Lightning Literature and Composition at the elementary level brings Five in a Row to mind. Utilizing the same "read-through-books-multiple-times-a-week" methodology in the lowest grades yet with a focus on literature appreciation as well as systematic grammar and writing instruction, the goal is both developing a love of great literature and a loving, gentle introduction to language arts. Snuggle up on the sofa, use this course as a road map, and read good books with your child. You'll accomplish the goals of this program! A Teacher Guide, a Student Workbook, and 28 classic (along with some contemporary) children's books are the components for the program.
Grade 2 Literature (in order of lessons): Max's Words; Old Woman who Named Things; Bee Tree; Teedie, the Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt; Insect Detective; Three Questions; La Mariposa; Sequoyah; Anatole; Pop's Bridge; Patchwork Quilt; Sylvester and the Magic Pebble; Extraordinary Mark Twain; Polar Express; Enormous Crocodile; Snowflake Bentley; Many Moons; Sam, Bangs, and Moonshine; This is New York; Bears on Hemlock Mountain; Mouse Called Wolf; Boxcar Children; My Father's Dragon; 26 Fairmount Avenue; and Mr. Popper's Penguins. Poetry selections are from the Random House Book of Poetry for Children.
Winnie the Pooh, Just So Stories, and The Random House Book of Poetry are used throughout the year and are included in our extended package. The additional 25 titles (ranging from picture books to chapter books) are available in a separate literature package.
The Teacher Guide is the heart of the program and is necessary. It's here that the general flavor of the program is most obvious including its orientation toward teacher-student interaction rather than independent student work. Detailed daily instructions are written in first person to the parent/teacher. The flexibility built into the program is reiterated often with examples of how to adapt the teaching instructions for students who are sluggish or need extra challenge. Weekly schedules have a basic structure. Each day includes literature study, grammar/mechanics study, and work on the weekly composition assignment. All workbook answers are provided in the Teacher Guide
The Student Workbooks include some instructional material but are essentially consumable worktexts. Most of the grammar exercises are included here along with space to write thoughts about the reading selection (i.e. Reading Journal Pages: What this Story is About, What I Think of this Story, and My Favorite Sentence). The books are colorful and appealing. The Random House Book of Poetry for Children, Winnie the Pooh, and Just So Stories are used throughout the year and included with some of the Packages.
The Grade 2 Pack includes the Teacher Book and Student Workbook and the Random House Book of Poetry for Children. The Literature Package includes all the literature selections needed for the course. The Grade 2 Extended Pack includes the Teacher Guide and Student Workbook and the Random House Book of Poetry for Children, Winnie the Pooh, and Just So Stories.
Grade 2 Teacher - 340 pgs, pb; Grade 2 Student - 354 pgs, pb. Grade 2 handwriting lines are ½" with dotted middles.
