Shannon in TN Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Hi everyone, I'm trying to put together what I'll be using for my DD 2nd grader for the fall and I'm looking for some advice. I'm wanting to do the red book LLATL and was wondering do I need to add a different spelling program or is theirs pretty comprehensive? Also, I've been seduced by the WP's Children around the world theme pack. Does anyone have any feedback on that particular program? I know it's expensive, but on paper it seems worth it and has a lot of information. What would you recommend for science and health? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon in TN Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 I just finished reading several pages over at homeschoolreviews and many complained that the all-in-one concept of LLATL was great, but lacking in details. Several had to supplement spelling and grammar. Does anyone else here feel that way? Now that I know this may not be the answer for teaching Language Arts, what would you recommend for a 2nd grader reading on a 3rd and 4th grade level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackforest mom Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 If you do end up going with a spelling program, I love Sequential spelling. As a past special ed teacher, I love programs that work! This one does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackforest mom Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 oops, I meant AVKO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 If you do end up going with a spelling program, I love Sequential spelling. As a past special ed teacher, I love programs that work! This one does. I think I like this for my dd, due to some dyslexic issues she has had in the past. She just didn't get phonics NO MATTER WHAT WE DID! I just wish that SS explained the rules every now and then. I feel like we are going to do the entire SS Level 1 AND THEN I can make up my mind as to whether or not I really like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackforest mom Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 point well taken. I did leave out that I used Spell to Write and Read and all that to teach the rules. I would mention the rules, like the 1-1-1 rule when I noticed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Hi everyone, I'm trying to put together what I'll be using for my DD 2nd grader for the fall and I'm looking for some advice. I'm wanting to do the red book LLATL and was wondering do I need to add a different spelling program or is theirs pretty comprehensive? Also, I've been seduced by the WP's Children around the world theme pack. Does anyone have any feedback on that particular program? I know it's expensive, but on paper it seems worth it and has a lot of information. What would you recommend for science and health? To a certain extent what curriculum you use depends upon why you chose to homeschool, both your abilites and likes as a teacher, and your dd's abilites and likes as a student, and your overall philosophy regarding education. Some consider LLTL less comprehensive because it doesn't include grammar or spelling drill or extra practice. It uses a Charlotte Mason approach ~gently, gently. If your dd is an average to very good speller it probably offers enough practice. If your dd is a poor speller, or if you feel that you want more focus on spelling, it probably won't do. There are families on this board that have used LLATL over several year successfully and many that have tried it and found it lacking. It all depends on what you need and want from a program. I can't comment on WP, haven't used it, looks good, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 For science, you might try R.E.A.L. science odyssey. I haven't used it myself, but I've heard it's wonderful, and I'm planning to use it for 2nd-4th grade. Our Los Banos has a science curriculum that might work for you, and it's designed to complement WP's Children Around the World. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudreyTN Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 We use LLATL. It really does look simple and "easy" but (I've heard) after you use it for at least a year you begin to see the real beauty of the program. The grammar is broken up into bite size pieces and worked on a little at a time. My dd8 doesn't need a spelling program so what LLATL includes is plenty for her. My ds7, on the other hand, will be using Spellwell. I wouldn't jump right into Yellow with a 2nd grader... but Red might be a little remedial if she can read at 3rd/4th grade level. In that situation I would find an older copy (anything before 1998) of the red book. You can usually find them under $10. That would give you a good feel for the program without spending loads of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyrooch Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 I love Sequential Spelling for spelling. I used to use CLE Language arts but my son never thrived with it. I changed to Easy Grammar and Sequential Spelling and now he loves his English/spelling lessons and he's doing so well with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyrooch Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 What would you recommend for science and health? I forgot to mention that I'm using Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy for Science. I love Apologia for their Astronomy but I think I would like to try the R.E.A.L. science from Pandia Press next year for life science and chemistry. I haven't used it before but I have heard great things about it and their samples look great on their webpage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon in TN Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 Thanks for all the input! As for why I'm home schooling for next year, I don't feel like she's being challenged at her school. A lot of the stuff she's doing now seems to be so simple and basic for her. I want to challenge her a bit without taking the fun out of learning. She picks up math very quickly, she's an avid reader, has good handwriting for a six year old and her spelling is almost always correct. Those tricky words that are the exceptions to rules are usually what stump her because they haven't been taught to her. However, since this is my first year home schooling, I'd really like a curriculum that spells it all out for me, which is why I was looking at LLATL. She loves art and doing things hands on, so I want to include an art program (I really like what I read about Artistic Pursuits). Any additional input anyone else may have on any of these (WP- children around the world, LLATL-red, science, health), I would greatly appreciate. Thanks so much! S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon in TN Posted March 29, 2009 Author Share Posted March 29, 2009 bump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxMama Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 I liked LLATL and used it for several years with my older children. I feel that it is thorough without being overwhelming and it was easy to supplement if needed. My natural speller did not need any additional spelling instruction. I did not find the need to supplement with grammar while we used LLATL. A child reading on the 3rd/4th grader level might be happier with the yellow. Look at the scope and sequence on their website to get a better feel where your child should be placed. The red level has a lot of phonics review which may or may not be good in your situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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