Poetry memorization hasn’t been much of a problem for us, and we have really enjoyed working through the selections in Levels 1 & 2 of First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind. Less enjoyable, but still easily accomplished were the parts of speech definitions. We have, however, been hitting quite a roadblock with the memorization lists for pronouns, state of being and helping verbs, conjunctions, articles and prepositions. Oh, the prepositions! There is nothing fun about these lists!
I can’t believe we have gotten this far in the program and I am just now taking the plastic off the Audio Companion CD and putting it in the CD player! I bought the older, combined Level 1 &2 edition used for $5 a few years ago, and the lady I bought it from also threw in the CD, and she hadn’t used it either. And it turns out it’s really good! It may be late in the game, but we are going to be using it from now on. Even the 4 year old was starting to recite the prepositions at odd times during the day, and I’ve also caught myself singing “These are the prepositions we sing about!” while I’m puttering away in the kitchen. The guitar and lyrics by Mike Smith are really enjoyable, and surprisingly not annoying!
Here are the memorization lists I prepared for Big Sister’s grammar notebook, to follow along with the chants and songs on the CD:
You may also find my Parts of Speech Prints useful, as well as the Poem Printables available from Homeschool Creations.
What have your children found the most challenging to memorize? Are you seeing the benefits of memory work for your students?
I used First Language Lessons Level 1 with my first grader this year. I really liked it! I think it’s a really nice gentle way to begin grammar. We will be continuing with Level 2 this Fall when my daughter starts 2nd grade. I did not know there was a CD that you can get to go with it though! I’ll have to check that out! And thanks for sharing the printables. 🙂
I’ve had the CD for almost 3 years and I never even bothered to pop it in the player! Peace Hill Press also sells it as an mp3 download. After a week of using it, I think my 4 year old can recite all the state of being verbs and prepositions. Now if I can only teach her to read…..
Thanks for stopping by!
Memorizing these grammar rules early help later during grammar! My kids still remember and easily recite the grammar rules they learned in First Language Lessons.
I wasn’t really into memorizing these lists until I heard that it will make a big difference later on. We are pretty “relaxed” with our classical education here, and memorization is the area we are most neglectful. If it isn’t beautiful or useful, I skip it!
Thank you so much for creating these lists and sharing them for others to use!
You’re welcome 🙂
Any advice for children who struggle with memory work? My older daughter is not good at it, and I tend to not force it because that kind of pressure does not a love for learning make. Is the CD lighthearted and fun for that? We already use songs for Bible verse memorization and hymn learning which, for the way I must limit memory work for her, takes precedence over academics in the number of songs I am willing to require. I bought FLL to try and am wondering g if the CD would help a memory work struggler.
The CD was a great help with memorization in my experience. Music is the secret sauce of memorization! The songs on the CDs are pretty catchy and not annoying (bonus points). One of my children actually learned all the lists for parts of speech when she was 3-4 just by listening along with her older sister.
Yay, thanks for these! Also we’ve been using the CD for the stories and poems, but I didn’t realize the parts of speech chants/poems were at the end! We’ve been listening to “Pronouns” this morning and it’s helped already.
That CD made me realize that my kids can memorize just about anything if it’s set to a catchy tune 🙂