I know this is an old post but I found this advice for how to use it. Just in case anyone is looking for something like this. http://mrshappyhousewife.com/homeschooling/spelling/using-mcguffeys-spelling-book.html

So how does Heart of Dakota compare with MFW? If anyone has experience with those two?

Thank you SO much for this link. I'd not found this blog yet and it really does give an awesome glimpse of the fun stuff you get to do in ECC. Awesome! Thanks so much.

Silly question, but what is HOD? I'm not familiar with that one.

Good luck with your decisions! I know it can be hard finding what works for all of your kids and stage in life as a family. Keep trying! Its awesome when things click!

Yeah I think I liked that LLATL included literature and projects and things like that. This year we added spelling and phonics/wordlywise to FLL but I felt like it wasn't quite enough. The all in one of LLATL is appealing to me for sure. In what way do you think FLL3 is better than 1 and 2?

All of these reviews of ECC have been so helpful for me! I'm considering doing it this fall but also feel like I wish I could "see" more of the curriculum from the website. Thanks for giving your thoughts, its really helped me! Michelle

We are almost finished with FLL2 and we did FLL1 last year. (this year I have a 3rd grader and 1st grader) I would say there's a ton of repetition in FLL2. My kids didn't mind the first book but I think they are tiring of the style of FLL2. If you're daughter didn't like FLL1 I kind of doubt she'll like FLL2. I agree with you on helping you know what grammar to point out and teach. I've appreciated knowing what's on their "level" for now. I've been looking into LLATL (Learning Language Arts through Literature) and think this might be a better fit for us for next school year. I've not looked into Rod and Staff though. Maybe I should? HTH Michelle

We have been using First Language Lessons Levels 1 and 2 for the last two years. My kids have enjoyed it somewhat and I like that its scripted and very accessible. But I think they're tiring of the repeating the definitions and after doing it for two years ready for something different. My question is for anyone who has used level 3. Does it repeat the same general format or is it really changed a lot from levels 1 and 2? A friend of mine uses LLATL and loves it! I'm thinking of changing over to that instead and then they each have their own LA to work on independently. (I've had my 1st and 3rd grader doing FLL together) Anyone make the shift from FLL to LLATL and really glad they switched? Thanks! Michelle