Country Girl Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 If you don't use an all-in-one LA program, what do you do to cover the "extras" that are often included in an all-in-one LA program? We use the MCT series for grammar, writing, and vocab and really enjoy it. However, we also test here so I'm always a little paranoid about not covering the "standard" breadth of material that is covered in a grade-level, all-in-one program. We get a bit of the literary terms by using Teaching the Classics but this is pretty loose, so I was wondering if lit guides would help fill in the holes as far as literary terms, genre, etc. But what about things like alphabetization, contractions, how to write a letter, dictionary skills etc.? We get some of this naturally as we go through the course of life (ie. don't know what a word is... then go look it up etc.). Is there something to fill in the "extras" so I feel confident for test time? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Have you looked at the language arts workbooks available in most book stores like Barnes and Noble? I think the Spectrum workbooks attempt to cover "state standards". Have a look through them and just cover the material that isn't already included in your regular curriculum. Another option would be Evan Moor. Here's a link:http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw_4_18?url=flatten%3D1%26search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=spectrum+test+prep+grade+5&sprefix=spectrum+test+prep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Are you mainly concerned with covering everything that will be tested or with properly covering "everything"? If the concern is for testing, the a test-prep book is probably the best solution. We test every other year starting in 3rd grade. My plan is do do a test prep-book before the test each time to make sure we have hit all of the high points. If the concern is making sure you cover "everything", you can't do a good job of everything and you can't cover everything every year. Find a good scope-and-sequence that you trust or a good overall plan and use it to plan out your years so that you can build a strong foundation in LA and relax knowing that you are teaching what is important and will cover the important material. And then use the test prep books to pick up and specific skills that aren't covered in the order that your test tests them. Btw - the logos school has good, detailed scope and sequences that list specific skills that should be covered in each year. Many other places have them too. It is just a matter of find one that you agree with and trust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Girl Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 Have you looked at the language arts workbooks available in most book stores like Barnes and Noble? I think the Spectrum workbooks attempt to cover "state standards". Have a look through them and just cover the material that isn't already included in your regular curriculum. Another option would be Evan Moor. Here's a link:http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw_4_18?url=flatten%3D1%26search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=spectrum+test+prep+grade+5&sprefix=spectrum+test+prep Stacy, Thanks for the suggestion. I don't know why I didn't think of one of these, complete book of language arts type workbooks. I'll take a look at them. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Girl Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 Are you mainly concerned with covering everything that will be tested or with properly covering "everything"? If the concern is for testing, the a test-prep book is probably the best solution. We test every other year starting in 3rd grade. My plan is do do a test prep-book before the test each time to make sure we have hit all of the high points. If the concern is making sure you cover "everything", you can't do a good job of everything and you can't cover everything every year. Find a good scope-and-sequence that you trust or a good overall plan and use it to plan out your years so that you can build a strong foundation in LA and relax knowing that you are teaching what is important and will cover the important material. And then use the test prep books to pick up and specific skills that aren't covered in the order that your test tests them. Btw - the logos school has good, detailed scope and sequences that list specific skills that should be covered in each year. Many other places have them too. It is just a matter of find one that you agree with and trust. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm mainly concerned with covering things for the test. I feel pretty good that we will cover the necessities in the long haul, but I'd like to try and make sure I keep up with the minimums in "grade levels" for testing purposes. A test prep book may be the best option. I'm also going to look for a good scope and sequence like you suggested to try and follow. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 This is an excellent question. I was wondering about a lot of things that don't seem to be covered. Letter writing was the main one I thought of. I would rather have them in a curriculum than muddle through myself. I am going to check out the workbook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I see that you use FLL. Letter Writing is covered in FLL3. It is one of the writing lessons in the back of the workbook - if I remember correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Ack! I was planning on switching after FLL 2. Also what about terms like antonym, synonym, etc.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Oh - well. I was just trying to help. Just make sure it is covered somewhere sometime. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Thanks! How did you know that? You aren't using FLL 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Synonym and antonym are covered in my grammar (GWG 4 right now). I have also seen them in Handwriting - many handwriting programs use them for some of the practice words. Homonyms, Homophones and that stuff are covered in Spelling (Natural Speller for me) and in grammar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I remember seeing it in the sample. I had previously planned to use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Thank you! I can't seem to find a sample of FLL 3 or 4. I am looking at Writing Tales and after that doing WP LA for a couple of years before starting IEW and AG. And how is this for a threadjack? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 This is a really good ThreadJack. I haven't read the TOC for WT often enough to know what it covers. Here is a link the FLL3 samples. My box isn't loving pdf's right now, but that is where they were before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Thanks for the support. The scope and sequence for WT contains quite a bit... and there is more taught (there is more in the little bit of samples I have seen) than what they have listed as in the scope and sequence. I am happy with skipping other grammar while we do these. Thanks for the link! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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