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Please help me sort out second grade language arts for next year - please! :)


Mrs. Darinski
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I am seeking some seasoned advice with my upcoming second grade language arts as I feel like I am all over the map!

 

DS6 is a wiggly, not too work-booky, great reading boy. Some things have been working well for us, and some are just O.K. I plan to continue, of course, with the things that are working well, but I am wondering how much I should change things up.

 

Explode the Code and Hooked On Phonics Learn to Read have been a real hit for both of us and I plan to keep those for Gr. 2. He's also been enjoying ZB Handwriting, and we will keep that. We have also been working on Learning Language Arts Through Literature's Red Book this year. For the most part, it has been 'O.K.' There are elements I like and some I'm not crazy about. We love the readers and the wholesome stories, as well as the crafty activities that help enforce different elements of the lessons. I wanted something a little more rigorous for spelling next year, so I've already gotten an older BJU Spelling 2 edition that I think will work well for us. And with the hopes of keeping things simple, I wondered if just going with HOP for reading and reading lots of books would be enough.

 

What I am really wondering here, is if I should let go of LLATL, and not use the next level, even though some of it is ok when there are parts of it I would not use. I have been researching curriculum up, down, and sideways for grammar and writing and I am being drawn to something like WWE for writing. I like the aspect of narration and copywork in it, and the gentle, systematic approach. As well as, perhaps, EIW for grammar or Evan Moor, or PLL, keeping in mind that DS doesn't do super well with workbooks.

 

Does this sound crazy? Have I got too much? I have been looking at Charlotte Mason's gentle approach too and don't want to overwhelm the child and myself by making us crazy to ensure we've covered our bases!

 

Does anyone else think themselves into a tizzy like I do? Gah! :willy_nilly:

 

BLESS YOU if you've read this far! :Angel_anim: I would greatly appreciate any words of advice any of you may have to offer. :o

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Why don't you just use FL and WWE? They are simple, not too "workbooky" (you can do a lot orally) and the writing is not all that difficult, especially if you have time to sit and remind him of punctuation, capitalization, and word spacing. I used them for a bot with dd (just turned seven last week) and still have them in case I want to use them again. Dd had some vision issues that we had to work through so we dropped everything except for the 3 R's for awhile and are just now getting started again. I think she is past FLL 1 and just haven't ordered 2 yet. Possibly will add it in next year.

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Do you have a certain topic you're going for, or just second grade-ish literature in general? What about literature do you want to introduce him to or have him learn? For whatever it's worth, we are doing Growing with Grammar and will continue that next year (she likes it). I will switch to KISS grammar at some point (probably 3rd or 4th grade), but right now I'm just trying to let her be exposed to the ideas. Still on copywork, but will move to narrations at some point between now and the end of second grade; when she seems "ready" (don't ask me to define that!). I'll start acting as her editor then. For actual literature (as in well-written books and poems), why not just select great literature for children? We're reading through A Little Princess right now. My kids love Just So Stories by Kipling. James Herriot is a favorite here as well. The Wind in the Willows is a good one for children. I'm having DD read through original Winnie the Pooh poems for reading instruction now and i coach her on pronunciation, speed, inflection, etc. To me Literature is more about experiencing great works than discussing themes of selections. If you don't rush it, they'll make connections on their own. If they don't, at least you'll have an impressive book list to show off. ;)

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I am seeking some seasoned advice with my upcoming second grade language arts as I feel like I am all over the map!

 

DS6 is a wiggly, not too work-booky, great reading boy. Some things have been working well for us, and some are just O.K. I plan to continue, of course, with the things that are working well, but I am wondering how much I should change things up.

 

Explode the Code and Hooked On Phonics Learn to Read have been a real hit for both of us and I plan to keep those for Gr. 2. He's also been enjoying ZB Handwriting, and we will keep that. We have also been working on Learning Language Arts Through Literature's Red Book this year. For the most part, it has been 'O.K.' There are elements I like and some I'm not crazy about. We love the readers and the wholesome stories, as well as the crafty activities that help enforce different elements of the lessons. I wanted something a little more rigorous for spelling next year, so I've already gotten an older BJU Spelling 2 edition that I think will work well for us. And with the hopes of keeping things simple, I wondered if just going with HOP for reading and reading lots of books would be enough.

 

What I am really wondering here, is if I should let go of LLATL, and not use the next level, even though some of it is ok when there are parts of it I would not use. I have been researching curriculum up, down, and sideways for grammar and writing and I am being drawn to something like WWE for writing. I like the aspect of narration and copywork in it, and the gentle, systematic approach. As well as, perhaps, EIW for grammar or Evan Moor, or PLL, keeping in mind that DS doesn't do super well with workbooks.

 

Does this sound crazy? Have I got too much? I have been looking at Charlotte Mason's gentle approach too and don't want to overwhelm the child and myself by making us crazy to ensure we've covered our bases!

 

Does anyone else think themselves into a tizzy like I do? Gah! :willy_nilly:

 

BLESS YOU if you've read this far! :Angel_anim: I would greatly appreciate any words of advice any of you may have to offer. :o

 

Okay you've mentioned the following programs....

 

Explode the Code

Hooked on Phonics, plus readers

ZB Handwriting

BJU Spelling 2

LLATL

WWE

EIW or Evan Moor of PLL for grammar

 

Yes, this is way too much imho. You've listed two phonics programs and a spelling program. Now, lots of people use ETC with something else, so that's okay if that works for you. But I wouldn't add spelling in on top of that. Finish phonics and finish ETC and then add spelling after that as a replacement.

 

LLATL - I'm not sure what to tell you about that. I've never used it, but I totally understand the appeal of an all in one. On the other hand if everything it covers is too light and you have to do additional spelling, copywork, grammar, etc.... then maybe it's not really meeting your needs?

 

Handwriting - There are plenty of folks who do a separate handwriting program and plenty who just address it through their phonics/spelling workbooks or copywork if they are doing that for writing. So, keeping ZB or tossing it is up to you.

 

Writing - WWE is fine, but again, if you decide to do WWE, imho, you could drop handwriting as an extra and address handwriting as you do WWE.

 

EIW or Evan Moor or PLL for grammar - If I understand correctly, EIW is really a writing program, but starts with grammar first. Not sure I would choose it to fulfill the goal of grammar while still doing another writing program (WWE) on the side. I mean if you have good reason for using EIW and WWE together, than go for it. But, if I have one I'm still working on phonics with, I doubt using two writing programs is the best use of his time. I'm not familiar with Evan Moor's grammar workbooks. They might be fine, or they might just cover the subject lightly and then you have two light passes at grammar (Evan Moor and LLATL) and then has that accomplished your goals? Lastly, PLL. I never used it. I know it has a very sweet appeal. It definitely covers more than grammar. But it's certainly a possibility of that's what you want. If you used PLL, I'm guessing you would have days you wouldn't do WWE depending what the PLL lesson was for that day?

 

So.....

 

I don't really have advice on all the programs you've named, but I will say this....

 

Think about your goals. Think about how each program is fulfilling those goals (or not). Don't worry about gaps. It's possible you will leave something out - but that's better than burning out.

 

I personally would go nutty trying to combine an all in one with other separate components for each part of English, but you might love doing that. I would constantly worry about whether I should skipped something or not, etc. If I were in your shoes, I would either choose an all-in-one and put blinders on or I would pick the ONE thing I like best for each component of English - 1 phonics OR spelling, 1 writing, 1 grammar, 1 reading (or just reading books).

 

Or you can boil down everything I just said into this: I agree with Pentecostal Mom - why not just get FLL and WWE? Keep your phonics going (replace with spelling when you finish phonics) and have him read to you (and to himself when he's ready) every day.

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here is what *we* are using for 2nd grade:

 

fll2

phonics pathways

etc

a reason for handwriting

wordly wise2

 

we will start a spelling program when we finish pp and will add in a writing program (leaning heavily toward writing tales) next year. we do sporadic cursive worksheets as she asks, but will focus on that more intensely this summer. she reads from abeka readers in the car and also "grade level "books". we read 2 lit selections at a time- right now it's secret garden and little house on the prairie.

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Okay you've mentioned the following programs....

 

Explode the Code

Hooked on Phonics, plus readers

ZB Handwriting

BJU Spelling 2

LLATL

WWE

EIW or Evan Moor of PLL for grammar

 

Yes, this is way too much imho. You've listed two phonics programs and a spelling program. Now, lots of people use ETC with something else, so that's okay if that works for you. But I wouldn't add spelling in on top of that. Finish phonics and finish ETC and then add spelling after that as a replacement.

 

LLATL - I'm not sure what to tell you about that. I've never used it, but I totally understand the appeal of an all in one. On the other hand if everything it covers is too light and you have to do additional spelling, copywork, grammar, etc.... then maybe it's not really meeting your needs?

 

Handwriting - There are plenty of folks who do a separate handwriting program and plenty who just address it through their phonics/spelling workbooks or copywork if they are doing that for writing. So, keeping ZB or tossing it is up to you.

 

Writing - WWE is fine, but again, if you decide to do WWE, imho, you could drop handwriting as an extra and address handwriting as you do WWE.

 

EIW or Evan Moor or PLL for grammar - If I understand correctly, EIW is really a writing program, but starts with grammar first. Not sure I would choose it to fulfill the goal of grammar while still doing another writing program (WWE) on the side. I mean if you have good reason for using EIW and WWE together, than go for it. But, if I have one I'm still working on phonics with, I doubt using two writing programs is the best use of his time. I'm not familiar with Evan Moor's grammar workbooks. They might be fine, or they might just cover the subject lightly and then you have two light passes at grammar (Evan Moor and LLATL) and then has that accomplished your goals? Lastly, PLL. I never used it. I know it has a very sweet appeal. It definitely covers more than grammar. But it's certainly a possibility of that's what you want. If you used PLL, I'm guessing you would have days you wouldn't do WWE depending what the PLL lesson was for that day?

 

So.....

 

I don't really have advice on all the programs you've named, but I will say this....

 

Think about your goals. Think about how each program is fulfilling those goals (or not). Don't worry about gaps. It's possible you will leave something out - but that's better than burning out.

 

I personally would go nutty trying to combine an all in one with other separate components for each part of English, but you might love doing that. I would constantly worry about whether I should skipped something or not, etc. If I were in your shoes, I would either choose an all-in-one and put blinders on or I would pick the ONE thing I like best for each component of English - 1 phonics OR spelling, 1 writing, 1 grammar, 1 reading (or just reading books).

 

Or you can boil down everything I just said into this: I agree with Pentecostal Mom - why not just get FLL and WWE? Keep your phonics going (replace with spelling when you finish phonics) and have him read to you (and to himself when he's ready) every day.

 

 

I agree with the thinking here. Wait on spelling until you finish phonics. WWE and FLL are great for wigglers. You can use WWE as handwriting if you watch to make sure letters are being formed correctly or you can use your handwriting program. Either is fine. So, a phonics program with readers, FLL, WWE, and optional handwriting. When the phonics is completed, replace it with spelling and continue to have him read aloud to you.

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Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to read and reply! It really helped to bounce ideas off all of you. You have shared some great ideas and have given me much to consider! I can see where I need to streamline how I do things. It actually feels like a plan might be coming together! (And DS and I may both be thanking all of you for saving our sanity! :hurray: )

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Just another thought:

I have BJU Spelling 2 lined up for next year. I think you could use it instead of ETC b/c it feels very phonics-based (with word sorts and word studies, etc) -- if you wanted to go that route and felt your DS didn't need ETC specifically. There would be some phonics-reinforcement with BJU.

 

I planned on EIW for DD next year but she didn't like the instruction. (It is a little dry...)

Then I planned on using BJU Writing/Grammar -- and it looks really awesome! But I wanted to have a bit more "fun" grammar and writing instead, so we're going to use the Aesop's books from Royal Fireworks Press and the 1st grade writing books from Just Write (Write About Me & Write About My World).

 

So our lineup looks like:

BJU Reading 2

BJU Spelling 2

Aesop's + Just Write (both include "lite" grammar and gentle writing exercises)

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We did FLL and WWE and AAS and they have been simple, easy to implement and my kids have retained. They have been winners here for 2nd grade! Love how open and go they are and not workbooky at all. My son is usually jumping on his trampoline during WWE narrations!

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