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What do you recommend for language arts?  

post #1 of 20
4/17/08 at 7:13pm
Thread Starter 
I'm looking for a new language arts program for my 8 year old dd. She dislikes Sonlight's LA a lot.
I am okay with cobbling together something from different sources instead of buying a full packaged LA curriculum. We would prefer secular programs.

Dd is very good at reading and spelling.
She likes vocabulary.
She likes making up stories and is very imaginative.
Handwriting is not something she enjoys. She did not respond well to Handwriting Without Tears. She is interested in trying cursive writing.

Anyone have suggestions for us?
post #2 of 20
4/17/08 at 7:40pm
k12 has a great LA program, but it's quite costly.

I like Explode the code, Wordly Wise, and Italic writing for cursive.

Everything else I've used is just alright; neither good nor bad.
post #3 of 20
4/17/08 at 11:20pm
We are planning on using Wordly Wise, Sequential Spelling, Reading Fluency (DS2 only), Simply Grammar (DS1 only) and Writing Strands (DS1 only).
post #4 of 20
4/19/08 at 7:58pm
Have you looked at _English For The Thoughtful Child_?

Primary Language Lessons?

I think those are both w/i your DD's age range....

mp
post #5 of 20
4/19/08 at 9:58pm
We currently use Switched on Schoolhouse software and Spectrum workbook for language arts. He also has a Wordly Wise workbook but rarely does work in it anymore.
post #6 of 20
4/19/08 at 11:17pm
For Language only we use First Language Lessons and really enjoy it. Ds is 8.
post #7 of 20
4/20/08 at 11:54am
We like the Michael Clay Thompson books from www.rfwp.com for grammar, vocabulary, poetry - and now they have writing but we've already passed the levels they have out. We also like Sequential Spelling. Check out the book Deconstructing Penguins for literature ideas.
post #8 of 20
4/21/08 at 12:28am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the suggestions.
I'll check these things out.
Dd was fine with Wordly Wise this year so we may stick with that for vocabulary.

Has anyone used Teaching English Through Art or Love to Write!?
post #9 of 20
4/21/08 at 12:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mom2ponygirl View Post
We like the Michael Clay Thompson books from www.rfwp.com for grammar, vocabulary, poetry - and now they have writing but we've already passed the levels they have out. We also like Sequential Spelling. Check out the book Deconstructing Penguins for literature ideas.

I have to echo the M. C. Thompson recommendation for grammar, and we're going to try the Building Poems book by him as well...

Sequential Spelling is great, too. I have always had trouble spelling... and it has helped me! My almost 7 year old likes it, too... since he only has to write the word once and then knows it.

post #10 of 20
4/21/08 at 8:44am
i have heard from a lot of people in different groups and forums that calvert is very strong in LA. i don't use them personally though, but it would be worth checking into. i've also heard excellent things about rod & staff....but again, i don't use them (and r&s is christian...so if that's a problem). these are the 2 programs though that i plan to research further for my dd. you could check out www.homeschoolreviews.com for more info. hth!
post #11 of 20
4/21/08 at 9:18am
I can't speak for the younger grades in Rod &Staff, but we started using it in 3rd grade-skipped 4th and DD is currently using grade 5.

If you aren't Christian, it would probably not be a good fit-at all. We are Christians, but I am not one to feel like every lesson of everything we do has to have some reference to the Bible-but that is what Rod & Staff does...maybe not in every lesson, but names from the Bible are used in every lesson. It is published by Mennonites, so all of the illustrations depict women with the head caps, and lots of farming. Also, becasue of this, it is a very advanced program-R&S at this point only goes to 8th grade, and from the reviews I've read, kids coming out of their 7th grade, have an English education equal to a highschool graduate.

What I love about this program, is it is *very* thorough, and very easy to teach. The explanations are so clear making it very easy to either have the DC do the lesson on their own, or it just makes for an easy to teach,lovely flowing program. It is also a complete English program-add in spelling.

I know a lot of peple that have their DC just do the oral problems-and skip the written. Since I am using the grade 5 over almost two years, we use it all.

I mentioned the others, as I like a much more gentle Charlotte-mason approach till around age 10-11, but that's just me!

HTH,
mp
post #12 of 20
4/21/08 at 9:24am
We've never completed a Rod and Staff book, but I too agree that the instruction is excellent. We are not Christian and I still used it because I believed the instruction to be great.
post #13 of 20
4/21/08 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pancakes View Post
We are not Christian and I still used it because I believed the instruction to be great.
Yes, I agree about Rod & Staff.

Also, has anyone used Language Arts Through Literature? We have been doing lessons out of that curriculum also and are really enjoying it. We have the tan book, which I believe is 5 - 7 grade levels, approximately.
post #14 of 20
4/21/08 at 12:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mel38 View Post
Also, has anyone used Language Arts Through Literature? We have been doing lessons out of that curriculum also and are really enjoying it. We have the tan book, which I believe is 5 - 7 grade levels, approximately.
I thought it looked like lots of fun, although I've heard you generally use a grade level higher than suggested since it is set at a fairly low level. Dd hated it though - we sold ours. It was one of several programs I thought looked like fun and just what dd would like only to discover how very wrong I was!
post #15 of 20
4/21/08 at 2:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by onlyzombiecat View Post
Dd was fine with Wordly Wise this year so we may stick with that for vocabulary.

I'm trying to piece together a L.A. program of my own and my ds has this workbook. When you say vocabulary, do you mean this for learning spelling words too? Or just to expand their vocabulary?
post #16 of 20
4/21/08 at 3:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccasanova View Post
I'm trying to piece together a L.A. program of my own and my ds has this workbook. When you say vocabulary, do you mean this for learning spelling words too? Or just to expand their vocabulary?
The way we are using it this year it is just vocabulary development. Spelling is separate in our current LA program. I haven't made a decision about next year.
post #17 of 20
4/21/08 at 6:15pm
Have you looked at Growing with Grammar? Just a thought for grammar.
post #18 of 20
4/21/08 at 11:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccasanova View Post
I'm trying to piece together a L.A. program of my own and my ds has this workbook. When you say vocabulary, do you mean this for learning spelling words too? Or just to expand their vocabulary?
We use it just for vocabulary as well, we use spectrum for spelling.
post #19 of 20
4/22/08 at 1:01am
sub a dub
post #20 of 20
4/22/08 at 1:43am
We are currently using Growing with Grammar. My dd1 will finish grade 5 work by weeks end. She started with grade 3. Dd2 will finish up grade 3 soon. I like the short lessons and built in review. I just ordered Analytical Grammar for dd1. I may not use it right away. Need to wait for Growing with Grammar Grade 6 to make a final decision. I am very happy with the overall product. Have used Grades 2-5.

I tried to use Rod and Staff for grade 2, but couldn't figure out a way to make it secular, even if I presented it orally. I read from may different sources about how thorough R & S was.

I am Christian, but want a secular education for my children.
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