HEWITT HOMESCHOOLING LIGHTNING LITERATURE GRADE 5 REVIEW || SECULAR HOMESCHOOL

[@vivachow6034]

I am finishing up with the readers for this level and I have to say, we love the selections very much! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

My son has been loving the books as well!

[@badkitty3169]

I was just told about Hewitt Language Arts. Thank u for the thorough walkthrough / review.

[@ProjectHappyHome]

You’re so welcome! I have reviews on several levels.

[@anydayblessings2354]

Your reviews are some of my favorites....and I've been eyeing this program for a bit. 👍

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Great to hear - thanks for the sweet words! We love it - it provides such a strong foundation.

[@sciencemama]

Love seeing the higher grades ... we are starting Grade 1 in the new year and I’m really excited!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

It's provided such a solid language arts core for us - I hope you enjoy it!

[@TheRbarron]

Gosh I would love this for my 5th grader, but I've already bought the Mosdos literature set that comes with the timberdoodle kit. I'll look at switching to this maybe later this year or next year. 🤔

[@sarahkyte7040]

Thank you so much for your review! I actually purchased Lightning Literature grade 4 based on your review. My son also does not like writing. We answer the comprehension questions verbally, but how do you encourage writing the weekly composition?

[@tonyameadows9042]

Nicely done. You always give the best curriculum overviews. You point out many details, which I am always interested in. I like the way this is laid out, the use of color, and it's consistency too. I like how they've incorporated all the Language Arts aspects together in one resource.

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Thanks, my sweet friend. It's been such a solid core curriculum for us.

[@HinterlifeHomeschool]

This was really helpful to see how everything is set out in this curriculum, thank you!

[@theselittlesprouts]

I have never heard of this curriculum before, it looks so fun and thorough! I love that it’s all through reading books! I may have to consider changing my mind on the language arts curriculum I chose for next year 😆 Thank you for such an awesome review and flip through it was extremely helpful!

[@annec.397]

I truly appreciate your reviews, I have made selections based on some your reviews and they are working out great for us. Thank you for sharing!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Glad you like them! It's so kind of you to share. :)

[@thewellsmama]

Great flip through, thank you!

[@kc8009]

I've noticed that my daughter (currently working through grade 4) doesn't retain the grammar concepts too well since they're so short. Can you recommend a supplement or a resource she can use to look up those concepts efficiently seeing as there aren't any page numbers associated with these lessons or index, dictionary etc. We have the Elementary usborne grammar dictionary.....it isn't good enough. Thanks for this review!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

We supplement with Evan Moor Daily Paragraph Editing and Shell Education's 180 Days of Language to reinforce grammar concepts. We also do regular copywork and pepper in Beowulf Grammar to reinforce the concepts that are taught in Lightning Literature.

[@Gojuninja]

I am trying to decide between Memoria Press & Lightning Literature high school courses. They have similar topics, if you have the opportunity to acquire Memoria Press’s high school classical literature and could compare, please do so!! 🥺 Thank you for all your wonderful videos!!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I haven’t started digging into the high school stuff too much yet, but I will try!

[@brandibelicek1795]

Thanks for the review. If we already have a composition program we like would this work for grammar and analysis without being confusing?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I think it would work. You can easily use the student workbook without ever addressing the composition assignments.

[@rrichards1210]

Great flip through. Can you tell me just how much of the grammar lesson are sentence diagramming, in level 5, but also in level 4. Thanks

[@ProjectHappyHome]

It's not very extensive - easy to skip, if sentence diagramming isn't your thing.

[@lkhawkins4482]

This looks fantastic! Thank you for this review.

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Thanks for watching!

[@athenainstitute8074]

I've watched this review over and over. I really like what you have to say. I'm having trouble finding a Language Arts curriculum that is comprehensive. Right now I'm using a separate grammar book, a separate spelling book, a separate writing book, you get the idea. It's too much! I would like to know how much of Language Arts you (personally) supplement. Do you add extra LA supplements? My daughter will go into 5th grade this fall and I'm worried about gaps in her LA curriculum. Are you still using this program? Anything you can tell me about your supplements will be a great help!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I do add in language supplements - mostly from Evan-Moor and Shell Education for daily grammar review. This is a mastery program, so I like to keep a spiral resource in rotation. For my 5th grader, we supplement with 180 Days of Language for 5th grade for spiral review, and I sprinkle in a slow course of IEW’s Structure and Style Level A. If you check out our language arts playlist, you can see more of the resources we use. 🙂

[@amberbayu6889]

We have decided to switch to Lightning Lit from MBTHP. I am curious what you use for writing? LL just doesn't have enough direction.

[@ProjectHappyHome]

We’ve used a mixture of curricula for diff kids, including MIchael Clay Thompson, IEW Structure and Style A, Essentials in Writing, and Writing with Skill I. All have been helpful in different ways. What grade level are you interested in?

[@amberbayu6889]

@@ProjectHappyHome 4th and 1st.

[@user-vg8ez9cu6u]

Can't wait for you to review LL6 & 7!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

Aw, thanks!

[@jessica97939]

I'm using 6 now with 2 of my kids. It is a major change from the elementary grades.

[@user-vg8ez9cu6u]

@@jessica97939 hmmm...how so?

[@jessica97939]

@@user-vg8ez9cu6u I feel like the elementary grades are a complete ELA program. The middle school grades need to be paired with something else. There are 10+ weeks where the only assignment is to read. My kids are going to finish off the 6th grade curriculum in ~6 weeks.

[@user-vg8ez9cu6u]

@@jessica97939 wow! Thank you for taking the time to share. Yes, definitely needs additional materials to beef it up.

[@AKiHope]

If we don't do all the books, or jump around, how would that work with the grammar? Does it "build" and so is it not possible to jump around? Thanks!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

The grammar does build, so I wouldn't recommend skipping around. However, the grammar pages are not dependent on the readings. Even if they draw from the readings for their example sentences, they do not require that the student have read the book in order to understand the grammar lesson. If you skip the book, you would only need to skip the reading comprehension questions. Hope that helped!

[@AKiHope]

@@ProjectHappyHome Thank you!

[@jessriffel]

Hi, for younger kids (using levels 1/2)do you pair this with explode the code? or what do you use for phonics? thanks!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

We use Explode the Code for everyone because I think it’s a great phonics/spelling start. But we generally start with Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and The Reading Lesson. And my youngest, who has struggled a bit with reading, is now learning with Logic of English Foundations B.

[@jessriffel]

Thanks for the info! Appreciate it! I think we will pair with explode the code too!

[@AKiHope]

Do you think a separate vocab program is necessary with this, such as Word Roots, or is LL sufficient for vocab?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I think a good word roots program is always helpful. This program doesn't specifically address vocabulary beyond language elements (key vocab in the reading, poetry terms, etc.).

[@AKiHope]

@@ProjectHappyHome Thank you!

[@lovetolearn6511]

I would love to use the books and curriculum as a supplement morning group lesson for my 3 kids ages 9 8 and 7 grades 2 4 and 5 do you think everyone doing the same level is feasible as read alouds fyi my 4th grader is dyslexic and is reading at a very low level I guess my question would be would the older boys be bored by starting everyone on level 2

[@ProjectHappyHome]

If you're curious about Grade 2, I have a flipthrough of that level as well. The books would be entertaining for different ages, but I'm not sure if the workbook would. It may be too elementary for the older kids.

[@Qetesh777]

I wonder if there is a way to do these books as a unit study with younger siblings? Or is the literature really meant to be read alone silently by the child ( omitting sensitive subjects of course, and lowering the standards for younger children)

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I think the book choices at this level are pretty advanced in terms of language and theme. I wouldn’t recommend using them with much younger kids. However, you could still create family-style historical unit studies around the time periods that the books cover.

[@MrsTricia778]

I'm trying to decide between 4th or 5th grade. My child is a little behind because she broke her hand, needed surgery and they wouldn't allow her to use it at all. So we couldnt even start our school year until the end of January. 😬 do you find you have too supplement anything with this?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

This is a very comprehensive grammar and reading program. I find the composition portion to be the weakest in terms of instruction. If you have a strong writer with good expository writing skills already, there is no need to supplement. However, if your student needs more step-by-step guidance, I'd consider supplementing with Writing with Skill or IEW's Structure and Style.

[@amandalotito1988]

Would you consider this to be a full combined curriculum for both reading and LA? Thank You!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

I think it can stand alone as a full LA curriculum IF you have a student who is very strong in LA. Personally, I like to complement the program with a separate writing curriculum and extra grammar practice.

[@playcolumbus2413]

What is the other writing curriculum that you use with this?​@@ProjectHappyHome

[@imperfectlyflourishing9434]

Is this something they can work on independently or are you involved daily working with them? Thanks!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

By the 5th grade level, most kids would probably be able to work through this material independently. The only parts I assist with are the literary discussions and the essay feedback. My son tackles the grammar entirely on his own.

[@aprillee6867]

How much time per day does the parent need to be involved in the lesson?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

It depends on the child and the day, but while I am reading aloud to the kids, it takes about 45-60 minutes. Once my kids start reading their books independently, about 20 minutes involvement from the parent.

[@littlelearnerandmom]

Thank you for a great review!!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

My pleasure!

[@shontaewilson569]

Does this curriculum include a list of spelling words?

[@ProjectHappyHome]

No, but what I like for that is Spelling Plus and Dr. Fry’s book.

[@MuslimHomeschoolersUnite]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

You’re so welcome!

[@nikandmeg]

Wow🤦‍♀️ How did I not know that about Roald Dahl. How disappointing!

[@ProjectHappyHome]

It is, right? I am still reading some of his books with the kids because I really value his unique writing and his views on child empowerment, but I plan to discuss the problematic nature of his personal views once my kids hit middle school.