In the Using Language Well series, students learn from engaging with selections from time-honored authors to learn to compose clearly and effectively. Created by Simply Charlotte Mason, this newly updated English, grammar, and spelling program pulls passages from their previous product, Spelling Wisdom but adds new content. Passages come from literature, poetry, ESV Scripture (often the Psalms), quotations, and even nonfiction (such as speeches).
Students learn by interacting in various ways with these samples. In the Charlotte Mason approach, composition is integrated in all subjects. Therefore, this course pulls from multiple subjects to model English concepts. Each consumable Student Book includes 72 lessons with space for answers, a Dictation Journal, and special fold-out reminders for “How to Study a Book” or “How to Mark a Sentence” (Levels 4-6). Each lesson provides the passage excerpt, steps for that day’s assignments (which often include narration and dictation) and lines to write responses (line size adjusts based on grade level.). Narrations require a student to take an assigned topic and tell/write what he knows or thinks about that topic. The publisher gives permission to make printed copies for immediate household use.
Teacher involvement is crucial, but the time commitment diminishes as your student progresses through the levels. Once you’re familiar with the lesson setup and the Charlotte Mason methods used, each course is fairly open-and-go. The Teacher Book provides the specific directions you’ll need to help your student strengthen dictation, narration, and composition skills. You’ll have step-by-step instructions, answers, FAQs for using dictation and narration methods, punctuation helps, and rubrics for grading student writing.
Lesson length varies by level. In
most levels, students work through each lesson following multiple steps. Typically,
the last two steps require marking and studying any unfamiliar words.
Occasionally, composition activities are offered for additional writing
practice. The average schedule is two lessons weekly, with a maximum of 20
minutes per lesson for your oldest student. However, total weekly lesson time
will vary based on individual needs. For a complete language arts course, add
reading/literature studies (and other skills--such as handwriting instruction--as
your individual child needs).
Students may start in Level 1 if they can read and transcribe comfortably at a third to fourth grade reading level. We strongly recommend your student taking the placement test, which will place your student based on their ability to respond to a handful of assignments. As you progress through the various levels, lessons will become more complicated and include longer and more challenging passages. By Level 6, students will be functioning at about an 8th grade level in reading and composing skills. Level 7 is a unique “polish your punctuation” and “hone sentence writing” course, designed to be used over 2 school years at one lesson per week. So, Level 7 is a good fit for any student needing to work on punctuation and composing clear communication. See each level’s description for specific content. ~ Ruth