ELTL vs McGuffey or both?

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  • April 26, 2016 at 5:18 pm
    KMHStore
    Participant

    Hello. Does anyone use both ELTL and McGuffey readers for their children? I have ELTL level 1 and McGuffey’s 1st and absolutely cannot decide what to do. ELTL 1 looks great because of the Aesop’s fables, the picture study, the poems and the assigned copywork and the reviews say it will lead me (the mom) in leading my daughter to learn to narrate. McGuffey 1st reader looks great because of the emphasis on elocution and enunciation and the older writing style and the spelling.

    My daughter is 6 1/2 and about 1/2 way through Phonics Pathways. She wants (and does) read whatever she can all the time but doesn’t want to do more than 5 minutes of phonics at a time. She also loves to write songs, poems, cards but resists handwriting (which is only 5 minutes). We are working on these things but out-of-my-sight she misspells. So I need to work on spelling even though she is young for spelling in CM.

    Is it too much to do both? They just both look so good.

    April 27, 2016 at 11:52 am
    HollyS
    Participant

    I use both.  McGuffeys are great for phonics instruction!  We start with the Primer in K or 1st.  I teach them phonics rules as the new words come up.  Usually by the time they get to the First reader, it’s mostly just reading practice since they’ve covered basic phonics rules by then.  Once in awhile I get the readers out for my older DC to work on elocution, but generally I just have them read aloud a poem or Bible verse instead.  I used to do more with the McGuffey readers, but I prefer more open-and-go lesson plans.

    I use ELTL a grade level behind, so we won’t be adding ELTL 1 until DD is in 2nd grade.  I’m sure ELTL 1 would be fine for first though, and many HSers do use it on grade level.

    April 27, 2016 at 11:54 am
    HollyS
    Participant

    Oh, and 5 minutes of handwriting or phonics is fine at this age.  Some of my DC have been able to read and read, while others were doing well to read a few lines on one page of a book.  I think it really depends on the child.  As their reading progresses, they’ll be able to read for longer periods, but we only do 5 minutes of copywork, no matter their age.  Quality over quantity is best with copywork.

    April 27, 2016 at 7:06 pm
    KMHStore
    Participant

    Thank you! That helps. They both just look so good.

    And thanks also for the affirmation on the 5 minutes of copywork. We are taking off copywork this week. Will start fresh next Monday.

    🙂

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