Any suggestions for a language arts program for1st/2nd grade?

Question

I am putting together a plan for my homeschooled 1st/2nd grader and have everything covered except language arts. Any suggestions besides time4learning (tried it and did not like it) would be great. Thanks

Answer 1

My son is a 2nd grader.  We tried Time4Learning, and he liked it for 1st grade, but we have kind of moved on since then.  I am using phonics, Noah Webster's Reading Handbook, and Spelling materials from Christian Liberty Press, and 2nd grade English from Bob Jones.  I'm an eclectic homeschooler and use whatever works for him.

Also, my son reads a lot of library books and classic children's literature.  I find that my letting him pick some books that he likes to read, along with the ones I choose for him has really sparked his interest in reading.  He has read over 90 children's books since September--i.e., the "Arthur" books (by Marc Brown), science books, biographies, etc. that are all written on his level.  Currently, he is tackling the "Yellow Fairy Book."

Additionally, I still do read alouds--not necessarily of great stories, but world history, geography, and the other things that interest him.  He loves the classic stories too.  Currently, his reading comprehension is on a 6th grade level and so is his written expression.

He doesn't particularly like to write, so I suggest topics for him.  I will write the topic at the top of his journal page and have him write about it; usually I pick something that interests him, his thoughts about a recent field trip, etc.  

The above works for my child, and I hope it is helpful to you.

Answer 2

It sounds like you already have a plan for reading and writing, so all you really need is grammar and spelling (you could also include a phonics or vocabulary program).

There are plenty of good grammar programs out there.  Three of my favorites are Rod and Staff (don't try to do all the exercises), A Beka, and Easy Grammar/Daily Grams.

Spelling could easily be pulled from your reading.  Since you already have plans to do writing, you'll know what he needs practice on.  Or you could use a program like A Reason for Spelling, Natural Speller, Spelling Power, Spelling Workout, ...

If you want an integrated approach, check out Learning Language Arts Through Literature.

Answer 3

My daughter is in 2nd grade and this is our first year homeschooling.  Reading/writing is her absolute favorite.  It's a subject that I really use a hodgepodge of stuff for.  We read a lot, of course.  It's important to me that we read "good" stuff together, not just what's popular, the latest series, etc.  She can read those on her own time if she chooses, but for "official" school I want her to be getting a taste of classic stories and good, wholesome reading.  She also writes on her own a lot... I encourage her to write whatever she wants to and I rarely give her actual assignments.  In the beginning of the year we did formal spelling tests but now I tend to just let her know when I read a word she misspelled.  We also picked up a couple of workbooks from the store, one was called 3rd Grade Language Arts (the 2nd grade was way too easy for her) and another one was 3rd Grade Reading Comprehension.

And anyway, that's just one homeschooling mom's path for language arts!  Homeschooling is so personal though, it may not be the way for you.  Best of luck!

Answer 4

Try going to a teacher supply store and look through the books.  There are lots of workbooks and teacher's masters (aka worksheet books) in the $8-15 range.  Use these and then you can integrate that concept into other reading materials you already have.  

The thing with teaching reading, you will need a couple of different types of resources to adequately teach the concepts.  The one thing I remember being drilled into my head by college teaching reading professor is that you need multiple types of reading ... over time to learn and broaden a person's understanding.  It's something that really needs to evolve.  For instance, teaching  the main idea, in a short fictional story, a kid's newspaper and then some sort of kid's encyclopedia.  Begin with the newspaper article (it's easiest probably) and once he's got the concept then move on.  Once he's mastered it, move onto the next idea you want to teach.  As a weekly weekly, revisit the main idea concepts using the three example again.  

(I hope this kind of thing makes sense.)

Answer 5

First Language Lessons is one that many people like for that age...it bored my son at age 6.5/7, but he doesn't like repetition.    It's a good curriculum from what I've seen, it just didn't fit him.

What we did at that age was to just plain read a lot.  We were at the library several times a week (we're still there weekly, he's now in 5th grade), and I saved formal language arts until 4th grade.

Something to remember when researching early language arts: grammar is a very abstract concept, and while young kids can "parrot back" the parts of speech, etc., many won't truly catch on until age 8 or 9.  There is a school of thought that says that it's best to wait until a child is ready to absorb the info to really teach it, and I've found that to be true with my son as well as with several other kids I've taught, of all ages.

My suggestion would be lots of read-aloud and read-together books to give your child a sense of language, story telling, sentence and paragraph structure, and vocabulary before moving into formal grammar.  Phonics and copywork are good at this stage, but I would really keep it to that.  Once third or fourth grade hits, here are my faves:

Shurley English (a little more teacher-intensive, but excellent)

Easy Grammar (more independent on the part of a student)

Wordly Wise

Hope that helps!

There's also an excellent phonics lapbook at www.homeschoolshare.com - just look under "Lapbooks", "Free Lapbooks", and find the "Phonics" link.

Answer 6

I really have had a lot of success with ABeka. I don't do every problem in the book though unless she needs more help on one part.

I have actually learned a lot from the program myself.

Answer 7

I really like Bob Jones University.  English 2,  It has the lesson on each page, classroom (together) exercise, and then a practice page on the reverse side.  All on one page.  Quick and easy, but covers the skills.  We also read a lot.  If you want to get more in depth, Susan Wise Bauer wrote the Well Trained Mind (also has a web site) and First Language Lesson.  I have those too, they require more planning.