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Primary Language Lessons vs. English for the Thoughtful Child?
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Can anyone recommend one of these two curriculums over the other? Are they similar enough that it does not really matter?
Thanks!
Also, where is the best place to buy a notebook for nature study?
I havent used Primary Language Lessons…but we have been using English for the Thoughtful Child Vol 1 and 2. Lessons are short and fairly easy. We do most of them orally.
For nature study, each of the kids have a thicked page artist sketchbook. You can buy them at any craft/hobby store, office supply stores, and occasionally walmart/target.
PLL is very easy, no prep, affordable LA resource. Ours is an e-book from an Australian supplier ($15) where you can get AUS, US or UK versions.
PLL can be complete over 2 years if you use it 2-3 times per week. Suggested for ages 7-9 or grades 2-4.
We liked it for it’s simplcity.
Here is a little on the resource from our supplier HERE and you can download the first 13 lessons for free and give it a try.
Warmest wishes, Renelle
Thanks so much, both of you.
One more question, if PLL or English for the Thoughtful Child assigns copywork or dictation for that day do you omit the other recommended daily copywork/dictation? I am assuming that you would.
Thanks again.
Have a blessed day!
Alicia
Hi Alicia,
We don’t double up on anything once in a day is plenty for us. We use PLL 5 times per week, Spelling Wisdom 1-2 times per week and copywork 4-5 times per week and only for a short amount of time and short passages of writing (2-4 sentences)
Warmest Wishes, Renelle
Thanks Gina!
Renelle,
I was curious to know the ages of your kids- ours are 9,7,4 and a half, and 2. This is our first year doing CM 100%
We have been drawn to CM methods for the past few years but did not really fully understand it all until we heard a CM speaker at our homeschooling conference this year.
Could you tell me what you do on the days that PLL does not have copy work? Do you do the PLL lessons in the order they are presented in the book? Sorry for so many questions……we are still a bit clueless about all this.
Sincerely
Alicia
I’m not Renelle:) But I love Queen’s copywork books. My kids just open and do the next one on copywork days. PLL has 160 lessons. Many can be done in one day. For my 2nd grader, we took 2-3 days to do some of the exercises (if it was writing a lot of sentences). We do PLL in order, pretty much…except if it’s a day I want something short I might skip ahead to a quicker lesson, just checking off as I go:) PLL is geared for 2nd and 3rd grade, taking 2 yrs. HTH some! Gina
In using PLL with both of mine, most of it we did orally and considering the age it’s intended, no dictation. I used something else for copywork, so yes I would skip any copywork and dictation from PLL.
I was very pleased with it; one moved up to ILL and the other will next year.
Rachel
I just received my PLL today and I was all over it like hot fudge on a sundae! This book is fantastic! If I hadn’t bought Spelling Wisdom, I think I would use it in its entirety.
Hi Alicia,
I have a ds9 and dd3. On the days that there is no other copywork or handwriting practice we will just make sure we do something like write a postcard (ds has 2 penpals that write postcards to one another) or a rhyme or poem. Meaningful writing, such as a note, a card, a present, a lesson to remember for the week, bible verse to display. A little everyday goes a long way! I’ve only just started to expect ds9 to do the 2-4 sentences a day beginning of this year. If it is a long narration or composition I help by scribing for him as long as he does a little. I will usually narrate the first part and when we reach a cliff-hanger in the story I say “Oh mate, I really need a break from writing, can you finish it off now, it’s your turn….” hehehehehehe Sometimes I will scribe for him and then ask him to copy it. We moved onto Intermediate Language Lessons this year. There is alot of opportunity to tweak the lessons to suit the individual child and if the writing is too much I do cut it down for him in some way by helping or shortening what is required. I definitely do not force it, especially if it is a struggle. It is something I am confident will come with time.
Warmest Wishes, Renelle
I just logged on to ask this very question – and here it is! LOVE this forum and the wisdom shared. I ordered PLL and am waiting for it to arrive. While waiting, I realized I hadn’t considered EFTTC. Hopefully, they are equally good! 🙂
Blessings,
Kristina
We have EFTTC 1 and 2 and by looking at the samples on amazone and the link above, PLL is VERY similiar to it. So either choice is great! In addition to using EFTTC 2x per week we use Penmanship from Rod and Staff to practice cursive writing for my 3rd grader.
Tara
Curious – has anyone read why SCM recommends EFTTC over PLL? I know that they can’t recommend EVERY good program in their curriculum guide, but would love to know if there’s a reason.
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