced by 7th and 8th in the vocabulary portion of the lessons. Most recently, I've used the 2nd and 3rd, which have matched my students well. This year we've returned to Sequential Spelling for "morning warm ups". Although we've been using it all year, it's a bit soon to tell if it's really sinking in for my "target student".
I have been using Sonlight's LA as our base. We do Mon: copywork, Tues: LA assignment, Wed: pre:write, Thurs: writing assignment. We have supplemented with Horizons for phonics and then this year we are using MCP which is what Sonlight recomends for LA 2 intermediate. Oh yeah we also do a sheet from Wordly Wise every week. I really like the program, laid back and sneakily meaty. Dd has had a lot sink in over the past couple of years.
Grammtech. hands down. http://academicvisions.com/ PM me if you want more info. I used this in my school when I was a teacher.
I love worldlywise! There's a free version online if you want to use it instead of the workbooks. http://wordlywise3000.com/
I've used all different things! R&S someone mentioned. Really sound grammar program! I really like it, but it does have a lot of "seat work" involved (though you don't have to "assign" it all!). That means Phillip fussed about it! Learning Language Arts Through Literature: Very Charlotte Mason. I personally think it's hit-and-miss as far as teaching grammar. Easy Grammar: Really is easy! I've used it with good success. Currently using it with Phillip. It can be done quickly and easily, and kids don't fuss too much about it. Simply Grammar: Another Charlotte Mason approach. Wordly Wise: A sound vocabulary program Daily Grams: A quick five-minute review. We're doing it this year, because Faythe is taking a writing class and I didn't want to bog her down with grammar at home, too. She's fine with doing this daily. Total Language Plus: Literature guides that are suppose to have spelling, vocab, grammar included. I think the grammar section is REALLY lacking, but I like the literature guides. If I were to use this, I'd include grammar seperate (maybe Daily Grams...?) Wordly Wise: Very good vocabulary program! Daily Grams: This is a quick five-minute review. Faythe is taking a writing class that is pretty intense, so I don't want to bog her down with another language class. So she's doing this daily to review. She doesn't fuss about it, because it's short and quick. Total Language Plus: A literature guide for different books. Also somewhat Charlotte Mason. I think the Grammar section is REALLY lacking, but I like doing literature with it. First Language Lessons for the Very Young: Charlotte Mason again. I really like this for Kindergarten and possibly first grade. Simple, not time consuming, and can be done snuggling on the couch.
Well, we tried several different things. None of them worked for ds. Because of special needs, phonics didn't work at all. He could do the phonics workbook all day long but couldn't transfer it into actual reading. So we ended up doing mainly sight words using lots of worksheets, EZ readers, audio books and I read to him constantly. Believe it or not, the thing that instigated the most interest in reading for ds was subtitles (closed captioning) on videos. A subtitle would come on and he would start reading it before the actor could say the line. We just work on word definitions and proper usage through our reading.
I just ordered the CLE 1st grade LA for my daughter. I looked at their samples on the website and liked what I saw. We already use CLE for math, science and social studies.
I've also used Easy Grammar, but only the Plus level. It suited the student I used it with, but it's definitely ONLY grammar, not handwriting or spelling or composition. I DO like the Daily Grams, though, and I've used through the 7th grade and the original green level. It's supposed to be a review of the previous level's skills, not a complete curriculum. More of a "morning warm up" activity. I find that the greatest benefit of this program is in the detailed discussions of each item, discussing the rule(s) of WHY this is the correct answer.
I use a mishmosh of things! LOL Easy Grammar for Grammar Vocabulary from Classical Roots for Vocabulary A Reason for Handwriting for Handwriting (my Ker and 4th grader) Reading is a book that goes along with what we're studying in Geography or Science. My oldest does a daily response sheet that has vocabulary, copywork and narration that goes with that book.
I use and love CLE Light Units -- very thorough, but it doesn't have a bunch of busy work. Just enough review to make sure they get it. My son isn't doing well with the spelling aspect (we've tried many things to no avail thus far), so I am starting this week to use the Spelling City website by plugging in his spelling list for each unit and see how that works. It is a Christian-based curriculum, so if you prefer a secular curriuculm then of course I'd steer clear of it, but if it doesn't matter to you or you would like that kind of slant, then I HIGHLY recommend it!
Here is what we have tried, used, using etc. With my oldest: G.U.M. (grammar, usage and mechanics) by Zaner Bloser. I love this straight forward simple easy to do program. No frills no extras. My son did wonderful using this program also. It starts at 3rd grade and goes through middle school. Sequential spelling is the best spelling program I have found out there. Once again it is straight forward and easy to use. Very effective also. Spelling connections- we kind of liked this, but it was too bland and not for us. Explode the Code - my oldest used these in ps and did wonderful with them. My youngest really could care less. There is too much repetition for him. Beyond the Code- again my oldest used these in ps and did wonderful with them. 100 ez lessons, we bombed on this one. Now it has great ideas, but not for us. LLATL- wonderful program. I say that now. When we were using it I thought this is just not enough he is not learning I need something more. It was not until not too long ago that I realized how much my son did learn from that program. So, we pick it up every once in a while and grab a few things from it still McRuffy- I love this program. The K program is fun, stresses a lot on phonics and learning sounds and blends. My son excelled using this. We are still using McRuffy. We are in the first grade program now and it is still a great program. Now it is not as much fun, but still fun. Make sense? The stress is not so much on phonics, they still do a lot of phonics but it also adds in more spelling, vocab, reading, grammar etc.
I'm kind of along the same lines as Jackie on this one. After schooling three and using a different program on every one, the one I stuck with for reading, though, was R & S. I love the way they learn the Bible through their Reading program. My daughter knew more about the minor prophets by about 4th grade than I still do! But for grammar and writing I used the programs Jackie mentioned - Daily Grams, Easy Grammar and Wordly Wise in the early years. As they got older for writing I went with Write Source programs from there on through High School. I felt this was the most comprehensive program, and I feel it is more important to learn to write and speak well than to learn all of the grammar. I taught grammar in Jr Hi and a little in Fresh yr, but after that I concentrated on the writing and Speech. I minored in Writing in college, and one thing I learned was that if you speak well you can write well. Grammar is important occasionally, but mostly you just need to know how to speak effectively. I did keep up vocabulary all the way through, along with Literature and/or some form of Reading. I also incorporated writing into other subjects such as History reports and Science reports (technical writing).
Countrygal, my mom wrote reports for the judges. She taught me to always read my papers out loud to see if it "sounded" right. She said that if it sounded right, it probably was. If it sounded akward, then you needed to change something. So I was an excellent writer, but had little to no knowledge of how grammar worked. R&S has really made grammar interesting to me!
I have not used an LA program yet but this wee plan to order Language Lessons. I am also looking into daily grams.
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I have a few things that I would like to try, but I think CLE will be my one to fall back on if the rest of the stuff doesn't pan out.
I keep researching LA programs and I still don't know what to do. Surprisingly, that was my strongest subject in high school although you wouldn't know it by my computer postings! LOL! Right now I'm using Sequential Spelling, Sonlight literature, A Reason for Handwriting and Growing with Grammar for my second grader. I'd like to add more writing, but I'm not sure how to do that. My son hates any subject that requires him to sit down and write so I need to be creative with these subjects if I want to accomplish anything.
