R&S too much for us! Need LA suggestions

[gannon213]

So we have been using Rod &Staff Phonics, Reading, Spelling and Language arts for second grade. (we used it for first as well)
We actually love the stories, DD breezes through the phonics, spelling and language portions... but the reading workbook takes .f.o.r.e.v.e.r all in all we end up spending almost 2 hours a day on language arts! She isn't struggling at all, it's just alot of writing.

Plus I really miss that there aren't (so far) any creative writing assignments. I also would love more variety- LOL I keep thinking how much I loved all the different stories in my elementary school textbooks.

What would you suggest?
I am not comfortable at all winging it, I need a full curriculum.

[Momma Aimee]

have you looked at Five in a row.

http://www.fiveinarow.com/

there is also a yahoo group for people useing it.

I have not settled on what we will be useing yet either

[elizawill]

if she isn't struggling at all, why not just drop aspects of R&S? it is a very thorough and complete curriculum, so i would just adapt it instead of buying something else, ykwim? often, i'll just look at the lesson objective & focus on that (as opposed to the whole lesson). we use R&S english and math (also for grade 2) and i just adjust it to meet my dd's needs & drop stuff that seems like "busy work". for spelling and writing we use aspects of the draw-write-now books & i'm *thinking* about signing my dd up for a currclick live class for more exposure to creative writing (in lieu of only copywork and/or dictation). if you'd like to add in more creative writing, you could supplement R&S with independent journaling each day or something along those lines (that your dd may find more enjoyable). anyway. hth.

[theretohere]

Honestly, if you like it I'd stick with R&S and just cut some of the writing exercises. There are so many to keep children at school busy, you don't need to do them all!