Has anyone used Primary/Intermediate Language Lessons through 6th grade?

[Trivium Academy]

Did you use anything else for grammar/composition?
Anything you wish you would have done differently?
Would you make the same decision today?
What did you use after Intermediate Language Lessons?

If I can decide whether we'll use Intermediate Language Lessons, it will determine how we use Primary Language Lessons in 3rd grade- either as a primary or secondary source for grammar/composition.

Thank you (hoping someone will answer...:rolleyes:)

[hsm]

still haven't finished it, but I combine, tweak, and basically use resources to fit into my own curricular design:) If you don't get a lot of responses here, maybe this post may get more responses on the MA group or MFW forums, because the books are scheduled in...just a thought. But you never who quietly uses things here....

[Sixmeadows]

I know MFW suggests using ILL 3 time a week and then writing strands the other 2. I am leaning towards this for 9yr. and 10yr ds this next year.

You can always switch the writing program if you are not a fan of Writing strands.

Cheri

[Trivium Academy]

Thanks hsm. ;)

[Tami]

for 4th-6th. After a gentle start, the next step is solidifying the parts of speech. I didn't feel ILL provided enough practice in that area, so I went with a traditional program. Charlotte Mason students actually used a traditional grammar book at this level as well.

At the end of the day, it just wasn't worth our time to combine several language arts components. I prefer simplicity. We use a traditional one 2 or 3 times a week and call it a day. On alternate days we do dictation or copywork. I think that after 6th or 7th, and parts of speech are solidly mastered, we will focus on composition, essays, etc. I'm not of the "grammar every year" mentality. I think 4th-6th is the perfect time for it.

[Kfamily]

Hi Jessica!

I discovered PLL when my dd was already in 3rd grade. We used it for 3rd and went on to ILL in 4th. Since my dd10 (almost 11) is my oldest I think most of my "I would have done this differently" points come from my lack of knowing where I was going sometimes. I love love love the books and I feel I should have worked harder at making the most of these books work instead of trying to supplement in other ways. That said I did supplement because I was always worried I would fail her as a teacher if I didn't add more. Even having said that I know that my supplements were not that heavy. We covered parts of speech in 3rd and 4th using the Montessori presentations ( I was a teacher at a Montessori school when dd was a baby).We did copywork and dictation and oral and written narrations. If I had more confidence in my grammar and writing skills I could and should have made this be enough. My dd grew older and I grew more concerned and added this year Writing Tales 2 and the research and dictionary skills chapter from Voyages in English 5. Next year I plan on covering grammar thoroughly by using Voyages in English 6 the grammar section only and finishing Writing Tales 2 and finishing ILL. I hope that this will prepare us better for 7th grade where I may go on to CW Homer. I hope this wasn't too long-winded. I wish I could have more faith in a pure Charlotte Mason method but I am beginning to think this works with a teacher who has strong grammar and writing skills and can use these methods effectively. I hope I can improve in these areas and be a better teacher in time for my younger dd (who is just now 5).


HTH

P.S. I started homeschooling with a traditional approach and came to Charlotte Mason. I have seen huge leaps in dd by reading high quality books and following with oral and later written narrations. I really think this works beautifully.

[Trivium Academy]

Thank you very much for sharing KFamily, if you don't mind sharing a little bit more- how did you schedule Writing Tales with ILL?

[cbollin]

My middle child (now 3rd grade) used/uses PLL in 2nd and 3rd. She will do ILL in 4th -6th.

My oldest used ILL in 5th and is using it in 6th. (didn’t do it in 4th). If I had it to do over… I would have used ILL sooner. I really like all of the “other” language arts things that are in ILL like simple debate, poetry, and some lessons tie in with some history or science topics or art history. We had fun yesterday with an ILL lesson that was about telegraphs and trying to write messages in just a few words for a telegram (least amount of words to save money on them). My daughter looked at me as if I was weird until I said – think about it – how would you do it for a text message? But I really like how the lessons can be adapted like that.

I like that in the 6th grade section of ILL, a lot of parts of speech are covered, including definitions of them. It definitely becomes more formal but still not heavy. We followed MFW advice and added in All in One English (but I think they really say to use that book in 7th grade) We also do a writing program (it is writing strands like is scheduled in our mfw stuff) and my 6th grade still needs spelling instruction.

After ILL, we plan to use Progeny Press literature guides, finish Writing Strands through level 5, and Applications of Grammar book 1.

-crystal

[Kfamily]

I have decided that the rest of this year and next year too will work best if we alternate days of the week. I think we could do 3 lessons from ILL (now that she is getting older I think she could do this more independently) and 3 days for Writing Tales. I will probably try to choose our overlap day to coorespond with one of the lighter lesson from ILL. I've been doing that so far though not as diligently. I have just recently decided to let her handle more of ILL on her own. I also try to spread her copybook (a new thing for us after handwriting) entries and dictation and written narrations over the week so as not to have too much on one day.
I wish I was of more help but I have definitely learned that my dd needs are ever changing educationally.

P.S. I always see your name and smile because you sent me FIAR vol. 3 for free and that was so generous of you. I will be using it will dd5 this fall in Kindergarten.

[mcconnellboys]

I wonder what used to be the follow-up to ILL? Was there one? I sure would like to see it if it's still around......

Regena

[materursa]

I used PLL and ILL with my daughter. We did both books in 2 years as it was pretty easy for her. I think it felt easy for her because of the way the information in conveyed. We liked these a lot and I plan to use them with my other dc when they are the right age. As far as a follow up, we started Harvey's Elementary Grammar after finishing ILL. So far, it's going well, but it is a lot more rigorous than ILL.

Out of curiosity what does MFW stand for, it's not ringing any bells right now.

Amanda

[Trivium Academy]

My Father's World, www.mfwbooks.com. Thank you for sharing