First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind: Level 3 (First Language Lessons)

We loved this curriculum and plan to continue with the next level next year. This is their first year using the curriculum and they have had no issues picking up the concepts. I also love the teacher manual because it walks you through the entire lesson. This has it all, grammar, diagramming, poetry memorization, and dictation, and at the end of the workbook, they will work on writing. We are about half way through the workbook now, and I am very happy with my decision to use this curriculum.

We began using this 6 months ago to replace Sonlight's Language Arts. It is working beautifully. My 9 yr old son is learning so much grammar. He is diagramming sentences and memorizing poems. He enjoys memorizing the grammar rules. I love how all the lessons are very simple with promptings for the parent/teacher. It tells you exactly what to say to the student along with expected answers from the student. This product has made the Language Arts part of our home school so much more enjoyable. We use this along with Writing With Ease for a thorough Language Arts education. You need to buy the workbook for ease of use. I believe you can make your own student pages but why would you want to? The investment is well worth it!

I've used the last two levels in this series and I wish grammar was taught to me this way. It is simplified, thorough, repetitive and scripted. I mention scripted (and you obviously can explain the lesson any way you prefer) for those that may feel intimated teaching grammar for the first time (referring to homeschooling) or English is your second language. The lesson covers Comprehension, Parts of Speech and sentence structure, Narration, picture narration, dictation and sentence diagramming. I also bought the workbook and I'm glad I did! I almost didn't but the workbook because we had finished two levels without it, however, even during the last level I wished I had one.

I have just finished doing nine weeks of lesson planning for the fall when we start third grade using this book for our grammar lessons. We have already finished Level 2. I will say that when we finished Level 2 my seven year old son said, "Oh, I like that book." As if the book was a dieing favored pet. I love Level 2 with some modifications that I made to fit my son. Now, as to Level 3, the first thing that I do not like is the fact that I had to buy two books. You have to buy the student workbook since she references it up to 11 times per lesson. Level 2 does not require a workbook and that worked out perfect for us. I do not like having to purchase an entirely separate book and based on the first 9 weeks, other than having him follow along in the book, I will not be using the pages. My son works better if he can learn about grammar by writing on the board or spreading words out on the floor. The authors' approach is very monotonous as stated but other reviewers but you can make adjustments to fit your student. For instance, I do not have my son repeat a definition 5-10 times per lesson. If he can tell me the definition in his own words and put the rule to use then we move on until we review the concept, which is done weekly through grammar games that I make up. I love this series because it directs me in an organized fashion as to what he needs to know at his age and this alone makes the book worth the money. There are sample schedules at the back of the book that I use as a guide post but modify to fit his learning curve. It is a rigorous grammar program for his age but it is done in an easy step-by-step approach that does not make it overwhelming for him. She builds on the concepts over the 36 weeks and does frequent reviews of all the topics covered. He actually enjoys his grammar lessons and can easily tell you what all the parts of speech do, which none of his public school friends can do. I would highly recommend this book without reservations but be prepared to make adjustments as necessary since I do not know any child who would like repeating definitions everyday and the workbook to me is not that helpful (I would rather have him work on notebook paper if the concept requires it). Happy teaching!!

I love this curriculum; the way the lesson is presented and repeats itself it solidifies it on the child.

We began our students with FLLftWTM Levels one and two. They easily completed the oral presentation of information and memorization with occasional written work. Level 3 has been the perfect transition to putting this information to good use. We also use the coordinating Writing curriculum, however I find that the dictation and copy work of both is too much of a good thing for one day. We often skip one, just relying the writing practice in one or the other. I do recommend the workbook for this. It's not completely necessary, but makes for quick and easy, no-prep lessons. Love it.

We have homeschooled the last two years and this curriculum covers all the bases when it comes to language arts. It covers the parts of speech but also engages the mind in poetry, listening skills, copy work and more. We love it.

This is a great step by step grammar program. We have had trouble learning language arts to our daughter and she is doing really well using this program. Its clear and reviews things enough that the memorization comes naturally. Also, the materials are designed very simply, no busy graphics. For my kids, this works really well.