Grammar / English Language
(Three times weekly)
* Primary Language Lessons (PLL) by Emma Serl:
A gentle introduction to usage, basic grammar, and composition. From the original preface: “The object of this little volume is to lead children of the second and third grades into the habit or speaking and writing the English language correctly… the book introduces practice exercises to familiarize the pupils with correct forms. Beginning with simple, graduated exercises, they are continued till a general principle is inductively reached.”
We recommend the Hillside Education edition of PLL which retains the charm and grace of the original with some additions: color pictures, larger page size, updated poems, and a variety of new lessons. Page numbers reflect the Hillside edition.
Hillside Education has also made the Primary Language Lessons Answer Key and Teacher Guide available for free download. This gives some instruction for the teacher as well, for many lessons.
1A Year One:
- Term 1: Lessons 1-27, pp. 1-28
- Term 2: Lessons 28-55, pp. 29-53
- Term 3: Lessons 56-82, pp. 53-75
1A Year Two:
- Term 1: Lessons 83-108, pp. 75-95
- Term 2: Lessons 109-136, pp. 95-115
- Term 3: Lessons 137-164, pp. 116-138
Tips:
- It’s okay to start out slower than the scheduled 2-3 lessons a week. The book is scheduled over 2 years and many families move more quickly through the book the second year.
- Feel free to skip dictation lessons the first year, or use for copywork. We recommend dictation to start around age 8-9.
- Skip or adjust lessons as needed. This book is a tool.
- In the first year, you may choose to do some or all of the work orally rather than written, or the parent can write for the child.
Level 1A Year 1
Term 1
- A Picture Lesson – A Piper and a Pair of Nutcrackers
- For Copying and Dictation
- Is – Are
- Selection to Be Memorized – “If I Knew”
- Observation Lesson – Frost
- For Dictation
- Selection to Be Memorized – “A Secret”
- Copying Sentences
- For Dictation – The Clouds
- Reproduction – Oral – The Dog in the Manger
- A Picture Lesson – An Intense Study
- Observation Lesson – A Cat
- Composition
- Conversation Lesson – The Care of Pets
- Use of To – Too – Two
- Use of To – Too – Two
- Reproduction – Oral – The Lion and the Fox
- Selection to Be Memorized – “The Pasture”
- Correct Use of Was – Were
- Correct Use of Was – Were
- For Dictation and Oral Reproduction – Wheat
- Observation Lesson – Trees
- A Picture Lesson – Saved
- Correct Use of A – An
- Correct Use of A – An
- Days of the Week
- Composition – Oral and Written
Poems to recite this term from PLL:
If I Knew (PLL L4)
A Secret (PLL L 7)
Term 2
- L-28 Poem Memorization L-29 Copy, Use of When?
- L-30 Composition; L-31 Oral & Written; L-32 Dictation (can use for copywork or skip lesson.)
- L-33 Copy (Their-There); L-34, L-35 Dictation “The Cat and the Mice”
- L-36 Copy, Where?; L-37 Copy, Has – Have
- L-38 Picture Lesson; L-39 Composition
- L-41 Composition; L-42 Dictation, Seasons/ Months
- L-43 Copy, What Month; L-44 Copy, What Season
- L-45 Copy, See – Saw – Seen; L-46 Memorization Poem
- L-47 Composition /Repro; L-48 Copy, How?;, L-49 Copy Letter
- L-50 Letter Writing; L-51 Addressing Envelopes; L-52 Conversation
- L-53 Picture Lesson; L-54, & L-55 Dictation
- Exam or catch up week
Poems from PLL to recite this term:
The Pasture (PLL 18)
The Swing (PLL L 28)
Term 3:
- L-56 Copy, Why?; L-57 Memorization L-58 Write, The Comma
- L-59 Observation Lesson; L-60 Reproduction
- L-61 Copy, Capital Letters; L-62 Observation & Copy; L-63 Copy, Initials
- L-64 Read & Study; L-65 Observation Lesson & Copy
- L-66, L-67 Copy, Letter Writing, L-68 Memorization
- L-69 Reproduction – Oral; L-70 Copy & Dictation, Abbreviations
- L-71 Picture Lesson; L-72 Dictation
- L-73, L-74 Composition; L-75 Dictation, Dates;
- L-76 Observation Lesson; L-77 Copy, Eat – Ate – Eaten; L-78 Memorization Poem
- L-79 Dictation; L-80 Write, One and More than One
- L-81 Reproduction, L-82 Copy, One and More than One
- Exam or catch up week
Poems from PLL to recite this term:
The Brown Thrush (PLL 46)
Autumn Leaves (PLL 57)
The Journey (PLL 64)
Level 1A Year 2
Term 1
- Lessons 83-85
- Lessons 86-88
- Lessons 89-90
- Lessons 91-93
- Lessons 94-95
- Lessons 96-98
- Lessons 99-100
- Lessons 101-103
- Lessons 104-105
- Lessons 106-108
- Lessons 109-110
- Exams or catch up
Poems from PLL to recite this term:
The Wonderful World (PLL Lesson 91)
November (PLL Lesson 104)
Term 2
- Lessons 111-112
- Lessons 113-115
- Lessons 116-117
- Lessons 118-120
- Lessons 121-122
- Lessons 123-125
- Lessons 126-127
- Lessons 128-130
- Lessons 131-133
- Lessons 134-136
- Lessons 137-138
- Exams or catch up
Poems from PLL to recite this term:
He Prayeth Best (PLL Lesson 114)
The Bluebird (PLL Lesson 119)
Who Made the Stars? (PLL Lesson 125)
Discontent (PLL Lesson 131)
Term 3
- Lessons 139-140
- Lessons 141-143
- Lessons 144-145
- Lessons 146-148
- Lessons 149-150
- Lessons 151-153
- Lessons 154-155
- Lessons 156-158
- Lessons 159-160
- Lessons 161-162
- Lessons 163-164
Poems from PLL to recite this term:
The Violet (PLL Lesson 139)
A Boy’s Song (PLL Lesson 147)
The Sandman (PLL Lesson 157)
Columbia the Gem of the Ocean (PLL Lesson 164)
