Full Language Arts Curriculum in One Book! How I Use the McGuffeys

Hello Friends!
I am so pleased to share with you how I teach language arts using the McGuffey readers. This book has replaced ALL of our language arts curricula! Check out how!
Resources mentioned:
Link to my own DIY weekly schedule:
www.canva.com/...
Free Download Alpha Phonics cursive flash cards:
www.donpotter.n...
Free Download Alpha Phonics cursive handwriting program:
www.donpotter.n...
Free McGuffey Revised Readers download:
www.happyhomes...
www.gutenberg....
Land of Kakiak McGuffey Companion Notebook:
www.etsy.com/l...
Land of Kakiak McGuffey Readers Language Arts Scope and Sequence:
www.etsy.com/l...
Land of Kakiak Grammar Bookmarks:
www.etsy.com/l...
Verily Schoolhouse Grammar 1:
verilyschoolho...
Phonics Made Plain flash cards:
www.amazon.com...

[@MaryBarfield]

I’m so glad you and your daughter are thriving with the McGuffey readers! I agree with you that it’s so cohesive and not overly complicated which is why I think it works so well for our kiddos! Also we use our Bug Loupe 😂 (meant for when we are on our nature hikes) as our magnifying glass for our McGuffey picture studies! It works great, but I also would love to find one of those beautiful magnifying paperweights that I see other moms use! 🥰 maybe I’ll get lucky one day thrifting! 🤞

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Yes, so simple and practical🙌🏻 I heard that you can find that glass antique looking magnifying glass on Amazon. But a thrift find would be more fun🙃

[@gbcflower]

Those bookmarks are phenomenal!

[@ashleymurphy4813]

@@gbcflower right?!

[@Busybeeexplorers]

Love your video! We tried to use the McGuffeys but I needed more hand holding. I’m glad it’s working for you. Have you tried Land of Kakiak new companion notebook? It’s the updated version of it and already has the Copywork in the notebook, not to add to your resources 😂. We also love the ABCs and all their Tricks that go along with the flash cards. It’s helpful to help with the rules.

[@ashleymurphy4813]

@@Busybeeexplorers I have seen her new companion notebook!🙈 There is so much out there. I like that the Copywork is in there for sure. I will likely get that notebook for my son when he starts K next year. Love those flash cards so much!

[@jessicajones611]

Thanks for sharing. Would you be able to link the handwritten writing sheets. We used Alpha Phonics to teach ours to read and it worked amazingly. This is the same author. I didn’t know there was a handwriting accompaniment. We used the book and I got my kid write some of the words from that lesson, but this looks great.

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Hi! The cursive handwriting sheets are linked in the description box. We also got Alpha Phonics for my son and will start it soon! I’ve never used it before but I love the connection with all these things

[@jessicajones611]

⁠@@ashleymurphy4813thank you,

[@ThisHicksHouse]

It looks like you guys have a great rhythm for your language arts, if it were me I think I would put more emphasis on phonograms and their sounds and blending the words together and less emphasis on word flashcards. Being able to decode large words will come from knowing phonograms and their multiple sounds. But like I said, you guys have a great rhythm and if it’s working for you both, stick with it!

[@ashleymurphy4813]

@@ThisHicksHouse I’m not sure what you mean? She already knows how to blend the sounds of the words she is reading and if she doesn’t, we work on those phonics. This is why we take a week on each lesson, to be sure she can sound out, blend and read each word smoothly.

[@ThisHicksHouse]

@@ashleymurphy4813 Maybe I didn’t understand how you were using the word flashcards, I thought they were more of “sight word” cards. I love those phonogram cards, they’re very similar to Logic of English, only larger. I also love that you printed the reader. We have the original hard cover collection, but I’m always so worried my boys are going to spill or get them dirty.

[@ashleymurphy4813]

@@ThisHicksHouse oh ok, I don’t think I explained the flash cards well. Those words are either CVC or sight words she is already familiar with. If there are new words in the lesson, we would review those phonics before testing her memory or speed. And then I would review the word on a flash card for practice. Yes, love those Phonics Made Plain flash cards so much!

[@carolinenorthenor3634]

I’m saying this with all the love. Would you consider dropping all other subjects other than math just to focus on your daughter’s reading? you have an amazing selection of curriculums and are covering three times as much as we do, at that age anyway. we only teach math and reading until the child is an independent reader because being able to read is so helpful in all those other subjects. i just wonder if she’s a bit overwhelmed by the work load and there fore struggling in that area? i love your channel, love so many of the channels you mention and products your recommend etc ❤❤

[@ashleymurphy4813]

@@carolinenorthenor3634 thank you for your insight. The way I see it- I cannot do more than 15-20 mins of reading instruction with her bc it would burn her out. Therefore we have a school day that would only be 15-20 mins? Filling in our day with art, poetry, history and such is the fun stuff. The reading is not yet fun for her. If I were trying to have her read from each of our subjects, yes, that would be too much. I do hear you though. This is why I took out so much of the language arts curriculum and chose this much simpler method. ❤️

[@ashleymurphy4813]

I just realized maybe you are referring to the language arts components? Like perhaps I remove the spelling, grammar, dictation etc and just focus on reading? I think I am guilty of trying to stay at grade level but perhaps it is not necessary to teach grammar until she is reading. I appreciate any thoughts you have.

[@themodernhomemaker]

did you use AAR before? If so you should totally do a comparison video and why you choose McGuffeys.

[@ashleymurphy4813]

@@themodernhomemaker I’m currently using AAR with my son so I’ll do that!

[@themodernhomemaker]

How old is your daughter? Can you do a day lesson for us? I wanna start with my son and I have everything to start I guess I’m just wondering how it flows and if he’s too young? He’s 5.5 and knows all his letter sounds and is trying to build words on his own I just don’t wanna start too soon.

[@ashleymurphy4813]

@@themodernhomemaker my daughter is 7 (a young second grader as she turned 7 in July) but we only began reading instruction in 1st grade (letters and sounds). She is at the reading level of an early-mid first grader so a little behind. I think this is a fantastic reader for an early learner like yours- I don’t think it’s too difficult if he knows his sounds- but perhaps I would hold off on grammar and spelling lessons since he’s only 5. Just using the books to work on reading and phonics rules would be great I think! I will definitely consider doing a day of lesson video.

[@themodernhomemaker]

⁠@@ashleymurphy4813thank you much, do you also have a link to your schedule you made?

[@ashleymurphy4813]

@@themodernhomemaker I do! It’s linked in the description box

[@juanav9200]

Where is the link for the paper that was in your folder telling what each lesson is teaching? I also like your schedule since it looks simple to fallow can we have it as a download?

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Hi there, it’s linked in the description box under the language arts, scope and sequence

[@ashleymurphy4813]

Yes I can definitely make a link for my schedule! I will do that today and let you know

[@ashleymurphy4813]

I just added a link to the schedule I designed on Canva. I hope it works for you!