DO A LESSON WITH US ~ DOES SHE LIKE LANGUAGE ARTS? HONEST THOUGHTS & REVIEW OF TGTB LA LEVEL 2

[@SummerMeyers]

TGTB use to send out cards with the harder words to practice, which meant if you nailed the first 9 and then struggled with 10, you kept 10 in the rotation until you got it. I liked that system a lot better, but it did mean you had to mess with extra manipulatives and it is really nice to have it all in one book. Your daughter is so cute! This was a perfect walk through of Level 2!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Yes I like things all in one book for ease and simplicity!

[@SummerMeyers]

Love how you adapt the lesson as you go--getting rid of redundant work and seeing what she needs versus what she is already doing great. TGTB REALLY loves their homophones! hahaha! Those don't go away. We see that in our current Level 1, Level 3, and Level 5. 🤦‍♀ My kids haven't complained and I've noticed it has helped in their spelling work, so we'll keep doing them.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

She doesn’t mind them but I could definitely see them being tiresome!

[@SDaulton]

Thank you both! These videos are so helpful when trying to decide on curriculum!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Yay! Glad they’re helpful to you!

[@lifewithginab]

She did so well!!! Loved watching. English is so hard... "care" she is so right... lol good job on her sight word ladders! Not even half way through thr course and she is almost done! Great job! ❤

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

She loves the sight word ladders because they really boost her confidence ☺️

[@lifewithginab]

My son would get a long with your daughter! I love her energy! She's adorable!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Lol she’s definitely a character for sure!

[@acornfur]

Your girls are so sweet Lauren!! ❤️ Thanks for the video! I laughed out loud when you mentioned dictation and then....crickets chirping....that is my daughter as well! Your videos are so encouraging and I love your humor! Fyi our switch off doing some Abeka and some TGTB has been a really good thing for us!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

I’m glad you guys are doing well with your mix of Abeka and TGTB! Love to hear that! She usually doesn’t mind the dictation but that day…yes just all kinds of crickets 🤦🏻‍♀️ lol

[@margiedenavarre7919]

Thank you for showing Lexi even if she didn't look too enthused. I know my son would have had the same attitude. Either that or be bouncing off the walls and going upside down. This is real life.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

❤️❤️❤️

[@lexieamann]

We will be also be doing level 2 next at 8 years old! I love how we can go back and master what we're not ready for until we can go. She is nor ready for level 3.

[@stephandlife43]

This was great to watch. Your daughter is so sweet; reminds me of my little girl (she turned 9 in December).

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Thank you! And thanks so much for watching ☺️

[@RockSimmer-gal4God]

I love how TGTB teaches phonics!!! We don’t do reading during school unless it’s called for. We love homophones but we do our own spellings!!! We do the answers orally!!!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

That’s what we do for spelling too…she takes her tests on Friday orally. It definitely helps ease test anxiety

[@Amber-oy4ms]

Thanks so much for this video. I just purchased this for my almost 8 year old and this was the first review I've seen where we get to see a kiddo working through the lesson. This was really cool!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

So glad it was helpful! Best of luck with it ☺️

[@SummerMeyers]

Great video Lauren! Almost to 1000!! 🙌🙌

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Thanks so much for all the support Summer! It’s a blessing ❤️

[@lifewithginab]

Nicholas loves the homophone independent work. I really like it too. But great advice... don't like something ... cross it off! ✌

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Definitely!!

[@aimeejohannes6713]

Thanks for the video! I’ve been waiting to see how you all like TGTB compared to ABeka for grade 2. Im torn between the two for next year!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Thanks for watching Aimee! She prefers this one to Abeka because she only has to do one page of independent work and Abeka she had to do two. But my oldest like Abeka better than TGTB level 2 because she didn’t love the fluff. She just wanted to do the lesson and move on. So I think it depends on the child honestly!

[@carinaamaral4662]

I’m not a fan of Abeka honestly! I find it way advanced and won’t go back ! It was grade 2… going to try good and …🙏

[@SevenInAll]

The picture studies are one thing I really appreciate about TGTB Language Arts. One of my great joys has always been coming up with interesting example sentences when I'm giving spelling tests, haha!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

I enjoy them too! My kids…depends on the day! For the spelling word sentences lol 🙈 sometimes I’ll choose one word (like ball or dirt) and make every sentence based around that one word…my girls really like it and think it’s funny that I base 15 sentences off one word

[@kb8990]

Good walk through. We are on this level currently and I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this book. I have 100% faith in it for phonics and I personally love the homophone practice. But I feel like the actual reading and writing just isn’t enough. (They tell the kids to “summarize” what they’ve read without actually teaching how to summarize well.) I was a LA teacher, so I have some things up my sleeve that I know to say, but I think this is something the average person might look at and be like, “So what should I expect them to say?” I go back and forth on TGATB all the time. We will definitely use IEW in the future, but it’s a bit of a question mark as to whether we will use the Level 3 sitting in our closet. :p

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

That makes total sense! I see where you’re coming from…you make a great point! At the point in time I’m not super worried about writing but during the later years, I’m certainly looking for a strong and well laid out writing curriculum (thinking of IEW too!)

[@cynthiacarr4252]

Thank you, Alexia.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

❤️❤️

[@cherylgorzkowski4119]

She did great! Can you share what books she reads on her own for fun?

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

As Charlotte Mason would say “twaddle” lol but I would rather her read than not. So mostly fantasy stuff like unicorns and mermaid adventures

[@worldofweeze]

She did so good!! 💜

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Thank you! It’s great to see her hard work paying off!

[@MW11-3]

We agree with you guys about the readers. The stories have good morals but my boys find them quite boring (levels 2-6). But that’s ok, I just let them choose their books for their independent reading time. It builds character to read something you don’t particularly enjoy but need to learn from 🤣

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Exactly! That’s how I feel about it!

[@kimberlygoudzwaard2811]

You mentioned you still use Abeka spelling- do you feel like their spelling is stronger than TGTB? I’m still debating LA for next year and trying to decide spelling. I was also looking at Evan moor (but going up a grade).

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

I’m not sure about stronger, just different. It’s very traditional. A new list every week and definitely more words per week. She has always been happy with her spelling and wasn’t interested in changing it so if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! But I really like Evan Moor too, very comparable to Abeka (but I’d say a full grade below, so yes go up a grade if they’re a decent speller). TGTB you are doing the same 6 or so words for several weeks. I could see it working for some kids, but other kids getting bored of the same words for that long.

[@trainupachildhomeschooling6493]

Thank you for this video and also for the one comparing TGTB with Abeka. They have been VERY helpful to me. I had some doubts on TGTB on not being enough but I can see that's far from true. there is PLENTY of review on phonics and grammar and spelling. I love the fact how they put all these subjects into one so I dont need separate books to cover these subjects. My daughter is 7 but is probably reading at a second grade level, she is an awesome reader. She starts second grade this summer. So I know this program will be enough for her. When she took the placement test for their discontinued language arts she was at a level 2, I wonder if with the new edition she would be a level 3? Who knows. Ill have to test her again when the new edition comes out. I also love the art appreciation! Thank you again for the great videos! _Cathy

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

So glad they’re helpful!! And yes, definitely make sure she takes the assessment. I’m not sure I’d skip an entire level because you don’t want to miss any foundational principles. I know a lot of moms will have their child go through the level at a quicker rate and then move to the next level when their kids seem to be advanced

[@trainupachildhomeschooling6493]

@@thepracticalhomeschooler I did have her take the new assessment and she passed the level 2 and level 3. They recommended i put her in level 2 and not do the readers or word cards but thats like the most important part! And the new level 3 is not out until next year. so I bought the discontinued level 2 readers (used) and I am printing the discontinued level 2 course book since it is more at her current level.

[@trainupachildhomeschooling6493]

@@thepracticalhomeschooler after I printed the whole TGTB level 2 my daughter decides to just skim thru it and she just kept telling mom this is so easy! and then I had her read the last chapter in the reader, well she read it with ease! and also the sight word ladder well she knew already every word. so turns out this was not challenging enough for her at all. so we went with abeka grade 2 language arts.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@trainupachildhomeschooling6493 o ok! Hopefully that it’s a good fit for her!

[@brookelashaynix6427]

I noticed you said she doesn’t do the spelling words from the Good and the Beautiful. Is there spelling word system not good ?

[@innahappy30]

How old was your daughter on that video? She’s a great reader!

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

She was 8

[@thegoldenfarmhouse4553]

She did amazing! Such a strong reader. My 2nd graders are struggling to read. Any tips? And I love how you have the readers on the tablet, how do we get them on the tablet? I bought the reader this year but I have twins so they are constantly waiting on each other.

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

The readers are free to download on their website. You have to enter your email for whatever level you are on, then they will give you access to the entire course for free. As far as reading, just have them take their time. Reading comes at all different paces and some pick up faster than others. I used Abeka for her K and 1st grade years and I can’t ignore the fact that it had something to do with it. (Again, it worked for her but might not for everyone else). I have a video showing what I used to teach her to read.

[@thegoldenfarmhouse4553]

@@thepracticalhomeschooler thank you so much for the reply on both videos.. I had no idea I could download them. And good to know math is on grade level. We ordered the level 2 so we plan on working with it the 2nd part of this year. They love math and hate to read so I can't help but think that has a lot to do with it to.

[@JaniceCrowell]

O you know if the reading cards come with pdf free download?

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Yes they do

[@JaniceCrowell]

Thanks!

[@elizabeth0265]

My daughter did Abeka 2 but this year we are looking into TGATB. She tested into their level 2. What would you do? Should I have her repeat 2nd grade?

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

How did she do with Abeka? If she did ok with Abeka, I can’t imagine she’d need to repeat level 2 of TGTB. It does teach a tad bit more grammar compared to Abeka level 2, but overall, it’s much more gentle than Abeka. I think if she can read well, the other stuff will fall in place. Unless she really did terrible with Abeka, and you feel she needs to repeat then go for it. My youngest technically didn’t “test” into level 1 on the assessment (she was close but not quite), but I went ahead with it anyway and she’s doing just fine. Was she close to passing the assessment? Lastly, you can always download the level (or even look at the samples) on TGTB….maybe the first 20-30 lessons of level 3. Does it seem like she would flow right along into them ok? Does the end of level 2 seem like it’s way too advanced for her now? You could always print out some info from level 2 and work on it over the summer and then go into level 3.

[@elizabeth0265]

@@thepracticalhomeschooler She did the videos for phonics and did very well but the reading and spelling was a bit to advanced for her. Reading was a struggle and she is not even halfway through the readers. If I could do it over again I would have went with the first grade level in Abeka as they are advanced. Thank you for the advice! I didn't think about looking at the level 3. I believe the new level 3 comes out this summer so maybe it is more grade level🤷‍♀️ Not sure if the placement test for level 3 will change

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

@@elizabeth0265 yes maybe wait until you see the new level 3 to see. And maybe if you do level two you can go through at a quicker pace

[@lifewithginab]

Yeah my son loves math too. It's his fav subject. Language Arts is his least favorite lol

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

Yay for math lovers! 🥳 I love when kids love math!

[@jennavalentine8601]

How long does it typically take to do a level 2 LA lesson?

[@thepracticalhomeschooler]

It really depends on the lesson, but typically like 15-20 minutes including her independent work.