Language Arts Books

If you are teaching your children using Charlotte Mason’s methods and including narration, dictation and copy work, there is really no reason to use an additional spelling or handwriting program. With this in mind, I have not scheduled a full syllabus of language arts materials. 

Instead, I have listed some phonics/reading programs here, as well as some formal grammar programs. You may add any of these books to your weekly plan.

I recommend waiting to introduce formal grammar until at least Form 3, possibly Form 4. Before then, have your child copy beautiful sentences and paragraphs and read great books in order to soak up grammar. When you finally get to formal grammar lessons, you will simply be adding names to the things your child already knows and has experience with.

Phonics & Reading Programs

• All About Reading -schedule 2 or 3 lessons per week
• All About Spelling -schedule 4 lessons per week
• Delightful Reading -schedule 4 lessons per week
• The Good and the Beautiful -schedule 4 lessons per week
• Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons -schedule 4 lessons per week

Grammar

• First Language Lessons -schedule 4 lessons per week
• Fundamental Grammar -schedule 4 lessons per week (this lines up with the memory work)
• Life of Fred Language Arts -schedule 2 to 4 lessons per week
• Our Mother Tongue -schedule 2 lessons per week
• Logic of English -schedule 3 lessons per week

Handwriting

The only handwriting worksheets I recommend, besides copy work, are the Claritas Publishing handwriting sheets that line up with the memory work. Otherwise, I suggest having your children do copywork.