Let's Talk About... Literature

NOW we are getting somewhere!  In this Let's Talk About ...Series we have talked about some pretty serious subjects (complete list can be found at the bottom of this post) but today we are getting to the fun stuff!  BOOKS!  I know I heard several of you squeal, you can't hide it.  Plus, I have been in some of your homes and I know you have a book problem!

But the written word just calls many of our names.  It can teach you facts, stretch your imagination, take you to far away places and entertain you for hours.  Literature is a beautiful thing.  While the mechanics of reading and writing can take up a lot of time in our day, don't forget to take even more time to have your child read, or better yet, curl up with a good book along side of them.  You can help build a love for learning and create a special time for you and your kiddos.

There are a lot of great literature programs out there and I will mention just a few, but honestly, the BEST thing you can do for your child's literature program is just give them a pile of books and have them read.  Yes, at a younger age you do need to make sure their reading comprehension is spot on, but after that, in my opinion, devouring books of all kinds is the best!

I would challenge you to choose wisely and be familiar with the books they are reading.  I have been known to let my kiddos loose in a library and had to take back a book I found inappropriate!  And those were from the kids section!  Kid you not.  Not all books are created equal, don't assume they are.

And on that note, just because someone else deems them a classic does not mean they are worthwhile.  There are a lot of books out there that are required reading in the public schools that are a complete waste of time.  Seriously!  Just because we read them in high school does not mean our kids have to.  There are too many amazing books out there to waste our time on junk just because everyone else is reading it!

So a few programs I recommend?

BOB books- These silly little books are not only a great way to learn to read, but also make for fun reading for your kids at an early age.  There are so many fun books out there for very young readers, but these are cheap and easy to find!

Sonlight- One of the reasons we still use Sonlight after 20 plus years is because it is literary rich!  I mean, seriously, how many other programs out there read over 30 books in a school year?  My two college grads will tell you they did so well in writing, vocabulary, and even history in college because of Sonlight books.  They still have been known to grab one of our current readers off our shelf to re- read.

ABeka- We used ABeka readers early on in our schooling with much success.  The kids loved the "readers" and if you are more old school, you will like the looks of this as well.  It is definitely a less expensive option than Sonlight.

Hewitt Homeschooling- The Lightning Literature literature program stands out for several reasons.  First, it has multiple themes to choose from, not just your standard "these are the classics" track.  Secondly, the accompanying workbooks really dig deep into what is being read.

Progeny Press- We have had the privilege of using several of these literary guides and had a lot of fun with them.  If you like having questions for your child to answer about what they are reading, as well as writing prompts, projects, and more, you will enjoy these.  You can get them digitally and in hard copy.

Great middle school book if you have not read it !

The Library!- Of course, we have to remember the best place to find GREAT books for FREE is at the library!  Grab a librarian and ask what they recommend or just wander the rows, but either way allow your child to read and read some more!  There is NO better way to learn, and the possibilities are endless!

Blessings,


Let's Talk about...Science
Let's Talk About...Math
Let's Talk About...History
Let's Talk About...Grammar and Spelling
Let's Talk About Foreign Languages

Let's Read a Story

We love to read in our family!  From a very early age we surround our kiddos with books and pray they will love them as we do.  Thankfully, we have raised strong readers and lovers of books.  It does this momma's heart good to see them snuggled on the couch deeply engrossed in their latest book adventure.
 
Reading is also one of our favorite subjects in school since it involves, of course, BOOKS!  Colby's current reading program has involved simply reading a book on the 6th grade reading list and writing a short paper after he finishes each one.  Not very inspiring, but it was just what we did.  When I had the chance to review a new-to-us reading program from Mosdos Press Literature, thanks to Timberdoodle Co., I was eager to see how we would do with a more classroom typical reading program.

We have been working through this program for over a month now and I am excited to tell you about it!

What is it?
Mosdos Press Literature is a Literature and Reading program that has 6 levels.  Each level has a unique gem name-   Opal, Ruby, Coral, Pearl, Jade and Gold.  We have been using the Mosdos Jade level which is intended for 7th graders.  The set comes with a hard back student reader, a student workbook and a spiral bound teacher's guide in two parts.

While not a specific Christian program..."Mosdos Literature is a complete literature program that does not glamorize evil, nor present subject matter that is not age-appropriate. Neither does it portray as normal a cynical disregard for positive values, but reinforces the universal ideals of courage, honesty, loyalty, and compassion."  Gotta love that!

 

The student book is beautiful!  A solid 652 pages, it has numerous full color illustrations in it.  The book is broken into 5 parts covering different types of literature-

• Short Stories
• Poetry
• Nonfiction
• Drama
• The Novel

Each section then is further divided into several specific focuses.  For example, in the Short story section you will focus on-

• Recognizing plots
• Defining character
• Exploring settings
• Understanding themes
• and Putting it all together

Each selection ranges from just a page to more than several pages long.

All of the stories begin with an Intro that gives you a summary of the story, the Focus which talks about the theme and gives you some questions to be looking for while you read, and a bit about the author.  After the story you will find questions that recall facts and then some that are interpreting questions that make the student really think.  There you will also find additional things to examine and think about, as well as a creative writing assignment you can choose to do.      

The student workbook then provides additional activities to further engage your student.  Each story has two vocabulary activities which include fill in the blank sections, matching, and occasionally a crossword puzzle.  Next you will find writing activities and then graphic organizing activities.  At the end of the workbook you will find a glossary for your student to use for quick reference.

The teacher's guide is pretty straight forward as well.  Each page of the student's reader in pictured so you can follow along, and additional questions labeled Guiding the Reading are listed for you to be able to guide conversations on the reading.  You will also find additional notes about the literary component you are currently studying to help you lead those discussions as well.  If there is a workbook section that ties in to that particular part of the story, it is listed for your convenience.



How we have used this and our thoughts-
Colby was very excited to try this program.  He is used to reading longer books and I think was excited to try some shorter selections.  We typically read one story a day, with me first reading the summary and additional information.  Sometimes we take turns reading but often Colby just reads aloud to me.

The following day we answer questions and discuss the story in more depth.  On the third day we do both vocabulary pages.  On our final day, we choose one more activity to do, whether a writing assignment or one of the literature/grammar based graphic organizers.  Because we are doing a separate writing program those are the activities we have chosen less often.

We have really enjoyed using the Mosdos program and are continuing to use it this year as our primary reading program,.  I have found that we enjoy the many different types of stories and reading together rather than Colby reading a long book for several weeks alone.  It has been a sweet time of togetherness as well and has exposed us to many different types of reading materials we may not have otherwise chosen.

A reading workbook is a new thing to us, but it has been a fairly easy transition.  The vocabulary activities have actually been his favorite part and I love that were expanding his vocabulary easily.  The activities have given him some new skills such as sequencing and character development.  The writing assignments are good and offer lots of space for creative thinking and writing, as well as the teaching of research and dictionary skills.

I have to say I was a little overwhelmed at first with the teacher's guide and the student workbook since those are not things we usually have.  I am also used to a day by day schedule, but have learned to appreciate the freedom one has to pick and choose without one.   I have been able to have Colby just do the worksheets I feel are beneficial to him and skip the others without the guilt.  It is freeing!  I also have found the value in the teacher's guide.  I admit I often ask pretty basic questions on our reading just to check for reading comprehension, but then stop there.  The questions presented in the teacher's guide are more in depth critical thinking questions and have been a good stretch for us to have.  The guide is very public school oriented but can easily be adapted for a homeschooler easily.

All in all, we are quite pleased with Mosdos Press Literature and are thankful we have had the chance to explore it.  It is a positive change to our year and one we will continue to use.

 

Mosdos Jade is part of the 7th grade curriculum kit from Timberdoodle, and can also be purchased separately.

Progeny Press Has Literature Guides for YOU!- REVIEW

I am going to let you in on a little secret about our family...we love to read.  I mean, like REALLY love to read.  All six of us.  We aren't too picky, just give us a book and we are content.  And probably with said book in a corner reading.  Which is why I love Progeny Press and having the opportunity to review new literature guides they offer.

This time up, we had the opportunity to use The Scavengers eGuide for grades 5-8th.  Because we are still in temporary quarters and have decided to begin our new school year early, the timing for this review was perfect.  I did a quick order of the book and downloaded the literature guide and we were ready to go.

Let me give you a real quick overview of the book.  The Scavengers, written by Michael Gilleland, is clearly a middle school book.  It tells the tale of a girl named Maggie and her family who are living as scavengers "outbubble."  Quickly you realize there is indeed an "underbubble" area as well, though details of that far off place are offered only sporadically.  Instead you mostly learn of the world that Maggie (who likes to refer to herself as Ford Falcon), her parents and little brother Henry (Dookie) live in.  Mystery and intrigue are prevalent in this book and our original two-chapters-a-day plan quickly went out the window.

Colby, age 11 and a new 6th grader, and I took turns at first reading a page at a time to each other, but quickly he decided that he wanted to read the whole chapter himself.  After that he would read a chapter to me, then I would read one to him, usually continuing until I called uncle.  We had a hard time stopping because of the suspense, especially towards the end of the book.


So about those literature guides...

Let's start with the fact that they are from a Christian perspective. Four different levels are available- Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High school. All e-guides offered by Progeny Press include basic information on the story and author, as well as suggested pre-reading activities, general comprehension questions, critical thinking questions, vocabulary, suggested additional reading, scripture references and more.  The Scavenger e-guide is 73 pages long and an answer key is provided.

You can choose to download and print out your study guide or you can now use the interactive eGuides that will download to Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 and just type your answers in and save them, depending on which way you prefer.  In the past when we have reviewed various levels we usually print out a copy since I am a hands on paper kind of person.  This time around, due to the fact that we are currently without a printer and Colby now enjoys typing on the computer, we used the interactive eGuide method.

The 59 book chapters are broken into 7 separate sections in the guide.  My original intent was to read the chapters for each section and then complete the corresponding section of the study guide.  That worked for the first two sections, but once we sped up our reading, I admit we did the guide a little behind.  The one danger I see is we had to backtrack and re-read a few sections to refresh our memory about some of the smaller details.

Each separate section follows the same pattern- vocabulary, basic factual questions, thinking about the story section, dig deeper questions and finally, optional activities.  The vocabulary is often a matching exercise but sometimes will have you write your definition and then look up what the dictionary says and write that as well, while the question sections offer short answer, multiple choice or longer answers.

Optional activities encourage you to research or try something that is discussed in the book.  In the case of The Scavengers, one of the suggested activities was to research and try your hand at Morse Code.  We spent some time doing just that and decided we stunk at that kind of communication and would have not been good at it at all!
 

Most of the additional activities offered at the end of the study guide are time and research intense so in our current living situation, we have decided to skip those for now.  However, Colby really wants to try to recreate the water telescope described to use on the pool.  Once we get settled into our new house I am going to put his father right on that project! ;)

Let me tell you why I love these guides!

• They make us slow down!  We all tend to devour books at a quick pace and move on, so these guides make us slow down a bit.

• They challenge our vocabulary.  It is one thing to think you know what a word means, but when you have to stop and actually TELL someone the definition, well, you get the point.

• They make us think!  Simple rote fact, comprehension questions my kids usually master.  But once you start to dig deeper, especially with my middle schooler, I am often surprised at concepts he doesn't quite get simply because we have never discussed them before.  These guides often teach him new things outside of just the basic what-did-you-read facts.

• They allow us to incorporate scripture into all aspects of our lives.  Several questions in each section require you to look up scripture and then apply it to the book and your lives.  It is a good reminder to our family that our Christian worldview does and should affect all aspects of our lives and how we process information. 

• They are easy to use.  Regardless of which format you choose to use them in, Progeny Press has made it easy to download and print or download and use these guides.  They are straight forward and while very thorough do not have a bunch of unneeded fluff!

 So do we love them?  Yes!  Do we recommend them!  Absolutely!

With so many to choose from and 4 levels to choose between, you are sure to find one to fit your studies and excite your children!

We are already gearing up for our next one!



Parent Warning- There are some intense scenes in this book, including Maggie's parents disappearing and her brother being injured.  There is talk of funny "creatures" called grey devils, as well as futuristic times of government takeover.  If you have a sensitive child, I would highly recommend you read the book first to determine if your child is ready for it.  Maggie is quite snarky at times and uses the word "butt" often, so we had to have a gentle reminder that was not an attitude or a word we used.

Curriculum for Sale

Because we have the privilege of reviewing homeschooling material, our shelves get full rather quickly around here.  In an effort to lighten our load a bit I am going to sell a few of the things we have.  All of these items are in excellent condition, from a non- smokers house.  Shipping is included in the price!  I have added the links to the material where I could so you can see the details of what is included.

If you are interested in any of these great sets, just leave me a message with a way to get a hold of you.

Illuminating Literature- When Worlds Collide  $40.00
This is a great Literature program for high schoolers, and I have the first two books you will need to begin.  If you have not used Sharon Watson for anything literature related, you are in for a treat!  We love her stuff and I think you will too!

Science Shepherd Biology    $85.00
OK friends, think college prep here!  This is no skim through it course!  Very complete, very organized, and somewhat challenging!  The lab video alone sells for $50.00, so this is a deal.  Expect a heavy box to show up at your door!

Apologia's Exploring Creation Through Astronomy- (older edition) $10.00
This is the first edition of this book, but still a great resource for elementary and early middle school kiddos.  I have included a daily schedule guide that I used and loved!

Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers- $10.00
What a fun book with all kinds of experiments in it.  The first 10 chapters are geared towards kiddos 4-7 and the next ten chapters are a bit more challenging for up to early teens.  We had a lot of fun with this book!

 

Vision Forum's The History of Christianity and Western Civilization- $20.00-

Regardless of the fate of the company, we still love the resources they put out for years.  This includes the DVD, CD and study guide!

"Filmed and recorded on the 2010 European Faith and Freedom Tour, this interactive study course is perfect for use by high schoolers, as a discipleship tool for church leaders, and as an adventure to be shared by entire families-all wrapped up into one power-packed resource."

 

There may be more coming, but let's start with that!  It is hard to let stuff go, but I know others can be blessed with these amazing products!  I am blessed daily by the companies we review for!

Blessings,

Lightning Literature- TOS Review

Books!  Books!  Books!  Yay Books!
Just for the record, I have a family that loves books.  So our literature choices are important to me.  I want good books and more.  The "and more" has been a problem in the past.  Not anymore!

Hooray for Hewitt Homeschooling and their Lightning Literature and Composition- Grade 8, written for 8th or 9th graders!  We were recently blessed by this company to review their course and I love it!

Here's what we received-
Lightning Literature and Composition- Grade 8 Student's Guide ($25.00)- This book is for your student. For each selection read, whether novel, poem, or short story, there is an introduction, vocabulary list (broken into chapters), comprehension questions for each chapter, a literary lesson that is highlighted within that particular reading assignment, a mini-lesson, and writing exercises to choose from.  Your child will need a separate notebook or paper to write on.

• Literary lessons include things like determining the author's purpose, setting, and imagery.
• Mini lessons include things like taking notes, rewriting in your own words, and free verse.
• Writing assignments include things like writing paragraphs, poems, short stories, and research papers.

Lightning Literature and Composition- Grade 8 Student's Workbook ($25.00)- The student workbook is also for the student and should be completed after the reading, literary lesson and mini lesson.   This is where your child will take the skills they have learned and put them into practice.  Included in these pages are exercises in discovering an author's purpose, short grammar lessons, and analyzing literature.  Crossword puzzles, word searches, and other games are also included but optional.  This workbook can be written in.

Lightning Literature and Composition- Grade 8 Teacher's Guide ($20.00)- Just that!  A teacher's guide that includes a suggested 36 week lesson plan, any answers to comprehension questions and workbook pages, and extra notes you may need on what is being taught.


Books covered in Lightning Literature 8th grade- Selections from Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages Treasure Island A Day of Pleasure A Christmas Carol The Hobbit My Family and Other Animals To Kill a Mockingbird   What I love about Lightning Literature-
In the past we have used a program that has your child read a lot of books.  A lot.  And I thought that would be a good thing.  My kids love to read.  But through the years I began to question some of the book choices and the lack of any follow up.  I saw my kids read a book, put it down, answer a few questions and repeat.  But what I did not see was much deep thinking or even enjoyment.   That's where Lightning Literature is different.  I feel the books have been chosen with great care.  There are some classics that everyone should read and a few "new to me" books.  I also love that in between each book there is a break that allows for a lesson in poetry or short stories.  While those are not things my son would normally gravitate towards, putting them in between the books is a good motivator for him.  What kid cannot drag themselves through a short story when they know Treasure Island is waiting for them?

I also love the quality of questions are being asked. There is a place for reading comprehension of course, but at this age level, there is so much more to reading a book.  Lightning Literature asks questions that get kids thinking outside the box with, "what were they thinking?", "how did they feel?" and more.  They have to use their brains a little to work through answers, not just spit back a one word answer.  One of the things my son loved was there are only a few questions per chapter and therefore not completely overwhelming to him.

While we only used the vocabulary to define any words we did not know, it would be easy to use the book vocabulary lists for spelling and for vocab practice in your school!  Because each unit ends with writing assignments to choose from, you can also use this for a complete writing program.  We were not able to complete a writing project during this review period...but soon, very soon!  My son loves that each unit offers 4 or more choices and that HE gets to choose which one to do!

The only thing we struggled with was the recommended schedule, honestly.  The recommended schedule is listed by weeks, not days, which happens to be my personal preference.  Instead of following it exactly, what I figured out worked best for us was to look at what was required for the complete lesson and then break it into days for my son.  For ease, because there are 12 chapters, we covered a lesson every 3 weeks, which would ultimately cover 36 weeks for the school year.  In reality, some books may take us a bit longer while some of the poetry lessons may not take as long, but for now it works for us.  For us, this allowed one week for reading the book and answering the questions after each chapter, one week for reading the literary lesson and mini-lesson and completing the workbook pages and then one week for the writing assignment.  Of course, remember that one of the glories of homeschooling is that each person can find what works for their children and then forge ahead!

And that brings us to this- this program is a winner. And it is also our new literature choice.  For the record, I am backing up and covering Lightning Literature 7th grade first because, well, I am like that.  I like to do things in order!  We have also reviewed the high school level  British Medieval program in the past.  You can find reviews from fellow Crew members for both of these and more through the Schoolhouse Crew Review link below.

Pricing-
Lightning Literature and Composition- Grade 8 Student's Guide -$25.00
Lightning Literature and Composition- Grade 8 Student's Workbook -$25.00
Lightning Literature and Composition- Grade 8 Teacher's Guide -$20.00

*Books can also be bought in packs with or without the Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children, which is also used in 7th grade.

If you would like to follow Lightning Literature more closely you can find them-
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Progeny Press- TOS Crew Review

You may remember a while back that I had the opportunity to review two Progeny Press Literature Guides.  We loved them at that time and were so excited to be able to review two more this year.  I might as well just say that they did not disappoint once again.  

Progeny Press, a company that specializes in study guides for Literature, allowed us to review The Giver ($18.99), an interactive E-Guide recommended for grades 7-9 and Frog and Toad Together ($11.99) E-Guide, recommended for grades K-2.  While there are 100s of titles to choose from, conveniently broken up into age groups, these two caught my eye immediately as both were on our reading list for the upcoming school year.  You can buy the books separately from the Progeny Press bookstore if you need them.  The guides can be downloaded as an E Book,  or purchased on a disk or as a printed workbook.  Many are now offered in an interactive downloadable style that allows your child to type the answers right onto the pages on the computer and then save them.  Each guide has a summary of events as well as notes about the author and several pre-reading activities.



We used Frog and Toad Together for our "new" second grader.  This book is a collection of 5 short stories of two friends, Frog and Toad.  From adventures in the Garden, to making cookies and fighting dragons, each chapter is filled with laughter and fun.  For this particular guide, each chapter is covered separately.  Progeny Press recommends that you read the whole book first, but we found it easier to read a chapter and then do the corresponding pages in the guide.  The E book is a simple file to download and then we printed it off to use.  We added additional blank pages for projects that we did, making a fun little 3 ring binder for the final project.

Questions covered the who, what and whens of the story, as well as some open ended questions to get your child  to think outside the box.  My favorite part of the Progeny Press guides however, is that they are written from a Christian perspective!  (You can find their statement of faith on their website.) Each chapter introduces a related scripture or two and provides them to read.  They then take those scriptures and tie them to the story asking the child several questions pertaining to the subject.  For example- "How can a person know the right steps to take?"

In addition, each of the question sections are followed by a projects section- my son's favorite part by far!

In Chapter two, Frog and Toad grew a garden, and so the project was to plant a Phonics garden and to conduct an experiment to see if seeds that were sung to would grow faster than those that were not.

In another chapter we got to make cookies just like Frog and Toad, with the recipe provided.

In another chapter we talked about dreams and he loved drawing a picture of a dream he had and pretending he was asleep!  We also talked about fears and he drew pictures of things that scared him.

Additional activities included a Venn diagram and word search.  An Answer Key is provided at the end of the 30 page guide as well as a suggested reading list.

Since quite a bit of writing was involved I did have my son dictate to me his answers and I wrote them on the guide that we had printed out.  This freed him to make his answers any length, instead of settling for short so he did not have to write as much, and allowed him to just enjoy the process.  At CJ's request, we have already ordered an additional guide to begin in August and at that time I will have him write his own answers!


For our 6th grader, we chose to read  The Giver, by Lois Lowry.  We had this book set aside for his 11th grade year actually, but when we saw it recommended for middle school ages, we thought we would give it a try.  If you are not familiar with this book, be forewarned, it is rather odd and pretty deep, but we would recommend it.  The story is about a young boy named Jonas who lives in a perfect world where everything is under the control of the "committee".  No choices!  Yes, this one will have you talking.  And talking!  Unlike Frog and Toad, The Giver comes in an interactive format.  We chose that because like many boys, my son is not thrilled with writing.  I felt that if he could type his answers into the computer directly it would save him some heartache.  The guide is broken down into sections of several chapters a piece.  Again, Progeny Press recommends you read the whole book first and then proceed.  I think as deep as this particular book is, that would be a mistake.  It worked well for my son to read the assigned chapters one day and then spend the next day or two completing the questions.

Each section, covering 3 chapters, began with a vocabulary review.  Those were followed by several sections of questions including the Dig Deeper section.   This section introduces scripture and really gets your child to think outside the box.  Surprisingly, this is the section my son enjoyed the most.  Afterwards there were often discussion questions or an extra writing assignment.  At the end of the guide is a section with suggested essay topics as well as an additional resource list.  A separate answer key is provided.

So does the 12 year old love the guide?  Not really.  But he did it and I think was pleased at what he learned.  We also enjoyed a few very good conversations about this book because of questions that he had to answer.  One of the great things about Progeny Press Literature guides is not only do they test reader comprehension, but they take them even further into the story, asking deep questions and teaching some truths about faith and scripture!  Because of that, we will continue to use them and hope the 12 year old eventually drags his heels a little less! ;)


You can find Progeny Press here-
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VCF- The Power in a Word

You know how some people are a little obsessed with office supplies?  You know- the type that shop all of the back to school sales even though they KNOW they have enough pens for the free world and just as many notebooks.  OK, yes, I am one of those people.  I admit it.  As long as we are confessing, I also admit I am a curriculum junkie as well.  You know- buy it in case you may need it and then make your children use it in the summer even if they are out of the age range.  Yep, I am that person too.  But when is the last time I went to a curriculum fair?  YEARS!  Really, my kids were all probably still in elementary school at the time, meaning there were only two of them then, not four.  It was actually a local homeschool convention, but let's just be honest, I went for the curriculum.  I may have listened to one or two speakers, but I stalked the vendors.

Curriculum speaks to me.  It is one of the reasons I do reviews.  So much curriculum, so little time!

And that my friends, is why I love Susan's idea of a Virtual Curriculum Fair.  I do not have to leave the house and I can stalk everyone else's curriculum choices.  Win-win for me!  So let's get started!

I do find it amusing that Susan decided to start with what I consider the hardest category- Language Arts.  It really has been the hardest for me to choose and folks, I have been on this ride over 15 years.  I have been there, done that with more stuff than I even care to admit.  Let me say, I do not think I am fickle, but I am choosy.  And, I have learned that each of my children learn a different way and so with each one I have to think outside the box a little to find the "perfect" match.  There is NO such thing, by the way.  Sometimes you just find the best choice for the moment and move forward.

That being said, let me share some of what I consider the best out there!  For now.

Let's start with spelling.

I am NOT a five days a week, pretest, post test spelling curriculum fan.  I have used several and had no luck.  I do not like for my children to spend a week studying words they know how to spell, while doing mindless word searches and other time wasters. (not opinionated at all, huh?!)  So here is what I suggest-

All About Spelling- This is new to me with my last child.  Figures!  It is hands on, easy to follow and genius!  My 1st grader has just started level 2 and we will plan on doing level three for his second grade level.

Spelling Power- This one we have been using since my oldest was in elementary school.  I am sure the format has changed a bit, but the bottom line is that you call words until your child misses a few and then they study those words.  There is a little more to it, but you get the idea.  One book, all grades, period.  I would start it in third grade and finish when your child has completed all the levels.

Reading

Two of my kids learned to read magically.  OK, I know not possible, but it sure seemed like it!  One I am proud to say is NOW a great reader but was at one point in time, hopeless.  Our last blows me away daily with his reading.  We have tried everything but if I was starting over here's what I would do.

PAL from IEW.  This was a review item and by far, hands down the BEST thing we have ever used.  Again, only with my youngest.  Again, figures!  I have no doubt this kid would have learned to read regardless, but we would have never had this much fun!  Hands on, active and, did I mention, fun?!    If you have a child that likes to be busy, they will enjoy this.  There is some writing involved, but also lots of games and activities.  The initial prep time is hefty, but worth it.  Start here and you will not be sorry!

Two "extras"- Reading Eggs and Reading Kingdom.  Both are computer based, both make reading fun.  If you have a visual or auditory learner, these may be worth checking out.  We use them daily.

Literature

OK, I am going out on a limb here- but after your child learns to read, can I suggest that is just what you do?  Read. And read some more.  Talk about what you read, notebook if you want, but I am here to tell you that all the extra fluff does not help your child to read.  It just takes up precious time that could be spent reading!  If you are worried about comprehension, after they are finished reading - TALK about the book!  Ask questions, discuss.  Not only will you know if they are comprehending what they read, you are spending quality time with your kiddos.  Here's what I figured out about Literature- every program out there recommends your child read something different.  Every public school out there is the same.  And some of those choices are HORRIBLE!  So my recommendation is find what YOU want them to read and have them read!  Make a list at the beginning of each school year and dive in.  It's more fun anyway.

Writing

For beginner readers, I love Write Shop!  Again, this was a review item that we were blessed to use with my then 5th grader.  As soon as we were done I bought the first book for my youngest.  It is simple to use, inexpensive and just well done in my opinion.  We will continue with it probably until about 5th grade.  The first level has simple writing pages you use with each lesson and some cute activities.  The older level we used incorporated more games and grammar components as well.



At that point (6th grade) I switch to IEW.  If you do not know about this company, you need to do some research about them!  My kids love Mr. Pudewa and his humor.  The videos are invaluable, and the skills taught are wonderful.  My college student has been complemented for her writing by numerous professors, and trust me, she did NOT learn any of it from me.

Two "extras"-  You know, for those summer school times...heehee

1. One Year Adventure Novel

2. Sharon Watson

We have used both and I highly recommend them!

And that brings us to Grammar!

Ugh!  This one is just tough.  We tend to hit Grammar hard in the middle school years and then move on.  I am just gonna lay a few out for you and when you find the "great"one, please come back and share.

Logic of English- A newer one that I recently reviewed.  A little over my youngest's head but I think it may be what we try for next year. (2nd grade)  They also have a lower level called Foundations that I hear good things about.

Analytical Grammar- If you like some diagramming this might be a good program for you.

All in One Grammar- This is just a little workbook that does a solid overview of basic Grammar.  I really like its simplicity and use it in 4th grade.

Bridgeway English.- very workbooky (my made up word) but we have had good success with it.

Wow, is that all?  You forget all that is covered in language arts, don't ya?  No wonder it is such a hard subject to find.  I know there are several all in one programs out there, several which we have used, but I have found that because I am so particular, mixing and matching in this category works best for us.

Confused or still not sure what to do?  Head on over to these other VCF participants and see what they recommend! Remember, in the end, no one knows your child like you do!  Don't be afraid to try something new and move on to something else if you need to.

3 Reasons to Read to Your Teens by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
Language Arts {Virtual Curriculum Fair} by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
A Classical Take on 6th Grade Language Arts by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
The Power in a Word by Michele@ Family, Faith and Fridays
The Latin Road to English Grammar Volume 1 by Kristi K. @ The Potter's Hand Academy
Starting a Foreign Language in Elementary School by Amy @ Eclectic Homeschooling
These are the words we say by Christa @ Fairfield Corner Academy
A Peek into our Homeschool: Language Arts by Brittney @ Mom's Heart
Our Curriculum Choices 2014 ~ English by Renata~Sunnyside Farm Fun
Virtual Curriculum Fair: A World of Words by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
It Starts with the Alphabet by Kristen @ Sunrise to Sunset
Playing w/ Words-Charlotte Mason Style by Lynn P @ Ladybug Chronicles
2014 Virtual Curriculum Fair ~ Playing with Words: the Language Arts by Jennifer @ a glimpse of our life
Our PreK-1st Grade Language Arts Mix by Tauna @ Proverbial Homemaker
Fun (or Not) With Spelling by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun
Word Nerd Love by Lisa N@Golden Grasses
Our Favourite Resources For Teaching Elementary Language Arts by Kim @ Homestead Acres
Unconventional Reading Lessons While Homeschooling by Lori@My Journeys Through Life
My Favorite Writing Curriculum for our Boys by Monique @Living Life and Learning
Virtual Curriculum Fair: Playing With Words - Language Arts  by Stacie @Super Mommy To The Rescue
Fun With the Language Arts by Mary @ Winecup Christian Homeschool
Our Grammar Path by Laura @ Four Little Penguins
Virtual Curriculum Fair !!! by Jessica @ Modest Mama
Creating a High School English Course (or two) by Debra @Footprints in the Butter
Language Arts in Our Homeschool This Year by Laura @ Day by Day in Our World

If you would like to link up a curriculum post we would love to have you join us!

Join us next Monday when we talk about the next VCF subject- Math and Science

Blessings,

*** Just a quick note.  I am not receiving any compensation for recommending these products.  All mentioned are my personal opinions only.  I added some links just to make it easy for you and linked reviews I have done in the past if you want more information.***