English lessons through literature

[busymama7]

I have a few questions. My daughter will be in 6th grade technically but I might put her in level 4. Possibly 5.

There is a textbook and also a workbook correct? Is it written to the student? How much direct instruction does it take? We really like rod and staff spelling, will that be overkill with the spelling by dictation?

I need something very structured and simple to complete. Something that we can continue with through the years and avoid hopping around and holes. My other option at this point is CLE reading and LA. Also considering reading detective for the reading instead. We do really Ike IEW though and there may be a group class available for her level.

I have been homeschooling a long time and I'm frustrated that I feel so lost with this. My older two did not do as well on ACT as I wanted and I'm scrambling to change the way we are doing things(primarily for LA) for the rest. We followed CM and amble side online but I feel that we didn't implement it well enough and consistently enough. I want something simple, somewhat independent but would prefer not to have stacks of papers to correct daily.

I will have two high schoolers as well as 1st and 3rd graders (the 3rd grader is doing well with AAR but is dyslexic and not at grade level for reading so his work will not be independent at all, nor will the 1st grader). Considering ELTL for them together in level one but we will also be doing AAR separately and AAS level one together.

I spent years trying to implement SWR effectively and while I did teach 5 children to read, two of whom are dyslexic, I missed a lot of it. I was so happy to find AAR. It's the perfect fit for us and I'm excited to add AAS. I learned that simple, straightforward, do the next page/lesson really does fit our family the best. And a fair amount of independence where possible is helpful.

ETA: I remembered one other option I was considering. Spectrum language arts. Then reading detective and teaching writing IEW style with our history and science lessons. That doesn't really cover lit but we would be reading lots and lots.

2ETA: on the one hand I think something all in one, get it done is a good plan (like ELTL) and then I think not so much as it has some things in it we do as a group (like memory work) and doubles up on spelling. And I do have a handle on teaching writing. And I don't want literature or reading lessons to take the joy out of books and reading (ugh. I hated school for that reason) Mostly I think I need just grammar. Maybe?

 

3ETA: I'm also looking at Climbing to Good English.   I would prefer a workbook approach so not considering R&S English.  I tried that many years ago and it wasn't a good fit at the time. 

 

Im worried about taking on a curriculum that has 180 days of lessons. We never seem to get through that.  With Math we just keep going in the summer and start new books whenever they finish one, but Im not sure I want to do that with LA.  Which is why I liked that ELTL had less lessons. 

 

 

Edited June 29, 2016 by busymama7

[vaquitita]

Just FYI... Climbing to good English is five days a week for the early levels, but drops to three days a week after that. Maybe 4th grade?

[Holly]

There is a textbook and optional workbook.  Basically with Levels 4&5, it contains printed passages for them to label parts of speech before diagramming the sentence.  You can type the passages up on your own, which I did for the earlier levels.  The passages in Level 5 where fairly long, so I bought the PDF workbook for it.   ;)  With regards to spelling, you can easily leave of the dictation portion and stick with R&S.  We used Spelling Wisdom instead of ELTL's dictation.  

 

 

It is very structured and complete...the grammar lessons are especially wonderful.  I did want a bit more writing, but if you write across the curriculum, it's probably plenty.  There is one scheduled writing lesson every other week.  My writing phobic DD did very well with these lessons.  The grammar has been really good for them as well.  Having only three lessons per week is very helpful, and a typical 6th grader could do most of it on her own.  My 5th and 8th graders did levels 4 & 5 without much help from me.  I did listen to some oral narrations and help with a diagram or two.  

 

The literature portion is to just read the book.  A few of the sentences are used for diagramming/grammar lessons, but it doesn't take away the joy of the books.  We did skip a couple books that they weren't enjoying, and the author says that's fine to do.  We also did some portions of the lessons as a group.  I read the poems aloud to everyone (each lesson has a poem).  We also did the memory work and picture study as a group.  Much of the memory work overlapped and we just chose one artist two study out of the 3 levels we used.  You could use the picture study with all your DC or choose your own artists to study since they don't tie in with the rest of the lesson.

 

The only difference between 4 & 5 is that 4 has more sentences to diagram, as well as different literature & poetry selections.   Much of the content is the same.  

Edited June 30, 2016 by Holly

[busymama7]

There is a textbook and optional workbook. Basically with Levels 4&5, it contains printed passages for them to label parts of speech before diagramming the sentence. You can type the passages up on your own, which I did for the earlier levels. The passages in Level 5 where fairly long, so I bought the PDF workbook for it. ;) With regards to spelling, you can easily leave of the dictation portion and stick with R&S. We used Spelling Wisdom instead of ELTL's dictation.

 

 

It is very structured and complete...the grammar lessons are especially wonderful. I did want a bit more writing, but if you write across the curriculum, it's probably plenty. There is one scheduled writing lesson every other week. My writing phobic DD did very well with these lessons. The grammar has been really good for them as well. Having only three lessons per week is very helpful, and a typical 6th grader could do most of it on her own. My 5th and 8th graders did levels 4 & 5 without much help from me. I did listen to some oral narrations and help with a diagram or two.

 

The literature portion is to just read the book. A few of the sentences are used for diagramming/grammar lessons, but it doesn't take away the joy of the books. We did skip a couple books that they weren't enjoying, and the author says that's fine to do. We also did some portions of the lessons as a group. I read the poems aloud to everyone (each lesson has a poem). We also did the memory work and picture study as a group. Much of the memory work overlapped and we just chose one artist two study out of the 3 levels we used. You could use the picture study with all your DC or choose your own artists to study since they don't tie in with the rest of the lesson.

 

The only difference between 4 & 5 is that 4 has more sentences to diagram, as well as different literature & poetry selections. Much of the content is the same.

Thank you. This is helpful. So the actual textbook would be used by my child either in print or the E book?

[FriedClams]

CLE reading grades 4 and up is only 5 light units. That means you could, doing one lesson daily, two grade levels of cle reading in a year. We LOVE CLE reading (and LA, but reading more).

[boscopup]

My 7th grader is using level 5 this year, and it's going great. I really like that it's only 3 days per week. I'm not using anything else for LA, except he's writing narrations in other subjects (we're using Wayfarers with ELTL, and it schedules a narration every day). There is some literary analysis built into the writing lessons in ELTL. She recommends using a couple literature guides each year in high school, and in Wayfarers she has high schoolers go through a book about literary terms and write some research papers.

 

You could easily skip the dictation if you want to use R&S Spelling instead.

[busymama7]

My 7th grader is using level 5 this year, and it's going great. I really like that it's only 3 days per week. I'm not using anything else for LA, except he's writing narrations in other subjects (we're using Wayfarers with ELTL, and it schedules a narration every day). There is some literary analysis built into the writing lessons in ELTL. She recommends using a couple literature guides each year in high school, and in Wayfarers she has high schoolers go through a book about literary terms and write some research papers.

 

You could easily skip the dictation if you want to use R&S Spelling instead.

Thank you. I keep coming back to this and thinking I would like it but then I think something like CLE is cheaper and easier? I don't know. How often is the dictation scheduled? Would I be skipping entire lessons?

[boscopup]

Dictation is part of two lessons per week. You wouldn't be missing whole lessons at all.

 

Rainbow Resource has a good price for the books, and you can usually find coupon codes for Lulu if you want the workbook PDF (I got them).

 

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[boscopup]

I should also mention that we switched from CLE LA and Reading. CLE was too much every day.

 

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[busymama7]

I should also mention that we switched from CLE LA and Reading. CLE was too much every day.

 

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

This is good to know. I don't want to get bogged down. I like short and sweet and to the point plus this child needs to work to catch up a bit in math so I don't want LA to take too much time.

 

Do you have the print lesson books and does the child just go through the lessons in the book themselves? And then use the workbook for the labeling part? I don't want too much that is direct instruction. Ideally she would be able to at least get started daily (by reading the chapter maybe?)

 

Also this is a silly question, but how big a deal is it to jump into the oz series without have read the others?

 

ETA: do you have a suggestion for something for my two high schoolers? They are 9th and 11th, both boys and both dyslexic. They read at grade level but could use more grammar and definitely I want something that covers literary analysis as I'm weak in that. I'm ok using IEW with them again for writing but also ok with a program that integrates it. We will be doing American history and I really prefer writing across the curriculum over just writing lessons.

Edited July 1, 2016 by busymama7

[boscopup]

 

 

This is good to know. I don't want to get bogged down. I like short and sweet and to the point plus this child needs to work to catch up a bit in math so I don't want LA to take too much time.

Yes, LA was taking us too much time before. Now it's streamlined and our school day flows much better. My 7th grader is doing more writing than before, but he's not bogged down in repetitive exercises and having to do 3 or 4 different workbooks.

 

Do you have the print lesson books and does the child just go through the lessons in the book themselves? And then use the workbook for the labeling part? I don't want too much that is direct instruction. Ideally she would be able to at least get started daily (by reading the chapter maybe?)

My 7th grader can do the lesson on his own until we get to dictation, which we do on Tuesday and Thursday. He also needs some guidance before doing the literary analysis that comes up every so often, and of course he needs me to go over his narration after he writes it. Also, I usually watch as he does the grammar exercise so i can catch mistakes before they get ingrained. You might want to do the first few lessons with your child to get a feel for the program, then figure out which parts can be independent for that child.

 

Oh, and yes I got the print text and PDF workbook for all three kids. That has worked well for us.

 

Also this is a silly question, but how big a deal is it to jump into the oz series without have read the others?

I don't think it's a big deal. Has she read the first one? Or even seen the movie? Just knowing the basic storyline of the first one might be helpful. My son had read the first book before but not the ones between that one and the one in level 5. My 4th grader starts one of the books soon (level 3), and he's only seen the movie. I'm not worrying about it. He's a slow reader, so I won't have him read the first one before he gets there. He's been happily reading Doctor Dolittle sequels, since that first book in ELTL sparked an interest. :)

 

ETA: do you have a suggestion for something for my two high schoolers? They are 9th and 11th, both boys and both dyslexic.

I'm sorry, I don't. I have not gotten to high school yet and still have my head in the sand about curriculum because it's two years away. [emoji38] Hopefully someone else has some suggestions!

 

 

 

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[KeriJ]

Just throwing out there that we are looking at Cottage Press this year for another all in one, independent option. I can't explain exactly why it draws me more than ELTL, it just does.

[busymama7]

I spent some time looking over the samples again of ELTL.  I think I have identified my hesitation.  

 

It is very similar to what I did with my older kids, that I do not feel was effective enough.  Copywork, dication etc.  I believe my kids need more direct instruction, it just didn't work as well as I would have liked.  Also, too much poetry and extra reading passages with not really much to do with them.  I do like that it began fairly early to teach lit analysis, as that is something I am weak in.

 

I feel something more like CLE would work better, but I don't want to bog them down with too much work.  Also, I would rather they studied literature for reading instead of the stories and such in CLE reading.  I want something between these two programs.  Reading real books, in their entirety, lit analysis and guidance on writing those types of papers, and strong, formal grammar instruction, but preferably in a work book format. I like the idea of using sentances from literature for grammar but I am really ok either way with that.  I already have a spelling Im happy with (rod and staff for olders and AAS for youngers)

 

I looked at Cottage Pressm but thats not what Im looking for either. 

[hands-on-mama]

Let me know what you find. I love ELTL but still struggle with a little hesitation as well.

[michaeljenn]

I spent some time looking over the samples again of ELTL.  I think I have identified my hesitation.  

 

It is very similar to what I did with my older kids, that I do not feel was effective enough.  Copywork, dication etc.  I believe my kids need more direct instruction, it just didn't work as well as I would have liked.  Also, too much poetry and extra reading passages with not really much to do with them.  I do like that it began fairly early to teach lit analysis, as that is something I am weak in.

 

I feel something more like CLE would work better, but I don't want to bog them down with too much work.  Also, I would rather they studied literature for reading instead of the stories and such in CLE reading.  I want something between these two programs.  Reading real books, in their entirety, lit analysis and guidance on writing those types of papers, and strong, formal grammar instruction, but preferably in a work book format. I like the idea of using sentances from literature for grammar but I am really ok either way with that.  I already have a spelling Im happy with (rod and staff for olders and AAS for youngers)

 

I looked at Cottage Pressm but thats not what Im looking for either. 

 

Found his post while searching for ELTL.  Busymama7 what did you decide to go with this year.   I am using CLA LA and Reading right now and considering a switch to ELTL.   However, I am very scared that my kids will not get a proper grounding in LA if I do not use a methodical LA program that covers it all.  I LOVE the poetry and stories included in ELTL and I think that is what has drawn me to that program.  It is clear that more grammar would be learned in CLA LA and Reading, but it is just not as fun I guess.  Ugh... it is so hard to know what to do!  

[busymama7]

Found his post while searching for ELTL. Busymama7 what did you decide to go with this year. I am using CLA LA and Reading right now and considering a switch to ELTL. However, I am very scared that my kids will not get a proper grounding in LA if I do not use a methodical LA program that covers it all. I LOVE the poetry and stories included in ELTL and I think that is what has drawn me to that program. It is clear that more grammar would be learned in CLA LA and Reading, but it is just not as fun I guess. Ugh... it is so hard to know what to do!

I went with ELTL. We are very happy with it 2 weeks into our year. CLE builds in so muc review right that you could do it every other year if you wanted. Or slowly alongside ELTL since it's only 3 days a week. After a certain point CLE reading is only 1/2 year right? So you could do it the other two days of desired.

 

ELTL just creates joy and peace and a feeling of calm and sastifaction with school. I was afraid CLE would be too much for the grades I was looking at. 1st and 3rd are doing level 1 together as the older one is dyslexic and not reding independently yet. It's the perfect amount of work for them and I like that I have something that focuses on reading just to them since most of our reading and such is family lesson based. My 6th grader (buy very young with a summer bday) is doing level 4. I thought it was a better choice of lit for her since she is behind and math and needs to focus there. Level 5 seemed to make a jump to higher level lit then I felt she was ready for even though she is a voracious reader. She loves it. I expected and planned to go through the lesson with her but she really likes it and chooses to do it alone. The amount of exercises and such is perfect and doesn't take over our day.

 

I am really happy I went this route.

[michaeljenn]

Thank you busymama7 :)  I am also looking at Cottage Press material, and it seems a bit more rigorous.  I am still leaning towards  ELTL though.  Such a tough decision.  UGH

[Msweetpea2]

Thank you busymama7 :)  I am also looking at Cottage Press material, and it seems a bit more rigorous.  I am still leaning towards  ELTL though.  Such a tough decision.  UGH

 

I know this is from last year, but which did you end up going with - Cottage Press or ELTL? hope this year is going well!