Language Arts is making me crazy...Is LLATL the answer?

[5sweeties]

Hi! I'm trying to plan for next year. Everything is set, and I am sticking with all my programs...except for Language arts! :confused: I've got 5 kids. Next year they will be at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 8th/9th grade levels. The amount of language arts materials floating around our school room is enough to drown in. :eek: However, I still feel like I'm missing out on some literature. I would love, love, love to have it all integrated, yet I really don't want to have to make up my own stuff. LLATL seems so appealing to me. I used K12 last year, and LLATL seems to be a lot like K12's Language Arts program...which I felt was very complete and great! This subject is my big strength, as far as teaching goes, and I have no problem adding discussions, papers, grammar or spelling rules, etc, whenever something falls a little short. However, I have no intention of buying a program that is seriously inadequate. I have too many little ones to teach all at once. I need/want something that is straightforward and well-planned, so that I can just pick it up and go. I'm looking for a good literature base, and writing that slowly ramps up as grade levels increase. Spelling, grammar and vocabulary are also important.


It you've had experience with LLATL, or any other all-inclusive program...could you please tell me how you liked it, how much time you took per day and at what grade level, and if you've found that you enjoy another system better?

TIA!!

[5sweeties]

We bought it for our first year of homeschooling, and can not afford to continue, so it is no long an option.

:)

[TengoFive]

We like LLATL for my 4th grader, but for the youngers I use First Language Lessons. It's much easier and quicker than LLATL, but I feel they're learning adequately. In fact my 4th grader listens when we do it, and I can see her learning things that she should have remembered from LLATL .

Victoria

Hi! I'm trying to plan for next year. Everything is set, and I am sticking with all my programs...except for Language arts! :confused: I've got 5 kids. Next year they will be at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 8th/9th grade levels. The amount of language arts materials floating around our school room is enough to drown in. :eek: However, I still feel like I'm missing out on some literature. I would love, love, love to have it all integrated, yet I really don't want to have to make up my own stuff. LLATL seems so appealing to me. I used K12 last year, and LLATL seems to be a lot like K12's Language Arts program...which I felt was very complete and great! This subject is my big strength, as far as teaching goes, and I have no problem adding discussions, papers, grammar or spelling rules, etc, whenever something falls a little short. However, I have no intention of buying a program that is seriously inadequate. I have too many little ones to teach all at once. I need/want something that is straightforward and well-planned, so that I can just pick it up and go. I'm looking for a good literature base, and writing that slowly ramps up as grade levels increase. Spelling, grammar and vocabulary are also important.


It you've had experience with LLATL, or any other all-inclusive program...could you please tell me how you liked it, how much time you took per day and at what grade level, and if you've found that you enjoy another system better?

TIA!!

[jg_puppy]

I am not sure if it would work for you or not, but CQLA is another language arts program that includes grammar, spelling, and writing. Here is the website

http://www.tfths.com/

They are changing the program a little in the next few weeks. (grade levels to colors) There is a 4 week sample on there now and a new one is supposed to be on there in the next month.

Jan

[mom2abcd]

I liked the idea of LLATL and I know some love it. I bought several levels used (and have them for sale;o) I'm too much of a perfectionist, I guess. I'm have only two at home now and the thing is, the levels for the various things were never "just right." If I placed dd at the right level for grammar, the spelling was too easy, etc. If I had five at home, I think I wouldn't worry about that. I will say it isn't as "intimidating" as R&S or CQLA. No disrespect, but I don't think CQLA is what you want. At least my kids wouldn't respond positively to it. There's a lot expected of a kid and it's all words. LLATL has pictures and more white space on a page to make it less intimidating.

Christian Light is another full English program to consider. I haven't seen the English in real life, but the samples seem good.

We used FLL and liked it quite a bit, but it doesn't include spelling, literature, etc. The "chants" really helped the kids memorize the verbs, etc., but you could do that without using FLL.

I think LLATL or CLE would be good for your situation.

[LindaOz]

I have two dc using LLATL (Tan and Purple) and we really like it. I find it interesting and well-rounded. It doesn't cover as much grammar as R&S but the grammar that it does cover is all in context, which is a feature I like. Once you get to the Green book the grammar steps up a lot too.

From what I can gather though, the three or so earliest books would take a lot more of *your* time to work through with the younger children, so that may be something to consider. I bought the Blue book recently thinking I would use it for my K'er, but with 6 children I don't really have the time to spend just on that program so I have chosen a more straight forward phonics program for her which is working really well. For the older dc though, who can go ahead and work on their own, the LLATL program is great.

HTH

[Dayle in Guatemala]

and I have found it to be very complete. Right now we are using Orange, Tan, and Gray. Starting in Orange (about 4th grade) I supplement with Ridgewood Grammar (a 3pyear grammar program) that has short, but full, lessons. I start supplementing Writing Strands 3 in about 6th grade or so (after we are done with grammar). It's worked well for us.

The younger grades are a little more intense for the teacher, but, the lessons are short, laid out well, and easily accomplished. There are times when I've cut out a few things because of time or I didn't want to cover that yet. It's really manageable. As they get older, they are more independent in it.

I like the book studies, but, I have to say, for more intensive literature studies, I really like Lightning Literature from Hewitt Homeschooling starting in 7th grade. Look at that for your older dc. It works well with LLATL, and we are currently using both.

[Kissy]

Would you want to add good literature in what you already do? If your program is working for everything but literature then I would suggest the reading list from amblesideonline.org. It is very good. We use Abeka for language and then use the reading list from ambleside. For writing I am using writing strands.