Language arts help for a 6yo

[MaryMak07]

My 6yo is an avid reader. He did AAR 1-3 and now basically can read anything. I’m doing AAR 4 bc I have it but he doesn’t need it(Just finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2 days).

 

His handwriting is Just so so. We are doing the HWOT K book and that’s perfect for him.

 

What should I do next for him LA wise next year? What comes next for a kid who reads really well but handwriting is just ok?

 

Curriculum hits have been AAR, Right Start and me reading a lot aloud, of that helps.

[Rosie_0801]

You're asking for specific curriculum recommendations? Because, basically, you keep working on reading and writing forever. You could toss in some grammar and narration exercises, if you're not already doing them with SOTW or something.

[MaryMak07]

Yes. Specific recs if what to do next. This is my first time homeschooling. Do I start working on spelling/writing? Just do copywork? Obviously he will keep reading books but what else should we be doing?

[Melissa in Australia]

Have you looked at recommendations in The Well Trained Mind?

 

I would recommend Writing With Ease for Writing, First Language Lesson for grammar, narrations from History and maybe throw in some WriteShop if you want to include some creative writing.

[Rosie_0801]

If he's only six, you can start grammar and spelling or not, as you please.

 

He'll have to do them all eventually, but what do you think he could tolerate now?

 

 

Oh, hang on, next year means September, doesn't it? Yeah, by then Melissa's recs but the only creative writing I ever included in schoolwork was Braverwriter free writes once a week.

[Melissa in Australia]

If you wanted to start spelling and he is going great with AAR and the tiles, then you could start AAS. I think the recomendation is to start AAS after the child is reading at an AAR level 2, but you could contact the publisher and ask them. THey are very helpful.

[Melissa in Australia]

First language Lesson is mostly oral, so it is a perfect fit for a child that is not writing much yet.

[desertflower]

I agree with FLL/WWE combo.  You can skip the copywork that's in WWE for now.  FLL is mostly done orally.

 

Also, Bravewriter's Jot It Down has been a bit hit over here. 

 

You can start with AAS if you want.  I did when mine was 6.  Only because I know we trudge through most stuff slowly since I have 2 younger ones.  I've seen some people start spelling in 3rd grade. 

[HomeAgain]

This is what we did with a proficient reader but not proficient writer.

 

K - a lot of fine and gross motor skill work.  Toward the middle of the year he started work on making letters, 2-3 per each session, slowly working up to writing individual small words.

 

1st - copywork.  Short sentences were introduced using the same method we had done for copying individual letters and words.  Toward the middle of the year we started with Dictation Day By Day, which contained 1-2 sentences to be done with short, common words.  We did hands on grammar with GrammarLand and a set of Montessori-based characters and paper stamps that went along with the book.

 

2nd - using ELTL, continuing to do copywork and grammar each day and dictation 2-3 days a week.  He is now doing written narrations about once every two weeks after doing only oral ones last year and in K.

 

3rd - our plan is up in the air, whether to wait another year to do the next level of ELTL and use something else with less writing in the meantime, or continue ELTL.  If we do that we'll continue to modify the amount of copywork expected (he's up to 10 minutes, or about 4 lines).

 

[Kiara.I]

I'd skip spelling for now. Wait until grade 2 or so, that worked best for my boys.

I'd get Writing with Ease and First Language Lessons.

And I'd keep throwing books at him. ;)

 

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[ExcitedMama]

My DS raced through AAR too. For some reason he loves ELTL but hates WWE. I couldn’t decide between them and FLL so we do it all. They all do something different that I like. Since he does it all quickly it works well. He and I are bookworms and read quickly so the slow reading with ELTL is a good change I think.

[MerryAtHope]

He's doing great with reading, that's awesome! Yes, I would move on to AAS next if he's doing pretty well with basic handwriting. AAS includes dictation and eventually independent sentence writing (starting in level 3), and is really helpful in scaffolding kids towards doing more outside writing later on. Here's a blog post on planning LA that you might find helpful. Also, here's one on What Happens after All About Reading. Enjoy!

[birchbark]

What we have done:

 

1st grade - handwriting program, short bits of copywork

 

2nd grade - copywork, my DD began dictation, but DS was not ready at this point

 

3rd grade - copywork, short dictations

 

4th grade - copywork, dictation, intro to written narration, a short, non-writing grammar program (Sentence Family) 

 

5th grade - copywork, dictation, written narrations, review of Sentence Family

 

 

My DS did not really hit his stride with handwriting until 3rd grade. I relied on dictation to "cover" spelling. No grammar until 4th/5th grade.

[SilverMoon]

I have a similar one. I started him in WWE mostly for the premade copywork. The narration and questions were/are easy peasy for him, but it's been great for building his writing endurance. I love that it's based on literature. He's also doing First Language Lessons 1/2. Those and a pile of high quality children's books are all of his language arts at 7yo. (He wasn't quite ready for spelling.)