Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: Grammar for boys

This topic has 25 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 16 years ago by Inhisgrip.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 26 total)

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April 26, 2008 at 11:18 pm
nancyg
Participant
Hello, Precious Friends,
I say friends because as I read I hear so many kindred voices!! And to echo so many others, I just want to start with GREAT GRATITUDE for the work, the servant hearts, the hours and prayer and care that must go into this mimistry and website – THANK-YOU to each and every one involved on the team!!!
Back in the olden days 🙂 when I homeschooled our older three kids, a program that I used a little was Learning Language Arts through Literature. I don’t see it mentioned here – is there a reason that it doesn’t meet the guidelines expressed in a CM approach? Are different resources considered better?
Thanks for any input.
April 27, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Sonya Shafer
Moderator
Hi, NancyG –
Thank you for the encouragement, and thanks for mentioning LLATL! The only reason it isn’t on our curriculum guide is because neither of us used it with our children personally. I know several CM moms who do use it. We are trying to add those books into the CM Bookfinder as we can get our hands on them. I think one is in there at this point: The Orange Book.
Question for you: Back in those “olden days” 😉 , were the books set up differently than they are now? I thought I heard that the company had revised them from the original books. Anybody know?
November 10, 2008 at 8:42 pm
cheesemanhome
Member
Hello, I am fairly new here. I have been lurking in the background for a few months just soaking in all the wisdom you all have. Thank you for being such a resource for me. I have already begun implementing CM ways since Sept, and the change in our homeschool has been wonderful!!! My question is this. I have been considering using “Learning Language Arts Through Literature” with my children. Do any of you use this?? Do you recomend it?? Pros? Cons? Also, if I were to follow in CM style and not begin grammar instruction until age 10 or so – which level (color) would you recommend I start with?? Would it be okay to start a child who is in Grade 5 in the purple book just starting out in grammar? Or would you suggest I use level 4 (orange)? I have never actually seen these programs so I value your opinion. It is so hard to choose. I really like their approach because you seem to get a little bit of everything – copywork / spelling(dictation) / and grammar. Is that right?? It sounds as though this would make life a lot simpler having everything in one place. Asd I said, I really value any opinions or advice any of you may have. Thank you so much!!
In Christ,
Marie
November 10, 2008 at 9:57 pm
lovetobehome
Member
I am interested in hearing the responses, too. We used LLATL last year (yellow) and this year are using Rod and Staff English 3. I do have the Orange LLATL set and will pull it out and take a look. I am new to this site, and to CM, so wondering how others feel this works in the CM context. Thanks in advance!
November 11, 2008 at 1:19 am
Betty Dickerson
Participant
This is just my humble opinion, so take it for what it’s worth. I’ve bought LLATL for my children 3 times and resold it. The more I looked at it, the more it wasn’t a fit for us. I wanted something that was gentle, that utilized picture study, that taught grammar, that used dictation and copywork, that encouraged creative writing, and that the children could do independently. LLATL fits some of these things, but with three children having to pull out 3 teacher’s manuals and keep track of all that was too much.
The little books by Serl (Primary Language Lessons & Intermediate Language Lessons) were good but my boys hated to have to copy things down from the textbook. I LOVED English for the Thoughtful Child, but that only went to a certain grade. If this would fit the ages of your children, I really recommend looking into that! They even have the child do some nature study!
But my children are 12, 10, and 10. What I ended up with was using Sandi Queen’s Language Lessons for the Elementary & Secondary Child for the grammar. I use Spelling Wisdom for copywork and dictation and it’s going GREAT!!!! This combination has such a CM feel to it. The Language lesson book is great because it will have the child write a story based on a picture (in color) every once in a while. This opportunity for creative writing was what all the other books were missing. She LOVES this. It’s not too burdensome for the boys either. Spelling Wisdom is going SOO well, also.
Just some more things to consider. Take a look at your children and their ages. Think about what you want in a grammar curriculum and why. Think about how much time you have and how much you want to put it into a program as the teacher.
I do have a friend who uses LLATL and has loved it and convinced me 3 years in a row to buy it, but I never even got past one lesson. At least certain stores have a good return policy!
Hope this helps in some way.
November 11, 2008 at 11:49 pm
fivestones
Member
I use LLATL with both my children. I started with my first in 3rd grade. She is know in 6th (12 yo). We use the tan book. We like it and it has worked well for us. It does not take long, about 15-20 min. daily. My son is 3rd grade and we use the red book. His usually takes 5-10 min. and there is only 4 sections to each lesson. 1 being the copywork. That is all he does on that day. He does not have spelling words yet in his book.
This program was actually built around ruth beechick’s methods. I have felt it is CM in style. However, I know of other CM mom’s who disagree.
Pros- my 6th grader is able to pick up her book and work through it independantly. Except for dictation and spelling tests. The spelling tests consist of 5 words. It incorporates all parts of Language-grammer, dictionary work, spelling, writing, etc. so I only need the one program. It is short lessons. Uses great literature works.
Affordable.
Cons-Some busy work (most at the younger age) but easy to skip if you choose. Some consists of cutting and pasting, which my son likes to do. Really for me, this is it.
I personally have tried Simply grammer, my daughter hated it. She also hated English for the thoughtful child. LLATL is one that she has enjoyed from the beginning.
My son is still young so we will see.
If you were to start in the purple book there should be no problem. It explains all of the grammer in all of the books.
I believe that what works for me may not work for you.:) You have to decide what is best for you and your.
I love this program and have 4 years experience with it.
Blessings,
Vanessa
November 12, 2008 at 12:50 am
cheesemanhome
Member
Thank you so much “anabetica” and “fivestones” for your comments. I appreciate both your insights very much. I have gone on to Sandi Queen’s website and have looked at her lovely curriculum. It looks very good. I was wondering, Vanessa, with your older child – do you fill in extra copywork on the days when the grammar lessons do not include the copywork or dictation? (Do I understand it correctly that there is about one copywork day every 4 days?) Or do you find that just the one copywork per lesson is enough?? I hope I have asked my question clearly. I appreciate all your wisdom so much!!
In Christ,
Marie
November 12, 2008 at 1:00 am
Misty
Participant
I use the Queens lessons and for my boys in 2nd, 3rd & 4th grade I only do the one copy work aday. And to be honest sometimes only 1/2 of it a day and skip parts. But we also do a more formal copywork daily (handwriting w/o tears) because printing/cursive is like such a chore for my boys. I have found unlike girls boys just don’t like to write or care as much how there printing/cursive look. But that’s just my boys.
As I have learned on this site.. remember you can do as much or as little as you like with everything. Decide each subject/lesson based on each child and it will all work out for the best in your family.
Good luck in your search!
Misty
November 12, 2008 at 4:02 pm
fivestones
Member
For my oldest it is one copywork piece every 5 days. Sometimes I have her copy it more, sometimes not. For the most part, I do not add any other copywork for my oldest because she writes more through out the day with her written narrations, Apologia science, childs geography, etc. and I expect it to be written nicely and check to make sure.
For my youngest, I do add copywork daily. I think I got the copywork off of here? I don’t remember, could have been a website for los banos. Sometimes I use copywork from AO. But for him, we are still working on printing nicely. I want to start cursive next year and will be using HWOT.
November 12, 2008 at 4:08 pm
fivestones
Member
I just went and checked. I got my son’s copywork from here. On the main page, down on the left, under the header of timesavers.
Blessings,
Vanessa
November 14, 2008 at 8:34 pm
LindaOz
Participant
I’m probably a little late joining this conversation but I have three children using LLATL and I think it’s excellent. I really like that they are learning grammar and mechanics etc in the context of a literature passage, and I also like the activities they do with writing and understanding literary devices. My 7th and 6th graders (green and tan books) do their work independently while I work with my 2nd grader who is working in the yellow book.
There has been a change in the books in more recent years. The older edition was just a parent’s book really with the literature passage and activities listed for the week, then answers and notes at the end of each lesson. All written work is done on separate paper, not in the book. I use the ‘old book’ with my 2nd grader because we work through it together and I read most of it to her as we go. She writes in an exercise book. The later editions have student work books with all the information they need and are designed for the student to write in. There is an additional teacher’s book with answers and notes etc. It makes it easy for them to work independently.
So, yes, I think LLATL is great and plan on continuing with it as I find it so good. 🙂
November 16, 2008 at 5:35 pm
csmamma
Participant
Vanessa and Linda,
I am very interested in using LLATL with my 2nd grader and not sure which book to start in. He is just finishing up with Reading Made Easy and still needs alot of help with pronouncing words. He is doing copywork daily after he reads with me and a little narration.
I noticed that Vanessa is in the red book with her 3rd grader and Linda is in the yellow book with her 2nd grader.
I would love to know the differences in the books. Which book would you suggest that my ds start with? I just wish I could get my hands on the books before purchasing.
Thanks much and blessings to you all!
Heather
November 17, 2008 at 9:26 pm
LindaOz
Participant
Hi Heather,
Have you seen the LLATL website? There are sample lessons from all the different levels so you can get a bit of a feel for what level would suit your son. My guess from what you said is that maybe Red may be a good start, but check out the samples anyway.
Yes, my 2nd grader is in Yellow and finding it quite easy, but she is fairly advanced in LA and may not be a good indicator for appropriate level. Also, we are nearly at the end of our school year here in Australia, so she’s not a new second grader.
Here’s the website in case you haven’t seen it. http://www.cspress.com/slessons/slesson.htm
I’m pretty sure that there are additional readers to go along with the Red book but it will probably tell you that on the site.
HTH
Linda
November 17, 2008 at 9:34 pm
LindaOz
Participant
Back again, Heather. I just thought I’d add a link to the Scope and Sequence page as it identifies the different skills and elements covered in each book. It may help in deciding which book to use.
Blessings,
Linda
http://www.cspress.com/scope/scope2.htm
November 18, 2008 at 4:10 pm
fivestones
Member
Hi Heather,
My son started in the red book in 2nd grade, because of various reasons we worked slowly through the book. Boys are definetly different then girls 🙂 Due to this we just picked up where we left off at the start of this year. I did buy my red book used with the student manuel that had never been used and they were both the older version. I did not get any readers with it. I haven’t had a problem with this because they are extras and not refrenced in our book anywhere, and for $7.00 I got a great deal :). I would suggest reading the scope and sequence, ask around in your local homeschool group maybe in order to actually touch and feel the product. However most places have a great return policy, (rainbow resource is were I usually buy mine) if you find it does not work for you. Blessings,
Vanessa