Heather
Member
Is there anyone who has anyone used both of these programs and can give me a comparison? I've used Serl's with my oldest who was a proficient reader very early and everything worked out well with her. But my son is at the end of the phonics phase and he will be in second grade when we start up again next month. Which program would be a better fit for one who is not a proficient reader yet?
Thanks!
my3boys
Member
Are you talking about Jessie Wise Bauer's First Lang. Lessons??
Heather
Member
Yes, my3boys. I have a copy of it and I have been looking through it today and it *almost* seems easier to implement than Serl's was. It appears that I may not even need to pick and choose lessons like I would from Serl's. I think I'm really just looking for permission. 
Have you used the program?
Heather
Member
double post
my3boys
Member
No, I haven't used the book but I have it. It is not something that screams, "Please use me!" from my bookshelf as much as I would like it to. I paid close to nothing for it, so it's one of those things that I wish did work with my personality, but it does not.
Sent you a pm, btw.
pslively
Member
First Language Lessons is incredibly easy to implement. It is all done orally except for a tiny bit of copywork. This is one of those books that I really really wanted to love. I have tried implementing it with my kids three times and it just doesn't work for us. I am not quite sure why. It really seems like a great book.
IMHO, I think it's too much to ask for a non-proficient reader to do Serl's. I think they should be comfortable reading so they aren't getting hung up on sounding out the words, which can be very frustrating.
Heather
Member
Thank you both for your responses! I have looked at FLL alot today and I don't know why I was so hesitant. I really think it will work and I'll be able to do the things like poetry memorization that I skipped with my oldest when she did Serl's because there is actually a reminder at the beginning of each lesson for which poem to review. Imagine that! :-)
Thanks again! Love, love, love this board!
I used FLL with one of my guys and we loved both years of it. I tried with the next two when they hit 1st grade together, and one had a much harder time due to his hearing issues; so much of it is verbal. But if your child learns well this way, it's a super program! We also have used and love PLL and I don't think you'll shortchange your child by using one over the other.
Rebekah P
Member
Just wanted to chime in from my experience.
We had a different experience with FLL. I thought it was very good, however my daughter hated it. She hated the constant repetition in the lessons. You are constantly repeating things like "A noun is the name of a person place thing or idea." The good news is that I don't think she'll ever forget what a noun is. The bad news was that everytime she saw the boy with the butterfly, she ran!!
Please take what I'm saying into perspective. Just like all curriculum, it's not for everyone. If you find that the repetition is annoying your child, back off a little. You may even want to take Charlotte's advice with poetry. You repeat the phrase / poem a few times over several days. Then let them listen and chime in once they know it. If I had it to do all over again, this is what I would do.
Hope this is a help and not a hinderance,
Rebekah
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