Trying to figure out Language Arts

[Gailmegan]

Newbie here with my first post.

I have 2 sons, preK and 1st. I started out using VP thinking I would just pick one company and not have to think about it (LOL). It was ok for K, but when prepping for 1st, I decided I didn't like Shurley (nor could I fathom paying that much each year for grammar). I had a friend who had bought FLL but decided to use something else, and I had heard good things about WTM, so I bought it from her and have been using it alongside VP's Phonics Museum and VP First Favorites Comprehension Guide. Well to make a long story short I have recently decided I no longer want to use VP, so I'm trying to switch completely over to WTM. Now I need to figure out what to get for my son for 2nd grade.

Obviously WWE covers the first 4 years and will fit nicely with my continuation of FLL, but I'm not sure which Workbook to start with. VP's program has a lot of copywork, but no dictation so far. My son has no problem copying complex sentences (last one he did from Frog and Toad was 19 words long); and he answers simple comprehension questions in full sentences. Would Woorkbook 1 be too easy even though he hasn't done dictation? Would Workbook 2 be too advanced, or okay if maybe I start doing some dictation for the next 3 mos?

Spelling is the other part of my dilemma. If I start using Spelling Workout Series I don't know which one to use. VP's program has spelling tests every 7 lessons or so. The last spelling test he will have this year includes: prophet, telephone, elephant, started, traded. Does that seem like he will be ready for SWB? Or would another level be better?

I hope I never decide to switch again ;) this is too much work figuring out the transition.

TIA

[ELaurie]

I started out with VP materials too, and quickly transitioned to using more of the curricula recommended by WTM.

It sounds like your ds is doing very well!

Here's a link (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4853&highlight=writing+ease) to a thread about WWE, with recommended levels. If he's doing copy work easily, level 2 might be appropriate. Have you seen the sample pages at Peace Hill Press (http://www.peacehillpress.com/)?

If her can copy 19 word sentences, and spell telephone, he's ready for dictation :)

You'll find a gentle introduction to dictation in the second grade level of FLL - I'd say feel free to skip ahead a bit with him, while still covering the basic parts of speech and poetry.

We don't use SWO, and 8 yo ds is a struggling speller, so I can't comment on that, but I'm sure others here will chime in.

Again, welcome!

[OhElizabeth]

Well I know you want to just follow one publisher or plan and make your life easy, but it's probably not going to work that way, lol... If you were to switch to doing every single thing as WTM lists (which very few people do, many people modify to fit their dc and situations), then you might end up just as unhappy as you are now. I use VP history and my dd likes it a LOT, at least the way we do it. It sounds like some of the things you're doing now are working for you and some are not. Take the spelling. You've invested in Phonetic Zoo and it's working. Why change??? I'm serious. He's spelling well, able to write what he wants, and is nicely advanced. I'd leave him alone and not mess up a good thing. If he hates it or it's not working, change. Otherwise, leave him alone is my advice.

On the grammar, I can understand why you didn't want to fiddle around with Shurley this year and I totally agree. Since you're liking FLL, you're on track and can just keep going. When you finish FLL1/2, go on to FLL3, then FLL4, etc. On the writing, I'd suggest you start with the WWE book, the Writing Without Fear cd (which does an awesome job of spelling everything out), and reading the pertinent sections in WTM. Because your dc is writing well right now, my guess is he doesn't need the level 1 workbook for WWE.

Now I don't know if you've decided your history. Since he's going into 2nd, you could still do the VP history. Like I said, we like it. I like it because it's so easy for me to implement, a very clear plan, and dd likes it because it gives her lots of freedom to do what she likes best: read history and do crafts and whatnot with it. You don't have to write the worksheets or do it totally like it says. It's a great framework though if it still appeals to you.

I know it's a lot of work figuring out what materials to use for each thing. Sure you could just do Abeka, BJU, Calvert, K12, or something straight and not have that stress, but you're getting really great results! And I think you're going to find that you'll find your groove. When something is working, DON'T CHANGE IT!!!!!!! Just think, when you find something that works and continue it for a few years, you don't have to constantly analyze that decision, it becomes just doing the next thing. Like math, pick your math, see if it works, then stick with it. Spelling, well that Phonetic Zoo is enough spelling to keep him occupied for several years, meaning you have no stress there. When things are working, don't change them. Sometimes you don't realize why something is working and you undo the good thing you had. So change the things that aren't working, keep the things that are, and find how you can blend what you liked of VP with what you like of WTM. That works well for us. :)

[Sue G in PA]

First, Writing With Ease (WWE) can be used w/out the workbooks. SWB recommended to me in another post/thread to get the text first and then see where my dc would "fit". You can use the text alone and just pick and choose your own copywork/dictation passages. If your dc is 2nd grade...you could safely go with Workbook 2, I would think.

As for SWO, I put my dc in grade level to start with (A=1st, B=2nd, C=3rd and so on). Give your dc a pretest for each new unit. If dc aces it...move on. If dc misses more than say 1 or 2 words...start with that lesson, KWIM? B begins very simply: fox, cut, hill, wind, put, all, moon, saw, tell, new and progresses to more complex rules/words like adding suffixes (when to double consonants, changing y to ies for plurals, etc.). It seems like B *might* be easy for your ds if he's doing words like prophet and elephant, but you never know. C starts with: fast, bird, nine, life, since, kill, cannot, egg, water, mark, person, quite, beside, sister and forest. Oh, with SWO, level C transitions to cursive writing of each spelling word midway through. First half gives each word in manuscript AND cursive but midway through switches to just cursive. A consideration if dc hasn't done cursive yet.

Okay, long post...sorry. Good luck and take a deep breath! You'll find the right "fit"...don't fret! :)

[Gailmegan]

Wow, lots of good responses so far. Thanks everyone! :001_smile:

ELaurie - I had checked out the sample pages. They were enough to get me excited, but not enough to show which level workbook. I will definitely look ahead to FLL 2 to check out the dictation, or I may do as suggested in WTM and just read some from E.B. White or C.S. Lewis.

OhElizabeth - I guess I wasn't completely clear. Sorry. *blush* We aren't using Phonetic Zoo for spelling. The words I listed are from the VP 1st Grade Phonics Museum Workbook. Those will be on his last test this year. I completely agree with you that there isn't usually a reason to switch if something is working, but 1. VP doesn't have its own program for 2nd grade on, rather VP recommends starting IEW and Phonetic Zoo, so we're not really switching mid-stream; and 2. My reason for switching from VP is not about its programs per se. I am extremely picky about the publishers I choose and for my own personal convictions (which I am sure would be silly to most people, but are important to me), VP is no longer an option for my family.

Sue G - That's a good idea to get the WWE w/o the work book first and then see which ones to order. Although I guess if I order one below his level it will be ready for my other son. LOL. As for SWO, it probably would't hurt to start with B, as a little review isn't a bad thing. I was planning to begin cursive with him at the same time, so C might be hard for him.

And speaking of cursive, I forgot to ask if anyone has a preference between HWOT and Zaner-Bloser?

Thanks again! :001_smile:

[Sue G in PA]

We've used both and *I* prefer ZB b/c it's "prettier", LOL! I think if you asked my dc...none of them would really care one way of the other. In fact, my writing phobic boys would probably prefer HWOT b/c of its simplicity. Really, as they get older, their cursive will "morph" into some combination of ZB, HWOT, manuscript, etc. My kids laugh at my handwriting b/c it's a mixture of print, cursive and something else. It's neat...but weird! :D We are really like the A Reason For Handwriting series b/c of it's use of Scripture to teach cursive (the dc learn and copy a verse each week). Not sure if that would appeal to you...but just thought I'd throw it out there. Oh, it is ZB style.

[Gailmegan]

That's funny you mention your handwriting - mine is a combo too. VP got him started with a manuscript style that is very close to cursive (I personally dislike it, but I think it will make the transition easier LOL). I'm glad you mentioned the A Reason for Handwriting series. I had never heard of it. Does it go alongside ZB? I was just going to have him practice with the First Catechism and scripture that I had pulled out on my own.