KeriJ Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Those who have used ELTL for at least a year, and preferably level 3 or higher, how is the retention? I love so much about the program, but worry that it moves through grammar topics quickly without enough review for retention. I'd love to hear thoughts from those who have used it awhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edeemarie Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Honestly, I worry about this too (although I'm not sure I have any reason to be worried...I'm just a little too obsessive compulsive 😉). Currently I am having my kids do parts of CLE LA to make sure what they learn is practiced. I'm not sure that I will continue doing both after this year though since is seems like too much some times. My plan is to re-evaluate things either at Christmas or at the end of the year. I will say that I think one of the best ways to ensure retention is to memorize the definitions of the grammar terms as Kathy Jo suggests. I have already seen this help my kids tremendously when it comes to grammar. Between the memorization and the practice in sentence diagramming I'm sure ELTL would be fine on its own, and I'm sure my kids would appreciate a slightly lighter work load if I would quit my worrying and just trust the program. 😀 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I haven't been using it for very long (we are using levels 2, 4, and 5), and I've heard the same thing about retention with ELTL. One thing we are doing is keeping an index card notebook for definitions and poems to memorize. Their index card notebooks have tabs to keep these sections separate...these are the ones we're using. So far, there aren't a lot of reminders to keep up with the memory work, so we usually recite them when we read through the new lesson's poem or when they add in a new definition. I wonder if many using the program skip this part? Memorizing the definitions (and some poems) is mentioned in the introduction, but I haven't come across any reminders in the lessons. There is also review from year to year. Each of my DC have added the definition of a noun, so I imagine there will be fewer definitions for them to memorize with each additional year. My 2nd oldest has added verbs and my oldest is working on pronouns & antecedents. I don't feel like the pace is moving too quickly and the constant review will help keep things fresh in their minds. If they do need more practice, I think it'd be each to just add a new passage for them to find a particular part of speech in (or add sentences to diagram). I also think sentence diagramming will help because they are constantly reviewing all the parts of speech while diagramming. We haven't reached any diagramming at this point, but so far we are all really happy with the program. I'll be interested to see what others post about it, because I've heard the same comments about ELTL. So far it seems like a solid program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelaburke1000 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 We've just started level 3, and so far so good with retention. It begins so gently that there has only been very basic grammar to retain so far... So- we'll see! We've lived the experience of the program- it's lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyseal Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 We are also getting ready to start level 3, so no help for beyond that, but retention has been fine for my DD so far (we've done levels 1 & 2). The only catch is that grammar is reinforced as part of her LOE work, so I don't know how much of the retention is a result of her grammar exposure in her spelling/phonics work (oh, and we did a year of CC, so she memorized some definitions there, too). I agree with Holly that memorizing definitions is encouraged, but I imagine that the diagramming practice found in level 3 will do plenty to reinforce the parts of speech on its own as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachelpants Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I think I remember seeing extra practice-type pages for upper levels in the freebies section of the lulu store. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I'm partway through level 2 and that level has lots of review. You may spend only a few lessons in a row on a specific topic at first, but you do go back to it and review it later. I'd imagine that continues with the higher levels. Concepts are also reviewed somewhat from year to year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco_Clark Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I'm finishing up 2 this year, so not sure if j have enough experience to say. I've noticed many ELTL users choosing not to memorize the grammar terms as recommended, however, and wonder if those are the same that are having trouble wit retention? We memorized, and also plan on adding a daily sentence to diagram together with level 3 on our non-ELTL days to help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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