I am seeking ELA curriculum that is based in strong, classic literature. Bonus if it has writing instruction, not just assignments. We are looking at Lightning Lit 7. As posted by @blue plaid in an older comment, some have been disappointed with Lightning Lit 7 for various reasons & have swapped to a stronger curriculum. We are new to homeschooling but plan to continue as we have loved it! That being said, we need some helpful feedback on curriculum choices. Can you please offer some guidance by comparing Lightning Lit to other curriculums? Strengths / Weaknesses? Preferences & why?

Wondering if any of you seasoned mamas can help me out? I am trying to find a new language arts curriculum for Gr2 next year, and Gr1 next year for my 2 kids. I tried Before-5 in a Row for preschool LA and found it boring, the books were simpler than what I would have chosen to read, and I didn't like all the extra "fluff" chat. I tried LLATL blue book for Gr1 this year and found the extra activities boring, the books they chose boring for the most part... Just ended up using the phonics readers and scrapping all the extra work. I am using HWT for writing this year as my daughter has CP and has fine motor difficulty, so we do a lot of oral work. I scrapped the book list from LLATL, and we just choose more challenging books and I get them to do narrations afterwards (like mini book reports, orally). I alternate that with having them retell the story in their own words. For pleasure we read chapter books out loud. I am thinking of trying Spelling Workout for spelling, continuing with choosing stories of my own and doing narrations for comprehension. We have lots of phonics books and early readers that will cover Gr1-2. I am at a loss for what to do for just simply grammar. That is not too "fluffy", nor too boring, nor move too quickly... Haven't tried FLL or R&S but have read mixed reviews of both, so not sure what to do.

HI all LLTAL users, I have tried looking at the sample on christianbook.com and I just not "seeing" answers to my questions. I have seen that each Year level covers writing assignments. How many of these would there be roughly per book? Do the writing activities always relate to one of the book studies? I see that there are only a few books studies, but lots of excerpts from other books (for other activities like dictation) - is this right. Or do these excerpts sometimes relate to the writing assignments? Thank you

To those using LLATL. Have you ever skipped any of the daily lessons or perhaps any of the book levels? We are using LLATL as our main program and follow it basically to the letter. Adding spelling. We missed a few days this year (we school year round) and will not finish the book as I planned early next year in time to start the new one. Is there any lessons I can skip or should I rather combine lessons and do perhaps here and there two lessons per day?

Last year I used LLATL Yellow with my eldest (see my signature) and it was a great experience. This year we are using LLATL Orange. Now I have a problem. DD can't seem to remember much of anything from last year. Even when it reviews (I use that in a loose term with this curriculum) she can't remember much from earlier in the book. I'm a little stumped. I love the method and using literature to enhance lessons but there seems to be little retention. I also love how it introduces the new concepts in a gentle way and using real literature. My question is: Is it time to put LLATL aside and try some other curriculum or should I supplement it with something that reviews language skills like a daily review workbook? I'm open to suggestions but here are some things to bear in mind: My DD does NOT do well with creative writing. She is very apprehensive about coming up with anything on her own. DD also gets lost in lots of english jargon (verbs, adjectives, pronouns, compound sentences, etc)

It seems people either love or hate LLATL. I like the looks of it but wonder how it would suit our family. What type of teacher and student is this curriculum best suited for?

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I'm jumping ahead and thinking about next year already. It would be for grades 1 and 3. I have a workbook lover and a workbook hater, so either way it will be ok for at least one of them. Is it workbook heavy?

What are your thoughts on this? I got four manuals for free a few years ago. I think they must be an older version, because the ones that I have look different from what they sell now...mine are four manuals that go from 1-6(?) grade, not one per year. If I decided to use these, would I need anything else? It seems that the curriculum they sell now comes with more stuff? :confused:

I started homeschooling my then 1st grader this past January. She was in a private school using BJU and used BJU for all of kindergarten there. I kind of winged it with our first semester and used GWG 1, Reading Eggs, lots of reading, and in March bought LLATL red. We did three chapters before we took a break for summer (basically 1st grade review). We also did Time 4 Learning for LA. As you can see, I jumped around a lot because I didn't know where she was academically. I was planning on having her finish up the LLATL Red in 2nd grade. I kept seeing references to R&S English as a solid program and LLATL pretty much divided on opinions. Today I looked up the R&S English and looked at the scope & sequence and realized she already knew a good portion of it. I then looked up the scope & sequence of LLATL and had her do the assessment for level and she was placed in the Yellow book. Now I don't know what to do (esp since I already own the Red)! I like LLATL from a teacher's prospective and she seems to enjoy all the hands on cutting and book making it offers. She is very bright and picks up knowledge quickly (sometimes I feel like I don't actually teach her as she just accepts everything and moves on). I would prefer an all-in-one but I guess I am open to other suggestions. I am going to use HTTS so spelling is not necessary. I plan to use BJU Handwriting since that is what she was taught in school. Should I purchase LLATL Yellow? Should I purchase R&S? 3rd grade? Other options/opinions? She (7) is my only child being HS so it doesn't matter if it is independent or not. I do have a little one who will be 3 when school starts but she is easily entertained.

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and I was wondering if any of you could help with some advice. This is my first year using LLATL with my 2nd grader and I have really found it is a good fit for us. However, I felt like 5 spelling words a week wasn't enough, so I have been supplementing it with Spelling by Sound & Structure -Grade 2 (Rod and Staff). The SBSS seems to be working well and she aces almost every test but I wonder if she is learning why these words are spelled that way...she doesn't seemt to really spend much time on the lessons (15 minutes or so to do Part A one day, 15 minutes on Part B another day and the spelling test another day) Or am I just stressing about something I don't really need to stress about :001_huh: I am working on my curriculum list for next school year and of course, that is where you start looking at the other programs and they all sound so good...but I have liked SBSS because it doesn't take tons of time and she can do it on her own and it requires no time out of me except to give the spelling test....but is there something better in the long run. I am considering All about Spelling, but it seems more time intensive to me and much more pricey. But I am willing to do it if it is worth it. And would I need to start from the beginning of AAS and then work her through it more quickly than you would a 1st grader? (Which would not be a problem since her brother will be starting 1st grade next year and I would just use it for his spelling program). Thanks in advance.

I tried a search but not many post come up with regards to Learning Language Arts Through Literature. Can anyone compare the older version with the newer for me? I have Saxon Grammar that I plan to use with my 5th grade dd. Do you all add in a grammar program? I have heard that LLATL is considered light (which I don't mind) do you all add anything to it. This year I am planning to take parts from LLATL and Intermediate Language Lessons. Just pull from them what I want to use for Annette's writing course (skipping what grammar I can). My goal is to add copywork, dictation & composition using these two programs (something I slacked on in the past). I'm not looking for spelling or grammar because I have something else in mind. For those of you using it; A. are you adding anything to it? B. Using it as your only LA program. Oh, I did purchase the blue for my ds (new version) Thanks :001_smile:

Can you tell me what your favorite Grammar Program is and what you like so much about it? Next year I'll have 4th and 2nd graders home schooling. A friend referred me to the Winston Grammar program which sounds great, but I thought I'd poll the HS universe first :D... PS> Please don't use the acronyms for programs w/o spelling them out first. I know what so few mean at this point...:confused: Thanks! Thank you! -Melissa

I was wondering if anyone has used the LLATL 'gold' level books and cared to share their/their student's experience? :) I'm leaning toward the British one at this point...

Looking at the list of 5th grade curriculas, nothing I am looking at is being used! Egad. I'm looking at Winston for grammar, LLATL for enhancing Language Arts, Lively Latin (although do I need it? My DS is learning Spanish); Saxon Math, and Possibly enhancing with Magic Lens and Word within a Word. Any feedback on any of these is appreciated!

I have a 3rd grade son and we are using IEW and enjoying it. I cannot seem to hit a good groove with grammar. We're almost halfway through Shurley Grammar, but I cannot bear to go on with it. (We skipped the writing portions.) It just doesn't fit my style and I don't think my son can apply the the things he's learning outside the pages of his grammar book. I then went towards the opposite end of the spectrum and ordered LLATL. I'm not sure that I'm comfortable with the grammar-lite approach. What do YOU use with IEW? What makes your grammar program and IEW a good combination? Thanks!