I’d like to start off with a little background before I give this review because I think that understanding the circumstances can be helpful to another mom with a similar situation. So, here I was homeschooling my two oldest boys and getting ready to begin some sort of formal studies with my third son. I was using Shurley Grammar for my older two and knew that I could not teach three levels of Shurley. So, I wanted something as a light introduction and was beginning to succumb to the thought that grammar should be taught within other subjects. For first grade we just focused on reading, memorizing poetry, with an occasional dictation. Then, a dear friend and I had a meeting over dinner and gelato and she mentioned that some of her favorite times homeschooling with her, then, older girls was when they were using Primary Language Lessons. So, I ran home and ordered a copy.
Primary Language Lessons
When it arrived, I didn’t know what to do with it! It was different then anything that I had seen. It has beautiful illustrations, simple-yet-elegant language from days gone by, and….wait! I did recognize something – poetry! Yeah! O.K. I could try this. My third son did not know what to think of this book at first, but it has been a door for conversation. It has lead us through gentle exercises learning grammar through dictation and narration exercises and it adds to our “snuggle time” factor. You can see from the above picture that we actually have fun during our grammar time.
I’m looking forward to using this book again this year and progressing to the next book. He is more comfortable with the time we spend using this book and I have added some note-booking pages (instead of a workbook) to have something to show for his knowledge. I’ve lost my up-tightness that I had before 5 kids about teaching them everything “this year”. I understand now that it is a process and that language should be enjoyed and not forced on a child. I’ve found this is a good balance for my classical eclectic homeschool. I would say PLL is good for grades 1-4. There is another book that follows after PLL, which is Secondary Language Lessons and it is probably good for 3-6th grade. And, I still believe Shurley is a must for later on down the line. But, that’s another review.
Brenda is a classical eclectic mother of 5. You can find her blogging at Tie That Binds Us regularly about her homeschooling journey.
I ordered PLL and ILL this year instead of going with the curriculum we were previously using. Our previous program included a consumable workbook and was very colorful – the kids enjoyed it – but it took a lot of time to do the actual lessons as well as the workbook, and often they just ended up doing the workbook, which I felt badly about. I mean, I could have just gotten the grammar workbook for a lot cheaper…right?
So, we’re going to see how this goes.
I also purchased the very inexpensive teacher’s guides by Catherine Andrews and Mary Jane Newcomer from Amazon.com. They have answers and extended activities for the lessons in the book. Some people may not need or want the teacher’s guides – and they certainly aren’t necessary to teach the book, but they certainly are nice to have.
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I absolutely love FLL and so does my 1st grader. He loves language and is advanced in that area, so we started last year and that’s his favorite curriculum. He is always excited when it is time for FLL. We just started the part that includes copywork, and being a hater of anything that involves writing, he is showing a little bit of resistance to that part of the lesson, but still does it, just because he loves the book. I have started putting a lapbook together to double up as a record and notebooking of his accomplishments and what we are learning. I only have good things to say about the book.
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