Would you describe FLL as spiral? or other?

[Another Lynn]

There are aspects of FLL (1/2) that I loved, but I didn't feel we retained it very well. (Possibly because I should have waited until reading was better established with my oldest.) But I'm reluctant to get it out with my 2nd ds and I'm wondering if my resistance to it is that it's spiral and *my* brain functions better with mastery approaches.

All thoughts/comments are welcome!

Thanks!

[Narrow Gate Academy]

I found that my oldest child didn't retain much of FLL very well. She is more of a visual learner, and I consider FLL to be very auditory. I actually don't think that I would consider it a spiral program. There is certainly lots cumulative review spread throughout the program; but it's not like you learn a little bit about nouns, move on to a new topic, and come back later to learn a little more about nouns. I would say feel free to skip any review you find unnecessary. I'm going to modify FLL for my second by condensing it to one year and trying to think of ways to reinforce the concepts that are also more visual and/or hands-on. I'm hoping that will help with retention longer term.

HTH

[Suzanne in ABQ]

FLL doesn't spiral. It moves decisively from one concept to the next.

But, I wouldn't use retention as a measure of whether it is a good program or not. I used it with both my kids, and I thought of it as a first exposure to grammar. I didn't expect them to be grammar experts when they finished. They revisit the same concepts every year (they're in 4th and 6th now, doing R&S), and each year they carry a little more of what they learned the previous year. They still remember the definitions, some of the lists (to be verbs, for example), and the poems and the fables from FLL. They enjoyed FLL tremendously. I plan on using it with my third, but she's only 2yo, so it will be awhile. :)