Primary Language Lessons vs. English for the Thoughtful Child

I’m planning to use PLL for my younger ds this coming year.  I don’t think it’s necessary to make them “study” a topic ahead of time.  You might like to take a read through the book ahead of time and make a list of topics to make a point of observing during your nature study time.  If you don’t, I wouldn’t worry about it.  It’s a good opportunity to have a discussion, look up info you/they don’t know together online or in an encyclopedia (that teaches them research skills) and look at pictures of the plant/animal/etc.  You might spend time on future nature walks looking for those things, and asking your child to remind you or tell a younger sibbling of something that was learned. 

We have used Primary Language Lessons and now Intermediate Language Lessons (Emma Serl’s) and it has always been a pick up and go thing. We’ve never done any preparation work. That’s why I like it so much, it’s low maintenance. We also skip any lessons we don’t feel we need to do.

Warmest wishes, Renelle

Going to piggyback on your thread here…Do you guys think a grammar curiculum like PLL or English for the TC is necessary? or is it something to add/use as we need it? My daughter is 8, going into 3rd grade, and is (according to public schools) right on or just below grade level in grammar and writing skills.  Any thoughts? 

Kate Mom of 1 – As far as how “necessary” these are, I think that’s up to you. I know lots of people here love using these books, but after looking at them, I felt like they were redundant for us. We already read and occasionally memorize poems, do nature study and picture study, narrate what we’re reading, and occasionally talk about grammar/punctuation issues as they come up in her copywork or things she writes on her own. Personally, I prefer this as it is all integrated into our other subjects so it’s one less thing I have to add into our schedule, but she is still get exposure and practice to all the skills in these books. I feel comfortable continuing with what we are doing now, and we’ll do a more formal grammar curriculum once she hits around 5th grade or so, as per CM recommendations. On the other hand, if you like having these things laid out for you, or if you are new to CM methods and trying to figure out how to make it all work, I can see how these books would be really helpful. So I’d say take a look and see what you think, and go with your own intuition if you think it will help your dd with the skillls she is weak in or not.

HTH

Jen

Thanks Jen…We are brand new to homeschooling, not just CM. So I might look into it a little more and see if it’s something I think we/she needs. Or I could hold off and do more grammar focus next year or the year after. 

Hi, Alicia, we have the same name. 🙂 we just started English for the a thoughtful Child. I had also looked at PLL. A friend of mine did PLL last year and is doing EFTTT this year. She said the latter is a lttle meatier on grammar and such while PLL incorporates more picture study and other various elements. While I do talk about when to use a capital letter or period with copywork, I like that this lays out a gentle intro to writing in a structured way, but it is not over the top.