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Angela
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| Posted: Aug 16 2008 at 3:36am | IP Logged
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Hi, I would love to hear any thoughts about Learning Language Arts through Literature.
I am considering using the red book (2nd grade level) with my 1st grader. We are half way through Alphaphonics, which we'll continue with this year, and he is reading fairly well. So the blue (1st grade) book seemed too easy/basic.
I am especially wondering about the readers for the red book--most center around talking animals. Is it better to steer away from such books? Would such books be considered 'twaddle'?
Also, should we do LLATL in addition to Alphaphonics, Catholic Mosaic, Handwriting, Math-U-See, 1st Communion prep? Plus, informally sitting in on some science (Apologia--Young Explores series) & history (From Sea to Shining Sea)with older sisters. Or is it too much for 1st grade?
I'd greatly appreciate any advice, so that I can wrap up my planning and start teaching!
Thanks,
Angela
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Angela
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| Posted: Aug 16 2008 at 8:26pm | IP Logged
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Hi again, Okay, from another post, I have a little better understanding now of twaddle vs. living literature. But I'd still love to hear any reviews of Learning Language Arts Through Literature.
Also, wondering whether or not it's worthwile incorporating it into my 1st grader's day already consisting of Alphaphonics, Catholic Mosaic, Math-U-See, Handwriting, 1st Communion Prep (Catechism & Bible), and informally sitting in on older sisters' Young Explorers Apologia Science and From Sea to Shining Sea History. I'm wondering if that'll be a bit too much?
Thanks so much,
Angela
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BlessedMommy
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| Posted: Aug 16 2008 at 9:31pm | IP Logged
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I used LLATL and did like it, but it required alot of my atteneion and while schooling others I found it a bit complicated. MHO, at this age your better off reading some good literature, oral narrations and copywork. Same quality work that you'd be getting from LLATL and less busy work for both of you.
If you still are strongly leaning towards LLATL I'd have to say yes, it is a pretty good program. HTH without confusing you. 
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Aug 16 2008 at 9:41pm | IP Logged
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I didn't use it until the yellow book--around 3rd grade.
We really liked it. The books to read were good books in yellow, as they are in the purple book we are just starting. It isn't as much literature as I would like--a few book studies incorporated through the year.
As far as busy work, I use it as a guide. Sometimes we do the assignments as written, sometimes I come up with my own(related)projects, and sometimes we just skip stuff. I use it to make sure I am covering my bases.
Not sure about using it younger, as in first grade. I looked into it for my K-er and decided it was way too much for her.
Hope that helps too! 
Anne
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ALmom
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| Posted: Aug 21 2008 at 8:19pm | IP Logged
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I used the red book with the oldest and while it was Ok, it did get very, very old and repetitive after a while and it was frustrating to only have excerpts of the books. (Now, this was with my 20 yo so it was a long, long time ago and I don't know anything about readers - there weren't any when I did the program and some if not a lot of the books were out of print at the time). I think it was a bit overkill and burned us out after a while.
It was a neat idea that tried to apply naturally learning grammar, spelling, phonics, etc. while reading good books - but then it kind of flopped in the sense that it became so schooly (at least the way you were instructed to use it - and that was back with #1 when I tended to go by the book more instead of modifying everything ). Done the way we were instructed to do it, honestly, it became a bit twaddly. Looking at the book, gave me ideas, since I am not a really strong literature, grammar person, but we never used any more of the levels and did not use this with any other children. It might have worked better if I'd used it only occassionally to reinforce weak areas. I'm glad I was exposed to the idea of learning some of these things in context, but for us it just seemed more natural to use whatever we were interested in as our context and pointing out some things from time to time as we worked.
I didn't have any problems with the excerpts in the Red Book but also heard, at least at the time when I was using the program, that later books get heavier and more problematic in terms of Protestant theology so I'd at least check into that before ordering.
It is also very mom intensive to use and I'd rather do the same kind of stuff informally. Honestly, I cannot imagine being able to do this with my 6 especially when the time demands of therapy really mean I have to minimize the mom intensive things in my house. This just didn't fill a burning need or wasn't outstanding enough to make it worth my time investment after we tried it (and fully) with our oldest. I'm sure others might find it much more helpful than I did and it really wasn't a bad program - just definitely not right for us.
Janet
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Learning Language Arts through Literatue?
