Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
 Simple, Easy to Use, and Easy to Teach November 10, 2009
Anne (Baltimore, MD)
I have been using this book since the beginning of the school year. We are now at lesson 50. I have to say, "I love it!" The lessons are short, but to the point. My daughter is in first grade and it is just the right level for her. And her 4 year old sister can listen and memorize the poems because they are short. It works really well for our family.
I am always curious about negative reviews. So, I read them for this book. One reviewer mentioned that the author adapted many of the poems. Honestly, I suspected that when we learned the Monday's Child poem. But, I was thankful that it was adapted. The poem that I remember had several negative things. And my son was born on Wednesday--Ugh! In the original poem he would be full of woe--I think the version in this book is one I much prefer. I noticed that other language in that poem is also updated. I think that's okay. "Happy and Cheerful" is a lot easier for a first grader to understand than "bonny and blithe". I am comfortable with those modifications.
Another interesting thing that people also commented about not liking the directions for what the parent is to say. I remember one school that I subbed for that used Saxon Phonics. It drove me crazy at the time! It was written out exactly what I needed to say and it seemed a bit extreme to me (first graders were diagramming sentences and words)and it seemed to me that you had to cover every question they had written down exactly a they had written. It truly was a script that needed to be followed. But, not all teaching materials with directions for parents are like that. I don't think this book is. I do follow it most of the time, but I modify the questions when I need to for my children. For teaching reading, I use How to teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons and love that book. Now, I am so familiar with that book though that I say very little of the script. We go over the sounds and words and story and questions. But--I still appreciate the script if I need it as a reference. I have realized that scripted lessons are not loved by everyone--we all find what method of teaching works best for us and for our kids!
I would recommend this book highly. I am a certified teacher and as I started using this book, I really saw the logic of how the lessons are organized. The lessons are varied--periodically, there is a story or picture with questions about it. I think it is very important for children to understand grammar and so often it seems to be overlooked in our country. I know that when I was student teaching 10 years ago, we never touched it in first grade--or third--or fifth.
 I Just Can't Wrap My Mind Around This One October 1, 2009
A. Jorgensen (texas)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have a really difficult time getting excited about this program. Trust me, I tried. It came highly recommended by a few other homeschooling families I know.
The essence of the lessons are having the child memorize the definitions of the parts of speech. Sometimes the child makes a list of example words. Sometimes the child writes a letter, memorizes a poem, or talks about a picture in the book. But essentially, the child is solely memorizing the definitions.
Rarely is the teacher prompted to ask an open ended question of the student. Most of the questions in the scripts tell you to prompt the child until they get the answer right.
Language has structure, and helping a child discover the structure and use it to express her or himself is what I am looking for in a grammar program. I don't like the idea of having my children be able to parrot back to me what the definition of a noun is, but really have no idea how to find one or use one.
Other posters have noted that many of the poems has been altered, I concur, and I find that unacceptable.
I also disagree strongly with the definitions. A person, place, thing or idea is not a noun. The word that names the person, place, thing or idea is a noun. It is a subtle distinction but an important one. With all the talk about logic in "A Well-Trained Mind" I assumed that Ms. Wise would have understood that.
I would recommend this curriculum if you need something that is inexpensive. Beyond that, I can't recommend it.
Great Book! September 4, 2009
April N. Gilliom (jsgang)
Although I have not actually used the book yet, I have scanned it and have seen it in use. It seems like it is fairly easy to use and the kids catch on easily with practice. I think that it is a great tool to lay a firm foundation for grammer.
Great grammar book August 17, 2009
Belle (Nevada)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This grammar book is easy to use, and is written in an approachable format. As some reviewers complained, it does in fact cover one topic for many lessons. However, the lessons are so short that we normally combine 3 -5 together to cover a 15 minute grammar lesson. Therefore, one topic does not actually take as long as some people state. My daughter enjoys memorizing and reciting the poems, and I enjoy see her making progress. My first grader knows more about nouns than most third graders. Glad this book was recommended to me.
We love it. August 14, 2009
Chrystal (AL USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This isn't my first time homeschooling, so I just needed a little direction and use this book as a spine for other language related topics.
I agree that the author does repeat a lot of the same material (nouns for 49 lessons), but there is nothing that says that you, the parent, have to parrot exactly what the book says word for word.
My daughter and I are really enjoying using "First Language Lessons" as well as "The Well Trained Mind" and "Story of the World: Ancient Times".
These have made our homeschooling adventure fun.
I often catch my 16yo high school junior litening in on our lessons and learning something new right along with us.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
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