AMDG+

Dear Parent;

Because the scope and sequence taught in today's classroom has far less emphasis on grammar, punctuation, and spelling than in years past, isn't homeschooling a blessing?  What a gift that you are giving to your children!

The Language of God series covers grades 2-8.  While formal grammar instruction doesn't traditionally begin until students are capable of writing sentences, even the first grade My Very First Catholic Speller introduces basic sentence construction and punctuation skills.

Certainly, with competing textbook companies throughout the United States, and varying standards set by individual teachers, English studies did and do vary somewhat from one school district to another, so it is difficult to make exact comparisons.  However, the student who begins with MVFCS and progresses through all the levels of Language of God, doing the suggested assignments from CHC's lesson plans, will have been exposed to standard grammar and writing skills that students were traditionally taught within that same time frame, thirty or forty years ago.

Years ago, in traditional elementary classrooms, writing skills that were taught in English class were then applied in other subjects, with the same teacher monitoring student work.  Thus, English was taught in virtually all classes.  [In modern schools, where social studies, for example, is often taught by a different teacher, spelling and grammar skills are generally not graded; only the social studies content is graded.]

Not unlike schools of years past, CHC's lesson plans include language arts assignments in other subjects besides English.  Armed with these lesson plans, the parent oversees all subjects and continues this practice of applying the skills taught in Language of God throughout language arts [spelling, reading, and writing] and several other subjects.

Dictionary skills are taught early in the Language of God and My Catholic Speller series. I don't think the Dewey Decimal System is covered at any of the Language of God levels; however, the system can easily be learned during happy, hands-on trips to the local library.

May our good Jesus bless and guide your homeschooling years,

Nancy Nicholson