is there a comprehensive list out there of language arts curricula?

[Lucy the Valiant]

I'm sure there must . . . or even an almost-comprehensive list (which I do realize is an oxymoron).

 

I'm having a hard time settling on one, and would like to find one soon that we can live with.

 

Or if anyone is willing to describe what you do for language arts? 2 rising 3rd graders and a K-5-er listening in.

[Mrs Twain]

Home School Reviews has reviews by category, including a language arts section. The list is probably not absolutely complete, but it usually has all of the major publishers and programs listed.

http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/category.aspx?id=33

 

I haven't found a "language arts" curriculum from one specific publisher that I like, so I have been putting together my own. Here is my plan for 3rd grade next year if you are interested. It sounds like a lot, but it doesn't take as long as it looks. The +/- choices are new things that I am planning to try for next year.

 

Reading: choices from SL, VP, and +/- HOD

Reading comprehension and Thinking Skills: +/- VP literatures guides for some of the books, Critical Thinking workbook grade 3 (Steck-Vaughn), WWE2 (finish) and then start on WWE3

Spelling: Spelling Power

Vocabulary: Wordly Wise 3000 grade 3, +/- Dynamic Literacy Wordbuild

Grammar: Rod and Staff grade 3

Writing/Composition: IEW SWI-level A

Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting (level C)

Literature (my dh and I reading to our kids): selections from Honey for a Child's Heart and All Through the Ages: History and Literature Guide

[Lucy the Valiant]

Home School Reviews has reviews by category, including a language arts section. The list is probably not absolutely complete, but it usually has all of the major publishers and programs listed.

http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/category.aspx?id=33

 

I haven't found a "language arts" curriculum from one specific publisher that I like, so I have been putting together my own. Here is my plan for 3rd grade next year if you are interested. It sounds like a lot, but it doesn't take as long as it looks. The +/- choices are new things that I am planning to try for next year.

 

Reading: choices from SL, VP, and +/- HOD

Reading comprehension and Thinking Skills: +/- VP literatures guides for some of the books, Critical Thinking workbook grade 3 (Steck-Vaughn), WWE2 (finish) and then start on WWE3

Spelling: Spelling Power

Vocabulary: Wordly Wise 3000 grade 3, +/- Dynamic Literacy Wordbuild

Grammar: Rod and Staff grade 3

Writing/Composition: IEW SWI-level A

Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting (level C)

Literature (my dh and I reading to our kids): selections from Honey for a Child's Heart and All Through the Ages: History and Literature Guide

 

Oh, thank you very much! That is actually really helpful to me. (And, being a newbie, I am assuming SL = Sonlight, VP = Veritas Press, HOD = Heart of Dakota, right?)

 

I have twins who will be in 3rd, and sometimes they are competitive, so I like them to read different books (off a pre-selected list).

 

Gah, sometimes I feel like I know what I'm doing, and other times I'm just WHAMMED by how much I do NOT know and how much I NEED to know.

 

I am going to spend some time with that list - I also thought, hey, I could look in my Rainbow Resources catalog, too, right?

 

 

(We are doing R&S this year, and also Reason for Handwriting.)

Edited April 15, 2011 by Katie

[Mrs Twain]

Oh, thank you very much! That is actually really helpful to me. (And, being a newbie, I am assuming SL = Sonlight, VP = Veritas Press, HOD = Heart of Dakota, right?)

 

Yes, that is right!

 

The most useful books I have found so far for making curricula choices are by Cathy Duffy (100 Top Picks, etc.) which I checked out from the library. Since there is so much available, I appreciate her choices as a good starting place for my research.

 

I like to make a plan for the next year, and then I go to a homeschool convention where I can look at the books before I buy them.