Need more understanding of ELTL

[PineFarmMom]

I am intrigued by this curriculum but not fully understanding all that it covers. I am considering it for my upcoming 1st grader. I realize it deals with grammar, copy work, dictation, narration. Would it be enough for spelling? Is there enough writing instruction or would it need a supplement? Would you consider it a stand-alone literature program as well?

 

We currently use TOG for history/lit, etc. I own and have used FLL 1-2 with three of my older children as well as WWE 1-3 that I used with two. Wwe did a great job in preparing them. I like the looks of it all being combined in one curriculum with ELTL. I have older kids I'm working with, and 3 days a week is intriguing as well. I am trying to decide if it would be worth it to spend the money or if I should just stick to what I have.

[silver]

ELTL does not do spelling until level 3, with prepared dictation. Writing slowly builds with each level. Level 1 has narration (retellings) and copy work, but later levels do cover outlining, summaries, amplifications, etc. The early levels don't cover literary elements nor do they analyze the literature (which I consider to be a good thing). I think the higher levels do? But I've only seen 1-3, so I can't say for sure.

[PineFarmMom]

Thanks!!! I think I worded my question poorly. I was meaning would it be a lot of reading to couple the lit in ELTL with our TOG lit as well? I am not worried about literature terms or analysis at that age.

[silver]

I'm not sure how much reading TOG has, but ELTL has usually one chapter per lesson (so three chapters a week). My children don't have an issue with doing the book in ELTL in addition to the other books we read aloud (my school aged kids have 3-4 read alouds going at any given time, plus the books they are reading to themselves, plus what we read for science or history).

[hands-on-mama]

So far, we haven't had an issues adding in the read-alouds with MFW. I sometimes have my daughter that is doing level 2 read the chapter to herself. We are going to try out librivox now though.

 

[PineFarmMom]

How much diagramming is involved? I looked at the samples and really didn't find them. I like diagramming for my kids and this was another draw I have to ELTL. Anything with a more CM approach never seems to have diagramming or enough grammar for retention, IMP. It seems to be something I have tried to piece together in the past but just gave up on in lieu of a detailed grammar plus writing plus Latin. If I could whittle it down to 3 days a week for grammar and writing then do Latin on top of that, it would be really nice.

[mamamindy]

How much diagramming is involved? I looked at the samples and really didn't find them. I like diagramming for my kids and this was another draw I have to ELTL. Anything with a more CM approach never seems to have diagramming or enough grammar for retention, IMP. It seems to be something I have tried to piece together in the past but just gave up on in lieu of a detailed grammar plus writing plus Latin. If I could whittle it down to 3 days a week for grammar and writing then do Latin on top of that, it would be really nice.

Diagramming begins in the 3rd level.  This program has a more "classical" feel for the grammar portion, IMO -- memorizing the parts of speech, labeling parts of speech, diagramming, but all done in a more palatable format than something like Rod & Staff.  Hope that helps!

[silver]

Diagramming starts in level 3 (lesson 15). Starting in lesson 23 there are two sentences to diagram in 5 out of 6 of the lessons. Every 6th lesson is a narration, and there are no exercises for those days.

[PineFarmMom]

Thank you!! That helps!! I have been homeschooling for a lot of years, and several years ago I dreamed of something like this but never saw it. I liked some of what I saw in CM stuff but just couldn't let go of the parts of a more classical approach that I liked, plus I actually knew by that point what really worked for retention for my children. This seems really good!! Now to decide if I forget about the FLL 1&2 as well as the WWE levels I have waiting in the shelf for this little guy.