LLATL vs CM

I see now that under the grades studies there are specific things to work on for written narration. I hadn’t noticed it before, maybe because I hadn’t had a reason to look at the upper years. I do wish the suggestions had more detail then just work on story, poetry, and letter forms.

Is there more specific, how to type info in the SCM hearing, speaking, reading and writing book? Or is that book more on why CM LA works? I’m looking more for the nitty gritty, daily how to teach this type info.

I got out the manuals for the next couple LLATL levels and sat down and really read them. They’re ok. But the more I read, the more busy work I saw, and the more I saw stuff being taught much earlier than CM is recommends.

So then I sat down with the ELTL samples. I do like this program. But again I see grammar being started a couple years earlier than CM recommends. I do feel like I’d like to use it, but maybe a couple years behind grade level. It’s tempting to use because the copy work is available in the vertical cursive hand I taught my son (he can copy something in print into cursive, but the results are not as nice looking).

I’m also debating whether it would be better for me to hold off on starting it till middle school (6th) and for now just use spelling you see for copy work/dictation (though then he loses the cursive aspect) and focus on the transition to written narration??? Ugg. Why does this have to be so hard?

Both ways have pros and cons. I just can’t seem to figure out which one out weighs the other. Maybe a list would help?

ELTL

pros: cursive copy work, three day schedule

cons: have to buy it, what level do I use?

SUS

pros: I already own it, easy to use just four days a week to allow a day for written narration

cons: it’s in print, not cursive