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Help, I'm getting some concerns over my daughter whose 8 turning 9 in October. She's a wonderful girl but has some issues with attention and is definately distractable. Now, when looking at LA skills, we've never really done a "spelling program" with her yet or a formal grammar program. We did WWE this year and she has begun composing her own sentences and writing them down. Her reading is about a grade 3 level which has totally improved over the last two years. So I'm excited about that but worried about the writing and grammar skills. Now, looking at CM style, which I love and for my oldest it would work beautifully because she was naturally strong in LA. However, should I be looking at a program which does a more systematic coverage of these skills such as CLE, rather than doing spelling, dicatation, R&S ? Does this method work better for stronger students who seem to learn language more naturally than those who need systematic and daily review of concepts? I would love your opinions!

Thanks,
Shannon

Shannon,

At HOD while we do love Charlotte-Mason and agree with MUCH of what she has to say, we do also really look at balance (especially in the language arts area). So, while we do systematically include the skills of dictation, narration, and copywork daily as CM advocated, we do not narrate on every reading and do use a more controlled version of dictation than she recommended to make sure kiddos get all of the needed spelling words and patterns.

We do also guide kiddos in written narration much more than she recommended, and we do study literature in a more systematic way than she outlined.

We do utilize Rod and Staff for grammar, which is not a very CM approach, as she advocated waiting with formal grammar until kiddos were in their upper elementary years. Rod and Staff is a rigorous grammar program and does a terrific job of systematically preparing kiddos in grammar and in writing skills.

So while we instill CM habits in our kiddos throughout the HOD guides, we make sure to give the parent needed guidance in teaching skills and make sure to meet our modern state standards and requirements.

I just wanted to encourage you that the combination scheduled within our guides will give your little sweetie what she needs in the language arts area.

Blessings,
Carrie