Advice on second grade language arts: LLATL or ELTL or ?

[Tawlas]

I'm looking ahead for next year.  I have a fairly advanced first grade boy.  He's a very good reader, a few years ahead I'd say, maybe late grade 3 or into grade 4.  An adequate speller, he needs some rules pointed out, then he's got them, so I think AAS is overboard for him.  He can print well for mid-first grade so I'm not against starting cursive, nor am I against staying with printing for now either.  He's been sitting in on First Language Lessons 1-3 as well as WWE 1&2 as well as CAP Fable for the past three years, so he's got a great ability to comprehend and narrate and has got most of the parts of speech lists and their definitions memorized.   But like I said, typical wiggly boy.  I can't hand him a novel and expect him to read it.  He still needs pictures.  Loves Bill Peet, loves Peter's Railway Series, loves Life of Fred elementary and can read those independently cover to cover on his own.

 

I need to get him working on a semi-independent way to keep up his grammar, work on his spelling a bit, and continue to build up his stamina in reading and writing.  Of course I expect to work on him for a bit each day - maybe a la CLE style? - but also complete a good chunk on his own, as well.

 

I have CLE 201 and 202 but I was underwhelmed (on his particular behalf, anyway, I think it's a great program in general).  I think I want it to be literature based for him.  I'd prefer it was more secular than not.  I was considering both LLATL and ELTL.  I saw the ELTL thread and was intrigued.  I liked the idea of him listening to an audiobook while following along in the actual book because he has an issue with getting the emphasis correct on bigger words  - ones he hasn't encountered before (for instance MonaPOly instead of MoNOpoly, you know?)

 

Any other suggestions?  Can anyone compare those two programs?

[TX Pilgrim]

I can't compare because I have only used ELTL and we really like it. However, because her philosophy of spelling all of the spelling lessons are in RLTL and she uses copywork and dictation in ELTL to teach spelling. So, if you want the traditional spelling list you need to look at RLTL, if you want the literature, poetry, art study, fable, maxim, etc. then that is in ELTL. You can see what is in RLTL here:http://barefootmeandering.com/site/lessons-through-literature/rltl/. Honestly, if your son is a good reader and speller this is probably not the best fit unless you want to jump straight to level 4 for the more difficult words.

 

It sounds like your son is probably beyond ELTL level 1 but there is a signifiacant jump between level 2 and 3. You do not have to do level 1 to do level 2. Both of these levels review the same grammar concepts but level 2 starts applying it to sentences. Looking at the booklist for each level also might help you place him. Level 1 starts with Beatrix Potter. Her explanation of the full program is here: http://barefootmeandering.com/site/lessons-through-literature/eltl/.

 

On Lulu she has very generous samples of all of her materials so that you can compare and see what might work best for you. https://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=Kathy+jo+Devore+samples&type=

 

I hope someone can chime in about LLTAL.

 

Missy

[Susie in MS]

I'll try to compare the two as best as I can with the things you are pointing out in your post. Note: I have used all levels of LLATL (some with this child and others with my older children) , but am a newbie to ELTL. My only experience with the latter is level 4 so I am glad you have a responce for the lower levels. 

 

  I have a fairly advanced first grade boy.  He's a very good reader, a few years ahead I'd say, maybe late grade 3 or into grade 4.  

~~~LLATL doesn't focus on complicated literature at this age. They focus more on practice and basing the lessons off of the content. ELTL chooses classical lit with strong sentence structure, etc. If you choose either I would highly suggest looking at samples of each level so you can place him properly. As far as the reading in LLATL for 3rd grade (yellow) you would have simple starter chapter books like The White Stallion or Courage of Sarah Nobel.  The orange book gets a bit more advanced with books like Boxcar Children and Ben Franklin. 

 

An adequate speller, he needs some rules pointed out,

~~~ELTL has no rules, at least not in level 4 (mayne RLTL?), LLATL does. 

 

 He can print well for mid-first grade so I'm not against starting cursive, nor am I against staying with printing for now either.  

~~~No matter what you choose may I recommend Pentime? Excellent and inexpensive. It's not an expensive, glorified coloring book.

 

he's got a great ability to comprehend and narrate and has got most of the parts of speech lists and their definitions memorized.  

~~~For a 1st grader to have the parts of speech memorized is beyond me. No matter which of these programs you use you will probably feel your ds is past the grammar presented. 

 

But like I said, typical wiggly boy.  I can't hand him a novel and expect him to read it.  He still needs pictures.

~~~Neither of these uses picture books at the levels you are looking at based on the advancement of your son.  However both of them have books that include pictures.  

 

 

I need to get him working on a semi-independent way to keep up his grammar, work on his spelling a bit, and continue to build up his stamina in reading and writing.  Of course I expect to work on him for a bit each day - maybe a la CLE style? - but also complete a good chunk on his own, as well.

~~~I have been able to have my  children work independently more with LLATL than with ELTL. 

 

I have CLE 201 and 202 but I was underwhelmed (on his particular behalf, anyway,

~~~What has you underwhelmed about it? This may help you to decide for or against one of the two above.

 

I'd prefer it was more secular than not.  

~~~Both have some reference to Scripture at times.

 

I liked the idea of him listening to an audiobook while following along in the actual book 

~~~I have not checked to see if these are available with the LLATL selections as I haven't the need for them.  I'm only  a few months into the world of Kindle as it is. We do most readings together so I correct any mispronunciations. You would probably need to check Amazon to see if these are available for LLATL selections if you decide to go that way. ELTL selections are available via audiobook. 

 

Any other suggestions?  Can anyone compare those two programs?

~~~I'm really at a loss. I take a gentle approach with 1st graders, and am not really all the concerned with heavy grammar, etc till they are much older, though I realize it just may a natural advancement your son has. So  it kinda leaves me scratching my head as to what sort of program would be the better fit. It may be that you will need separate programs for each of the LA components. 

 

[Tawlas]

Thanks Missy!  Looking through the reading lists and descriptions, I *think* level 2 might be a better fit.  I'm not sure he'd be up for dictations or a lot of writing.  Course, I've never tried it with him, but he's young lol!  Although he's listened to 1/2 the books on the reading list (I have a houseful of audio book addicts) but I don't suppose that matters since he enjoyed them and isn't against re-listening to stories.

 

Anyone else have any thoughts?