Anyone NOT use Rod & Staff English? plus a Spelling Question

[Mom2Monkeys]

I would like to use one of the alternate grammar options on the HOD site...Queens Langauge Lessons. With the copywork and dictation in Queens combined with that of HOD, is it too much? Should I expect to skip some of the copy work in one or the other? Are there alternate plans for Queens or only for R&S?

Also, my kids seem to really need to know the rules in spelling. So we've started All About Spelling with the oldest. We really like it! There's plenty of review and I think she'll really learn to spell. She is an excellent reader but a weak speller. She has always mastered all her spelling lists though still can't spell in other subjects. I would like to continue our program. If you know anything about AAS, can you compare it to the way spelling is presented in HOD?

[6timeboymom]

I don't know about spelling; we make up lists from our readings for the boys who can already spell the listed words.
For language arts, though, we use Queen's books and not the R and S. I haven't found the combination of HOD and the Queen books to be too much-the Queen books are very short lessons. In fact, some days I have them do two lessons. There's not an alternative schedule in the TG for the queen stuff, we just kind of do a lesson a day. I make little checkmarks on the boxes each day of what we've done, so I just checkmark the language arts box when they've done their queen books.
HTH!!

[Mom2Monkeys]

Great, I feel better about using Queens now.
Should I consider adding a writing program since Queens doesn't cover that like R&S does?
I was thinking Writing Strands 3 starting in 4th grade. Any other programs that work well with Queens and is quick and easy to implement?

[6timeboymom]

if you want to cover writing, I would add a separate writing program. My boys are violently allergic to any kind of organized writing curriculum, and pencils in general, so I'm happy with what I get out of them now!
I do have the Igniting Your Writing book 1, and I would like to use it more. I think we'll try to work it in more as the year progresses.

[Carrie]

Mom2Monkeys,

I just wanted to pop-in and add a link to a previous thread about the Queen's Language Lessons series and Rod and Staff that should help clarify their differences. Here's the link: viewtopic.php?t=497

This one may help too:

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=718

Blessings,
Carrie

[Mom2Monkeys]

Thanks Carrie,
That really helped clarify. We already did R&S 2 in 1st grade and really enjoyed it, and part of 3 this past July. That was too much for my 7yo of course! When we started MFW, PLL was recommended so we went with that. But, it wasn't enough for my dd, so I had hoped QLL would be more...although you've already included what I was looking for from Queens in your guides! So, we'll just go with R&S. Sometimes we might add in a picture study from AO if we want to add a little something different.

Thinking down the road to next year, if she did R&S 2 in 1st, should we repeat it in Bigger or go on to R&S 3?

[Carrie]

Mom2Monkeys,

If your little sweetie has already done Rod and Staff 2 in first grade, then you could actually use the Queen's for this year, as we often suggest the Queen's to be done on alternate years with a more rigorous program (such as Rod and Staff). I wouldn't repeat Rod and Staff 2 with Bigger, and would instead suggest just heading into Rod and Staff 3 (after the year of Queen's or of just doing the lessons in Beyond for a lighter CM-style approach to language arts).

As far as the spelling portion of your question that I missed earlier, here are some links that may help with the dictation portion of spelling that we move to once your kiddos get to Bigger and Preparing:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1241

Also, the three threads linked within the previous thread won't work unless you click on the links below instead:
viewtopic.php?t=925

viewtopic.php?t=1246

viewtopic.php?t=1221

As far as spelling goes in Beyond, here's a link to explain that better:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=802

Blessings,
Carrie

Blessings,
Carrie

[Mom2Monkeys]

Now I'm just plain confused about what to do! I'll have to wait until the books come in so I could look at the list in Beyond. The program we are using, "All About Spelling", is going so well. But, I've not had a chance yet to see if its pouring over into her spelling in other subjects. She enjoys it as of yet...it's very hands on using letter tiles and cards for review, etc. I'm going to have a hard time letting go of the spelling book, but maybe by the time we get to Bigger, I can completely let go. LOL I enjoyed reading the other posts you linked to, Carrie. At least I see I'm not alone in having such a time transitioning to this method of spelling. I certainly want to see the same results others are seeing though!

ETA: I was just looking at the sample pages of Beyond. After the week's spelling lesson, if there are words missed on the last day, do you continue those in the next week's study. Is there a time scheduled for review of past lists?

[Carrie]

Mom2Monkeys,

So sorry for the confusion. I agree that moving toward dictation for your kiddo's spelling can be a leap of faith. If you are enjoying All About Spelling, and your daughter is thriving with it, I would just keep on going with it. There is no need to fix something that isn't broken. I only gave you the links to past threads so you'd understand the philosophy and design behind our spelling/dictation lessons. Then, if your other spelling approach ever ceases to be effective or becomes too time-consuming, you have a great back-up plan in mind.

As to the grammar, you really can't go wrong at this point. Whatever you choose to do will most likely be a review of what you've already studied in Rod and Staff, so I'd opt for a less rigorous year and then jump back in to Rod and Staff 3 next year.

You'll know your child best and will ultimately make the best decision for her, but you are doing a great job of sorting through options to find the best fit for YOUR family!

Blessings,
Carrie