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Searching for a multi-level language arts guide
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Teaching language arts in a CM manner to mulltiple ages with vastly different abilities is my nemesis. I’ve gone back and read many of the discussions here and there’s so much good advice, and yet, I begin planning and the reality hits me, “How am I going to implement all of that?”
I know how I want to teach it. I want to take a literature passage, have them copy it, pick out a few elements to really focus on and also use it for dictation. For example, the different uses of commas; or contractions; or synonyms; or quotation marks, etc. It feels like such a waste of time to be teaching one child iambic pentameter and another one personification. Shouldn’t there be a language arts manual that I can use to teach the same thing to all levels at the same time, such as the SCM modules do for history, Bible and geography?
I always end up thinking that I’ll just pull this together myself, but if I don’t have to reinvent the wheel I’d rather not. Is there a resource that does this?
This is exactly what LLATL is. Except, of course, that it’s not technically multi-level. If your kids are close enough in age and abilities, you could choose a level that is somewhere in the middle and use that for all of them. They give you the literature passages to study. If you are looking for something where you choose your own literature passages, I know that Ruth Beechick outlines how to do this in one of her books… maybe “The Three R’s” or “You Can Teach Your Child Successfully”
You know, we all need to get together and write the curriculum we are looking for, because it seems like a lot of people are looking for this same thing. 🙂
I just posted this on another thread, and really, I haven’t used this resource so I don’t know a lot about it, but the folks on the Truthquest yahoo group have talked a lot about Understanding Writing. Apparently it’s a writing curriculum that incorporates grammar and can be used with a very wide range of ages.
I found these at Currclick. They may help. A basic literature study pack by Complete Lee Learning for $1. Grammar By The Book by Fortunately For You Books for $3.99. I use these for my daughter now. I am trying to write my own curriculum for incorporating grammar and literature now.
thank you, LyndaF! Grammar by the Book – that’s the one I have been driving myself crazy trying to remember. 🙂
Thanks for the input.
Evergreen — I actually have Understanding Writing, and I probably bought it because someone over at TQ recommended it. It really does look very good and is probably what we will use. I still think I will need to teach it at two or three different levels though, so maybe there’s just no getting around the different ages, different levels thing. It also doesn’t include copywork and dictation, so I’ll probably continue to use my vintage Google book for that and then throw in grammar in early jr. high. (sigh) Forgive my panic attack. I’m trying to get all my planning done this week while my family size is down by half, and it all begins to look so overwhelming on paper.
I get the overwhelmed thing. A friend passed along a whole HOD package that’s just right for next year’s history studies for two of my children, and yet I don’t love some of the key books and went to bed last night with the guide and some of the books, Trial and Triumph, and Fire Upon the Earth, reading them all and comparing and trying to think of how I’d schedule them or SCM guide or TQ or incorporate all of them somehow…and that doesn’t even touch LA or planning for the 4th or 9th grader. Ack! Hope you’re making headway in your planning!
So…. what did you think of Trial and Triumph and Fire Upon the Earth? I have both of those scheduled for our history for next year, but I haven’t read either yet. We’re using TQ and beginning with the Middle Ages.
Hijacking my own thread.
Jean
Jeaninpa I am jumping in because we too are using TQ in the middle ages and I am curious about the Trial and Triumph/Fire Upon the earth thoughts as well. I have T&T and it looks pretty good- sort of like the Famous Men of books but with a bit more meat, lol
Also, I think I have found the perfect literature/CM style guides for us for next year. Boomerang novel studies from http://www.bravewriter.com You can buy them seperately for just the books that appeal or you can purchase a subscription. I got the sub last year and collected a whole years worth of guides. They come out monthly, use fantastic literature, use a dictation model, and each one picks out different elements to work on for grammar and lit analysis. The Boomerang is middle school level, I think they have a younger level and an older. We are going to use them for next year using Robin Hood, The Princess Bride, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I am very excited about them, they look great. I also purchased the Writing Program they have called the Writers Jungle which is month by month projects, ideas and jumping points for teacher and kids, all levels, to get used to writing and not be afraid of it- looks very good 🙂
Hi Heidi,
I spent last week reading Writer’s Jungle and I am really enjoying it. In fact, I’m enjoying it so much that I did purchase several back issues of the Arrow and the Boomerang last week as well. Two of the issues that I bought were Robin Hood and Sir Gawain. Looks like you and I think alike!
Jean
Well, you know what they say about great minds
Only my mom would counter that with, “well, fools seldom differ” lol, she keeps me grounded. I am cautiously optimistic about WJ – after all the LA programs I have tried its a shorter list to make of the ones I haven’t tried! I love the Boomerang Studies and know they will go well so I am hoping the same for the WJ.. we should keep in touch:)
Only my mom would counter that with, “well, fools seldom differ”
lol, she keeps me grounded. I am cautiously optimistic about WJ – after all the LA programs I have tried its a shorter list to make of the ones I haven’t tried! I love the Boomerang Studies and know they will go well so I am hoping the same for the WJ.. we should keep in touch:)Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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