First Grade LA and the WTM

[Ohio12]

I am looking ahead to next year. DD will be in 1st, but we already do some first grade work.

 

I was reading all the suggestions in WTM and it seems like a lot. Does anyone do Spelling Workout, First Language Lessons and Writing With Ease?

 

This year for Language Arts dd reads to me every day and I read to her every day. We practice handwriting 3-4 times a week. She does oral narrations to go with her history readings a couple times a week. What tips do you have for a language arts program for next year? (please keep in mind that I do want to at least loosely follow WTM.) Thanks!

[TheCoffeeChick]

So, here is my language arts plan for next year for 1st grade --- but keep in mind that it will probably change ;)

 

I am planning on finishing OPG through the rest of this year, into next if need be (I'm thinking we'll get done by Dec 09). In Aug/Sept when we start up 1st grade "officially", we will start up FLL & WWE. My ds also really loves ETC and we will continue with it until it becomes more chore than fun.

 

With ALL of that, we will not include spelling or handwriting programs. Handwriting will not be necessary because there is plenty of writing practice in the other programs, plus take in consideration the writing done in all the other subjects. My ds has really nice writing, so I think this will be enough. Spelling is one of the things I am going back and forth on ... good thing I have a while to decide. :tongue_smilie: My thoughts on the issue are: (1) ETC has spelling pages every lesson, (2) I don't let him misspell words on his other work, and (3) he doesn't seem to struggle with the words I expect him to be able to spell, which are the ones he can read. I think we will at least start out not having any formal spelling program, but if it becomes an issue we will start one up in the middle of the year.

 

Good luck in your search.

[JudoMom]

I am looking ahead to next year. DD will be in 1st, but we already do some first grade work.

 

I was reading all the suggestions in WTM and it seems like a lot. Does anyone do Spelling Workout, First Language Lessons and Writing With Ease?

 

This year for Language Arts dd reads to me every day and I read to her every day. We practice handwriting 3-4 times a week. She does oral narrations to go with her history readings a couple times a week. What tips do you have for a language arts program for next year? (please keep in mind that I do want to at least loosely follow WTM.) Thanks!

 

I'd skip FLL & do WWE and then add in Spelling Workout once she's used to WWE. I think the writing and narrating portions of WWE are more important skills to learn than the definitions of the parts of speech from FLL in first grade. You can always do FLL quickly in 2nd and cover both years in one year.

[Ohio12]

I'd skip FLL & do WWE and then add in Spelling Workout once she's used to WWE. I think the writing and narrating portions of WWE are more important skills to learn than the definitions of the parts of speech from FLL in first grade. You can always do FLL quickly in 2nd and cover both years in one year.

 

Then in second..would I still be doing WWE in addition?

[JudoMom]

Then in second..would I still be doing WWE in addition?

 

Yep. However, you could easily skip FLL altogether and start Rod & Staff 3 in 3rd (and keep up with WWE or another writing program). I really don't think any formal grammar needs to be taught before 3rd grade.

[inashoe]

Yep. However, you could easily skip FLL altogether and start Rod & Staff 3 in 3rd (and keep up with WWE or another writing program). I really don't think any formal grammar needs to be taught before 3rd grade.

 

:iagree: I only start grammar in 3rd with R&S 3.

 

I would highly recommend doing WWE 1 in 1st, 2 in 2nd, etc. Invaluable skills are taught through this program.

[Penelope]

We basically follow TWTM for LA. The differences are that I use a different spelling program, and don't keep the reading log/notebook as recommended. I have him tell me what his independent reading is about, and call it good.

 

It really is not too much. FLL is light in a just-right kind if way. It only takes a few minutes, 3 times per week. WWE is 4 days per week. The writing for WWE can also be handwriting practice. You could leave off the copywork parts of FLL if it was just too much. Now if I had a child who still a very beginning reader in first grade, I would probably do as someone else suggested and leave off FLL altogether and spend that extra time on phonics, instead. The same with spelling--this is JMO, but we waited until a few months into first grade to do any spelling, and I think I'd do the same again, wait until we are finished with OPGTR or whatever reading program is used, before spending a lot of time on spelling.

[Lovedtodeath]

She turned 6 in July. We dropped spelling and went back to finishing phonics in OPGTR first, that way we will not be doing phonics and spelling both. She either reads on her own or to me, or I read to her, we normally do not do both in a day. We started FLL in November, and are starting WWE now.

[Colleen in NS]

Does anyone do Spelling Workout, First Language Lessons and Writing With Ease?

 

Not these exact programs, but we did do spelling, FLL, and WTM style narrations and copywork for 1st grade. I also taught handwriting separately, so that copywork would be easier. It all did seem like a lot at first, but as my kids got into the routine of it, it became routine, and they learned the skills. Ds found R&S 3 to be a breeze after going through FLL for two years. And I'm one who likes spreading skills learning out over time whenever possible, so that it's not frustrating later on.

[TxMama]

We are using FLL1 and WWE1. I'm currently incorporated spelling with our phonics instruction but if I were to use a separate spelling program I'd use AAS.