Bigger - choices in LA, what do you do?

[Robbi]

We are finishing up Beyond w/ DD (8 yrs old) this week and are very excited to start Bigger!!!

I have a couple questions about LA:

1. We are going to start cursive, DD is very excited about that! But should we also do poetry copywork? I know the intro says either/or, but I'm just wondering what the majority do. Copywork was the hardest thing in Beyond for her, altho she has GREATLY improved. We just the last few weeks moved from 3 lined paper to wide ruled.

2. Spelling list 2 or dictation??
We did spelling list 1 in Beyond this year. She did very well, rarely missing any during the week. Altho review weeks were tougher. She doesn't seem to be a "natural" speller in her own writing. At least not confident, always asking how to spell things. I did "quiz" her orally on a few (maybe 20) words from the spelling list 2 and she got almost all correct, I was surprised. So shall we try dictation?

Thanks in advance for anyones help!

[pjdobro]

Congratulations on finishing Beyond and moving onto Bigger!

It sounds to me like learning cursive will be enough on your dds plate for now. She will still be using her manuscript writing with the notebooking in Bigger so she will still have built in practice so I wouldn't do the poetry copy work. If after you have done the guide for a while, you feel she still needs the challenge and practice in her writing, you could always add it in. For us, the amount of writing each day was plenty without copying the poem so we just stuck to doing Cheerful Cursive.

It sounds like your dd is doing well with spelling. I think the general recommendation is to do spelling list 2 after spelling list one. I know the activities that go with the spelling list really help dc in spelling. I can't remember when we made the switch to dictation. I believe it was in Bigger but we had done both spelling lists by that time I think. I do know that as the lists progress, the words get more difficult so it might be best to stick with the lists for now. On the other hand, your dd is probably old enough to start dictation. I hope someone else will jump in here and advice you more. I'm really not for sure which would be best.

I am excited for you as you begin Bigger! We really enjoyed that guide here, and it was such a great year. Enjoy!

[Robbi]

Thank you for your reply!!!

You have helped confirm for me that just cursive is ok! My DD will be very happy to not have to do copywork. I actually don't think she'll have a problem with the notebook writing but she HATES copywork!!!

I'm still unsure about spelling or dictation! I thought I had read on the board that only 1 year of spelling lists was necessary. But of course, I can't find a thread now.

Thanks again for your comment!! And any others would be appreciated too!!!

[my3sons]

I agree with pjdobro's good advice on both accounts. Cursive will be enough, and Spelling List 2 will be a great fit! The only time that dc usually do only one of the spelling lists is if they did Spelling List 2 first. This is usually only if the student is older or an excellent speller at the start of Beyond Little Hearts. You have many years to do dictation. I'd not jump into it without having completed List 2. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[Robbi]

Thanks for replying Julie and thanks for clearing that up for me! Spelling list 2 it is!! It is probly a good idea to keep something simple & familiar this year. I'm almost done prepping for Bigger and it looks like we are in for a very fun & full year!! I can't wait to do some new things like notebooking with my DD and even more excited that she is READY for it!!!

Thank you!!

[creekmama]

I'm so glad you asked about copying the poem. Based on the replies you got, I have decided to drop that! My son hates copywork but likes cursive. We also are doing Spelling List 2 even thought he's a good speller. He would balk at dictation if we tried that now. A little time to mature can make all the difference!