How do you teach language arts?

[natashaccat]

I've officially bailed on our first attempt at language arts curriculum. We were using First Language Lessons for a Well Trained Mind but it was just too scripted for us and it didn't allow for DD to work independently which is her preferred working style.

Keeping in mind that I have a 2nd grader and I need her to have "grade level" skills (personal pref, long story) any suggestions on what/how to teach? Curriculum suggestions?

[Ravin]

We're planning on using Classical Writing Primer next year for 2nd. This year we're focusing on phonics to get her reading, using Word Mastery and Hooked on Phonics, plus some worksheets from the curriculum room at her enrichment program. She's gotten a little grammar through Song School Latin and the copywork that's part of her handwriting curriculum. Thus far, she appears to be quite on grade level for grammar without a formal grammar curriculum--we have FLL, but it's sitting on the shelf collecting dust.

[mom2ponygirl]

We started books by Michael Clay Thompson at about the 3rd grade level. Check them out at www.rfwp.com. They are the kind of books you will want to sit and read with your kid. My daughter used to sigh with contentment when she would open her Grammar Island book. They are designed to be inspiring to look at and to read. They help develop a love of rich vocabulary and classic literature.

[ChristaN]

Originally Posted by mom2ponygirl

... Check them out at www.rfwp.com...

Wow, what a great resource! Thank you!

We are moving toward hsing by partially hsing partially using ps this year and hoping to be entirely hsing in a year or so when I can hopefully afford not to be in my current pt job. We are using EPGY for math for the most part this year, but I don't know if I'd want to rely solely on their stuff for LA as well. These books look really interesting!

[mom2ponygirl]

Originally Posted by ChristaN

Wow, what a great resource! Thank you!

We are moving toward hsing by partially hsing partially using ps this year and hoping to be entirely hsing in a year or so when I can hopefully afford not to be in my current pt job. We are using EPGY for math for the most part this year, but I don't know if I'd want to rely solely on their stuff for LA as well. These books look really interesting!

We did EPGY for math for some of elementary school (3-7).

You might also look at literature books from www.rfwp.com. I like the Suppose the Wolf Were an Octopus series.

For more info on these books and how to implement them, search Yahoo groups for MCTLA . It is a very helpful group.

[ChristaN]

Thanks, this is for my dd#2, who is a 9 y/o 4th grader this year. Dd#1, who is 11, may or may not stay in ps for a while. She doesn't want to do our local hs the year after next, so we're looking at options like hs, online high school, or choicing into a different school.

[natashaccat]

Originally Posted by mom2ponygirl

We started books by Michael Clay Thompson at about the 3rd grade level. Check them out at www.rfwp.com. They are the kind of books you will want to sit and read with your kid. My daughter used to sigh with contentment when she would open her Grammar Island book. They are designed to be inspiring to look at and to read. They help develop a love of rich vocabulary and classic literature.

Really??? I looked at the sample pages of Grammar Island but I'm kinda turned off by the non-traditional typeface and paragraph layout. Bummer, it looked like it might have possibilities otherwise but I'd be too distracted by the presentation of the material.

[Daffodil103]

Originally Posted by natashaccat

Really??? I looked at the sample pages of Grammar Island but I'm kinda turned off by the non-traditional typeface and paragraph layout. Bummer, it looked like it might have possibilities otherwise but I'd be too distracted by the presentation of the material.

MCTLA is an acquired taste. I now absolutely love this program. It took me a while to really get into. It definitely isn't traditional. Implementation was a bit rocky for me. Both my DDs (14 & 8) love it. This is the only program that works for both at their respective levels.

[mom2ponygirl]

Originally Posted by natashaccat

Really??? I looked at the sample pages of Grammar Island but I'm kinda turned off by the non-traditional typeface and paragraph layout. Bummer, it looked like it might have possibilities otherwise but I'd be too distracted by the presentation of the material.

Its funny, my dd and I both loved the elementary level books. We found them pretty and just fun to go through together. My good friend with similar kids, really just didn't like the way they looked. Then we got the secondary level books. The layout is much more straight forward without the 'pretty' layout and non-traditional typeface. It took us quite awhile to like them (we love them now), but my friend loved them right away! LOL

Anyway, they do take a little getting used to - that's why I recommend joining the yahoo group for support. However, I think it has added so much depth and enjoyment to our homeschooling. Whenever we get a new level, we look through the books and then just let them sit a few weeks. I need that time to really absorb what we're going to do with them. Then we dive in and get started. It doesn't take long to find a rhythm and dd is always asking for the next level once we get done.

[phathui5]

We use the Language Arts workbooks from Christian Light Education.