Language Lessons for a Living Education 7

Language arts programs listed in this section cover most areas of language arts (reading/literature, writing, grammar, spelling and handwriting) in one curriculum, although some skill areas may be covered with less intensity than a focused, stand-alone course.

This Charlotte Mason-flavored curriculum weaves together multiple language arts skills such as composition, handwriting practice, picture studies, narration, and dictation. From there, it progressively adds more difficult composition skills and also lessons on labeling-style grammar, mechanics, vocabulary, and more. Scripture study, memorization, and a Biblical worldview are emphasized throughout. 

Most levels are one-year, but Level 1 is a one-semester course. As students work through the levels, skills are spirally targeted, and gradually guide students in developing their ELA skills, including traditional assignments like essays. Writing assignments begin in Level 1 with observation skills. The elementary levels (1 through 6) allow you the freedom to choose a starting place based on your student’s skills. Middle and high school levels target skills by grade; assignments encourage students to be more independent, and student writing assignment demands intensify while still building upon the techniques begun in lower levels. 

Each consumable 3-hole punched Course Book is a student/teacher combo. In lower levels, short teacher helps are written right in the text. Every level includes a fairly hefty Teacher’s Aid section, which provides plenty of reproducible resources like optional games, spelling words, copywork practice, grammar study sheets, answer keys, and more, based on the level. In all levels, any necessary teacher material is included in the back of the text. Brief quarterly assessments are also provided. 

To function as a complete language arts course, this program assumes you’ll add your own literature choices at every level. Some reading suggestions are included, taken primarily from Master-Books (New Leaf Publications). Reading comprehension skills are broadly covered in lower levels and in more depth at higher grades, focusing on the assigned primary text. Except for Level 2, each level through grade 8 requires an additional biblically oriented text, often overlapping from year to year. Each high school level assigns a classic that students will engage with throughout the year. See individual level descriptions for required supplements. For purchasing, choose from convenient complete packages or individual student consumables. ~ Ruth

"Through literature" is the operative phrase in this series. It is what you would expect, after all, of a series incorporating a Charlotte Mason approach to language arts skills. Together the teacher and student travel through literature - poetry, well-loved books, fables, and stories. You pause along the way, of course, taking time to appreciate the story and learn the grammatical structure of the English language, giving the student opportunity through copywork (a Commonplace book replaces this in Levels F and up), some narration, and working slowly through the Progymnasmata methods to become immersed in quality writing models. Picture studies complement the literature and provide the means for students to put their thoughts into words and develop their observation skills. Just for good measure, the author has included some memory work grammatical lists and definitions. Taken altogether, the result is an easy-to-use, holistic approach to English that is thoroughly consistent with Charlotte Mason, and yet meatier than some programs with a similar bent. Compared to some, it also has a more updated "feel" even though many of the literature selections are "timeless" (i.e. a little old-fashioned). Workbooks are available at specific levels as a convenience factor.  

The author considers English Lessons Through Literature secular but inclusive, pulling readings from Christian, Buddhist, Taoist, and Jewish writings as well as ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Since these are included as literature and not as religious instruction, we at Rainbow consider this curriculum Neutral. See each level’s description for specifics on the specific reading selections. ~ Janice/Ruth