First Language Lessons Level 3

Today I had an opportunity to thumb through First Language Lessons Level 3. I thought I would share with you my review on this curriculum. *Ü*

Brief introduction:

Towards the end of last school year, I was all lined up to use Growing With Grammar (GWG) for Holly's 3rd Grade language arts curriculum. I used GWG last year with Timmy and LOVED it. But then Jessie Wise just published a continuation for First Language Lessons ( FLL) 1/2. Since we used FLL 1/2 for 1st and 2nd grade, I started to wonder if I shouldn't continue with FLL series and use FLL 3 this school year.

I asked our local school supply company to order the book so I could see it in hand before I spent near $50 on a new language curriculum when I already had GWG 3 purchased.

Pro's:

(1) Love the narrative format. Teacher says this... Student responds with this...

(2) Poetry is included.

(3) Oral Language exercises are included.

(4) Diagramming

(5) I like the student pages they use for dictionary skills.

Con's:

(1) Extremely teacher directed. The child can't complete the workbook pages without a parent instructing them on what needs to be accomplished for each exercise. There are no instructions in the student workbook.

Just so you know, I have no problem reading the lesson to/with my children and helping them when they need help with their assignment. But I like being able to read the lesson with them, and then give them the opportunity to complete the assignments on their own. Of course they are always welcome to ask me questions if they get stuck, etc. With homeschooling 4 children, this extra step in implementing a curriculum is a big negative for me.

(2) To much additional copywork for my children. Since we do copywork with other studies &/or use History Scribe Copy Books, it would be overkill for my 3rd grader.

(3) The price...

Summing it all up:

It is a wonderful looking program and if you & your child like the format of FFL 1/2, then you might enjoy this book too. *Ü*

My thoughts are... I can do poetry on our own. I already own a few poetry books and some of our other curriculum includes poetry relating to a particular topic. For oral language exercises I could use Abeka Oral Language Exercises, which I just so happen to own already. *Ü* And GWG covers dictionary skills, just not with those neat pages that FLL 3 has.

I also don't know when FFL 4 will be out. Since FLL 1/2 was out for a few years before FLL 3 came out, I would much rather go into GWG 3 and stick with 1 curriculum for language arts.

I must... I must... I must stop the curriculum hoping! Therefore, we will be using GWG this year for 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade! *Ü* GWG doesn't have grade levels 6-8 done yet, but they have been wonderful about getting at least 1 level done each school year. If they had 7, we would use that for Jessica, just because I like it so much. *Ü*