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1st grade language arts
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I’ve read all the posts, gotten the newsletters, and such, so I know this is what CM recommends for language arts:
(1) postponing spelling and parts of speech
(2) using copywork to emphasize penmanship, punctuation, and capitalization.
However, I haven’t seen the following addressed. How do you handle these topics? Do you cover them in first grade or wait until later?
(1) ABC order
(2) compound words
(3) synonyms, antonyms, and homophones
(4) dividing words into syllables. I’m asking this because ds6 (in K) is currently fascinated by hyphens. I told him they split up a word if there’s not enough room at the end of the line. Now he wants to put them wherever in his copywork. He wouldn’t know to divide the word at the syllable because he doesn’t know what one is. Should I wait on this? If not, how do I explain it to him?
Thanks,
Karen
Karen,
This is a great question. I, too, would like some clarification on those topics.
Just letting you know you’re not alone,
Lindsey
The answer to #2, #3, and #4 is that too gets put off until later, not starting till 4th grade (age 9) or starting very slowly in 2nd or 3rd, depending on the child. . If your child is interested in something, however, indulge their curiosity and explain it to them. Their curiosity shouldn’t have to wait because it’s not “on the schedule this year”.
I started my son in 2nd grade on Primary Language Lessons about 2x a week, without the writing required; he does it all oral, takes about 5 min. Now he’s in 3rd and still working through it (3x a wk) as it lasts about 2 years, then he’ll move into Intermediate Language Lessons. It’s very slow and gentle. I also use the ELson Readers and the workbooks with those, but I incorporate a CM style in using them. I won’t go into how I use them unless you just want me to; but they are an introduction to the areas (homophones, pronouns, nouns, etc that you mentioned. Again, I do a very gentle style. I can explain how I teach the phonics, syllables, too if you like; it’s worked for my 9 yr. old (which is the age to start all this).
As for the ABC order, I think that comes within the territory of learning to read, recognizong letters, sounds, etc.
IN the meantime, there are some colorful books by Ruth Heller’s World of LAnguage Series for children covering these things esp. if your child is inclined to want to know the why’s of speech and language; some don’t care and some do. They can be used as free reading for fun, not as a “subject”. There’s a short but good review at: http://www.thecurriculumchoice.com
click on Language Arts on the right and scroill down to Ruth Heller’s World of Language.
I don’t know if this helped you or not, I hope it did. Basicly, later in the LAnguage Arts area.
Rachbel
Thanks, Rachel. I already have the complete set of Heller. I looked at the tables of contents for ETC and found the answer to #3, but I didn’t see syllables or compund words mentioned. As for ABC order, I meant putting words in order. He knows the letters in order.
One fun thing I did with my young ones to introduce ABC order: When they brought me a stack of books to read during our read-aloud time there was always the question of which book to read first, second, etc. So I would say, “Let’s put them in ABC order.” And we would arrange the stack on my lap in ABC order and start reading.
This was fun with my preschoolers and their shorter books. I realize your son is older, but maybe you can modify the idea a bit or apply it in a different way.
What I’ve been doing for ABC order is this: I found some word family cards at specialed.about.com that I was using instead of a formal phonics program. After he learned to read the words in a particular family, we would rearrange them in ABC order.
So basically we don’t need to worry about homophones, compound words, synonyms/antonyms, etc. until 3rd or 4th grade? In the meantime, EFTTC is enough of a gentle intro to language arts? Sonya?
Thanks,
Lindsey
If you want something that is fun and gentle to introduce some Language Arts to young children. I used First Language Lessons (for the well-trained mind)..it is all oral and has picture study and narration involved. It is stated for 1st and 2nd grade but I used it with my K dd and 2nd grader ds at the same time (It’s two years worth in one book). We then continued on to First Language lessons level 3 and our now in level 4 (dd is 2nd and ds is 4th). We really like it and even though it is a more “classical approach” I think it works just great with our family. I have learned a lot!!
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