Who Took the Farmer's Hat?

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.

"It’s just common sense!" Yes, everything about this program is common sense. Offering a literature-based language arts program for Kindergarten through High School, Learning Language Arts through Literature lays a foundation with phonics and reading skills, and then builds on them with spelling, vocabulary and grammar, composition skills, and literary studies and analysis. Handwriting is also taught at the elementary levels, while Higher Order Thinking skills are woven throughout. The books are designated by colors but correlate with skills taught at specific grade levels. Since some parents are unsure of where to begin their child in the series, we have placement tests for each Learning Language Arts through Literature level available. A biblical and Christian worldview is evident in all courses. Each Course provides one year of language arts and requires a Student Workbook, Teacher Guide, and either the phonics readers and student packet in the Blue and Red Levels, or the Student Workbook, Teacher Guide, and required chapter books for Yellow-Gold levels.

A very complete program organized around quality children's literature and covering phonics, reading, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, handwriting, and higher-order reasoning. Phonics instruction is systematic, introducing a few sounds at a time and providing opportunities to read a "real" (small story book) book which uses those sounds. The literature component (carefully selected children's favorites) reminds students that the reason for all the hard work in phonics is the joy of reading wonderful books. Handwriting method is unique to the program. The Program is sold in a boxed set (Blue and Red only), and includes the Teacher Book, which provides 36 step-by-step lessons, answers, and periodic assessments (no teacher prep needed); the consumable Student Book; level-specific phonics readers, and the Materials Packet which contains cardstock manipulatives. Well-known children’s literature from the Read-Aloud Library (an integral part of the program) is suggested with each weekly lesson. These are available in a Complete Program Package with the Boxed Set as a separate purchase. A user-friendly phonics and complete language arts program, LLATL Blue and Red offer a wide range of activities that will appeal to all learning styles. 

The Blue Program (K-1) covers beginning and intermediate phonics. It begins with readiness lessons, and then teaches short vowels, consonant blends and short vowels, and long vowels. Along with the phonics instruction, lessons cover vocabulary development, sequencing, comprehension skills, thinking skills, spelling, handwriting instruction using a unique “natural common sense” model, and an introduction to grammar. Three sets of practice readers are integral to the program: short vowel readers, bridge readers, and long vowel readers. Additional read aloud books are recommended from a variety of beloved children’s authors. The titles may be available at your local library. For your convenience, we offer these tiles in a separate, Read Aloud Library Package

The Blue Program Set includes Teacher Book, Student Book, three sets of Readers, and Materials Packet. Materials Packet is non-consumable and contains letter/word cards and cardstock letter dice. Components are also available separately.

Thirteen popular children’s books make up the Read-Aloud Library. These are separate from the phonics readers and are used for the literature part of the program. You can purchase them in a set with the Blue Program, purchase titles individually, or source them at your local library.

E-book versions of the Blue Program Teacher Book, the Student Book and the Materials Packet are also available. In 1-2 business days after the order is processed, the publisher will send an email with information on how to access the files. Once the email is sent, you have 14 days to download the material. Once downloaded, they never expire from the customer's computer and can be read and printed from any device.

Listed below are the suggested books for use with the Blue LLATL program.