Includes the following:

 

• Instructional Video by Jill Pike
• The Four Language Arts MP3 Audio by Andrew Pudewa
• Nurturing Competent Communicators MP3 Audio by Andrew Pudewa
• Poetry as an Integrator MP3 Audio by Anna Ingham
• Intro to the Blended Sound Sight Program MP3 Audio by Anna Ingham
• Primary Arts of Language: Reading Student Book (e-book)
  (Would you rather have us print out your PAL student e-books for you? Click here)

Primary Arts of Language: Phonetic Farm folder with Stickers

Cost if purchased separately $98.00

Cost if purchased together as a bundle $69.00

                    PAL WRITING

The PAL Writing Program (description in red from the website) consists of:
                    
 
The writing portion of Primary Arts of Language, which is divided into three parts: printing, copy work, and composition, should be used concurrently with the reading portion unless your child is already reading. Then you can use these lessons independently. Spelling is included throughout the course.

The printing section provides an entire handwriting program to teach your student how to correctly form his letters—he will learn his letter sounds as he learns to write them. The copy work exercises will make printing automatic in preparation for the composition lessons, which will gently teach your student to write stories and paragraphs with style.

This package includes:

Includes the following:

• Instructional Video by Jill Pike
• Reading Comprehension MP3 Audio by Adam Andrews
• Dictation, Narration, and Public Speaking MP3 Audio by Andrew Pudewa
• The Four Language Arts MP3 Audio by Andrew Pudewa
• Primary Arts of Language: Writing Student Books (e-book)
  (Would you rather have us print out your PAL student e-books for you? Click here)

• Units 1 & 2 in the K–2 Classroom MP3 Audio by Shirley George
• Unit 3 in the K–2 Classroom MP3 Audio by Shirley George
• Preparing the K-2 Writing Environment MP3 Audio by Richelle Palmer

Cost if purchased separately $113

Cost if purchased together as a bundle $89

 How We Are Using PAL Reading and Writing

I was a bit overwhelmed (in a good way) when it first arrived.  Whew!  There is a huge bundle of material with this program!  But that is a good thing!  The first thing to do is to sit down and view the DVD-Roms that come with the program and the online webinars.  While watching and listening to these, you can thumb through the teachers manual and get familiar with the layout.  Thank goodness for such a well written teachers manual.  It is easy to follow.  This gave me a basic understanding of how to put this program in action in our home. Then as we go along, we will be able to tweak and adapt the program to fit the needs for our family.

There are 80 lessons in the PAL Reading program.  A typical day at our house using the PAL Reading program involves:
        Reading a poem together (poem is provided).
        Finding and pointing out certain words in the poem.
        Writing in a class journal (if you are also working through the writing program at 
            the same time, you will also work on stories and writing assignments at this 
            time).
        Learning Games  (1 to 4 games, varies each day).
        Phonetic Farm (adding stickers as we learn sounds).
        Student workbook page.
        End of day review (phonetic farm folder, reading practice, games, and 
            informal spelling test review).

As we work further into the program, some things in the daily list will change.  For example, we will add a library reading log and books to read.  Games get more challenging as we progress.  Vocabulary and spelling words will also get more challenging and we will add in the PAL Writing portion of the program that includes using the ALL About Spelling curriculum.

To get ready for our studies, I prepared a couple of lessons for a week at a time. There is some prep work involved, but nothing too complicated.  Everything (worksheets, games, etc.) is provided, and just needs cut out, and assembled or organized for each lesson. Some items get glued too. For example to make file folder games, you glue the provided pages onto file folders, etc. 
 

My kids are loving the learning games. This is their favorite part of reinforcing what they are learning. The games are “hands on” and fun. So far, their favorite is feeding “Mugs” his sound bones. They say the sound of the letter on each bone as they feed the dog.  The bones contain the lower case letters of the alphabet and some sound combination with two letters at the same time.

This has been a great addition to our homeschool learning.  I am using the program with my 7 1/2 year old son, and my 5 1/2 year old daughter.  I am glad they can work through this together.   

I am also including the 3 1/2 year old in some parts of the program that he is ready for too.  He is an active observer and is picking up on things as he watches,  and he listens to the others and repeats what they are doing.

We are taking it slow.  We started with PAL Reading, and we will progress into PAL Writing.  In PAL Writing we will also learn with All About Spelling which I am so excited about.  It comes with an interactive kit for the kids to work “hands on” with spelling too. But it will be a little while yet before we start that part of the program.

I love that this program assist the teacher in teaching.  It is so well explained and easy to follow the method laid out.  Someone with no teaching background could easily implement this program successfully.

This is an excellent program and I would encourage homeschool families to check into using this curriculum, and check out other programs for older students through the Institute for Excellence in Writing.

Please stop into the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog to hear what others have to say about this product.

 
Disclaimer: As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a copy of the products mentioned above in exchange for writing an honest review.  All opinions expressed are my personal opinion.