Thank you 🙏 for recommending this curriculum. We did British Literature and Shakespeare this school year, with some twists, and it was amazing!!!! My kids finally learn about literary devices. Wonderful resource. We are getting American Literature for next school year. 🙏🌸
My daughter used grade 3 last year and is using grade 4 this year. My son will be starting grade 2 next school year! Always appreciate your reviews and flip throughs.
I am currently using this with my daughter. I chose it after watching your first grade review along with my own research. So far it is working well for her.
Why have I never heard of this one?? And I think you said you did a level 5 review??! Going to check as soon as I finish this. I am naturally already wondering if it’s too much to fit in on top of bookshark and TGTB, aha! Speaking of, I know you don’t really do day in the life videos of your homeschooling, but I can’t recall if you update how you lay out your day - what you generally DO accomplish and your approach to the schedule?
Thank you for the great review! I’ve been thinking about it but I was not sure of all the details. This is definitely what we will be using! Now I’m not sure to get grade 2 or grade 3.
If you have a strong reader, I’d go with grade level, but if your child is a bit less confident/ready, try the lower level and just speed up if it is too easy.
Hi! I've been watching your reviews for the Hewitt Lightning Literature and I think it would be a great fit for my kiddos. You mentioned that you use it alongside Build your Library and Torchlight. I'm curious as to how you do that? We've already started the year with some books that I purchased for Language Arts and Grammar, but I feel like we need a little more. I just don't want to over do it, ha! If you have a video on that I would love to watch! Thanks for all you do!
We ended up abandoning the TL schedule and using the books as supplements that year. I def bit off more rHan we could chew, particularly in a year where we moved. At this point, I’m probably going to build off of BYL every year.
I really like the looks of this - is the child supposed to read the picture book and the chapter book? It sounded like it was up to the teacher, but I am wondering what the curriculum intends. Thanks for another great review - I love your flip through videos!
The curriculum leaves it open to you to decide. Right now my 7 year old is reading the picture book on her own and using audiobooks to accompany her reading of the longer chapter book.
Please name the two books in Lightning Lit 1 that you found insensitive. I would like to avoid them as well and have alternatives prepared ahead of time. Thanks!
@@ProjectHappyHome btw, I would LOVE to see you do a video where you talk about this sort of thing in books or materials you were planning to use and how you make adjustments or evaluate whether a text is problematic. I have not seen any other youtuber do that, yet. Would be very helpful!
You mentioned that your daughter is sort of “hybrid” 2nd/3rd. Do you have a video explaining how you do this? If my daughter stays with us for homeschool next year, I feel like this is what she will need. She’s technically in 1st but in math she’s already finished all grade 2 material while she struggles a lot more with writing. As a new homeschooler this year (also former lawyer), I really appreciate all your videos. Thank you!
When I say she's a "hybrid 2/3 grader," I mean that she is at the 2nd grade level for language arts, but the 3rd grade level for math/science. I simply use whatever materials fit her level of study, regardless of age or technical grade level. :)
@ProjectHappyHome are you able to purchase your own reading books or does it have to come all together once purchased? (I like buying hardback versions)
Hi thank you for these videos! Do you think the daily worksheets are enough or do you add to it ? If one wanted to two days in one, does it throw things off ?
Not at all! I generally kept the schedule loose - in the early years especially. The worksheets for grades 1-3 are very simple, so it’s easy to do a few at a time. And I did supplement with other grammar workbooks for interleaved practice - mostly from Evan Moor and Well Trained Mind (and, later, Beowulf Grammar).
My youngest has a touch of dyslexia-like features, and we’re having an entirely unique reading experience with her. We’ve been having good progress with Logic of English Foundations.
I went on their website and couldn’t find the readers for the books they would read for the year. Can you please a link for those for 2nd grade and 3rd?
I mention all the books early in the video on the Table of Contents page, but if you scroll down on the following Student Workbook webpages, you will see the list of readers. Hope these help! hewittlearning.org/product/lightning-lit-gr-2-student-workbook/ hewittlearning.org/product/lightning-lit-gr-3-student-workbook/
I have a 7year old who struggles with learning to read. We are currently working through LOE Foundations B. Do you think grade 1 of lighting literature would pair well with LOE or at least for a child who isnt at reading level yet? Thanks!
It depends on how you split the lessons. We don’t do them as prescribed. We generally read the book on the first day, discuss, and prep for the composition assignment. The second and third days, we complete the grammar and continue to discuss the book. The fourth and fifth days, we complete the writing assignment. I would say we spend about 45 min on it per day.
@@ProjectHappyHome I’m curious to know how much time you spend on ELA per day if LL takes about 45 minutes. We are doing LL grade 2 and supplementing with other curricula but I’m finding the majority of our homeschool day is spent on ELA. I’m struggling to keep the right balance.
Love your Channel and These awesome reviews. I’m considering using this for next year with my oldest but we have read Winnie the Pooh so many times already. Do you have any substitution ideas that might work well with this curriculum?
Actually, the Winnie the Pooh reader doesn’t figure prominently in the lessons/grammar/comp, so you could prob substitute almost any reader appropriate to your child’s reading level.
And the books are on grade level for independent reading if you child is a strong reader. For example, my eldest child is a very strong reader and does his grade level, but my middle child is a bit more anxious about reading big books, so she does a grade level below her math level.
I don’t know how to use the Pooh bear book. I’m a little confused about that. I read through the first lesson, maybe I need to read through to the second to know what to do about it? I found almost all books at the library!
I’m still figuring out that part myself! We just started this Year 2 level and I’m a bit confused as well. For the first weeks, it seems that it is simply an additional reader with some oral narration questions.
I like school a lot, lol. I was a pathologist, then a medical science teacher, and then an intellectual property attorney. I gradually transitioned out of law over the last few years as my homeschooling mom career ramped up. It's been an adventure!
Would you say lightning literature is a comprehensive language arts program that doesn’t need any supplements if not what areas do you supplement? Phonics?
I would say it is a comprehensive program for reading, reading comprehension, and grammar. While it does have a composition component, I supplement that with other programs. We also add in other grammar resources for review, such as Evan Moor, Michael Clay Thompson, Beowulf Grammar, and 180 Days of Language (depending on grade level of kids, supplements vary).
@@ProjectHappyHome I just stumbled across this review, and noticed how you also have plans to begin Beowulf (which we also do). Is it too much for both? Are they truly not overlapping?
I think it depends on your style of homeschool and each individual child. We supplement, but I think it could easily stand alone if you like less seat work. I think the curriculum is stronger in grammar and literary analysis than it is on writing instruction.
This is a reading, writing, and grammar curriculum, but I do supplement with other resources. If you check my grade level playlists or my language arts playlist, you will be able to see what I use. ☺️
Yes and no. Great alone if your child absorbs grammar easily (there is built in review, but it is not extensive). We supplement grammar with Evan Moor and Shell Education workbooks.
You know, I have the Arrows for the first time this year but we haven’t incorporated them yet. @Arleneandco on Instagram has several flipthrough videos of Bravewriter - maybe that could help?
I think it’s pretty on target for the grammar and reading comp, but the writing assignments are not scaffolded well unless you have a confident writer.
Thank you 🙏 for recommending this curriculum. We did British Literature and Shakespeare this school year, with some twists, and it was amazing!!!! My kids finally learn about literary devices. Wonderful resource. We are getting American Literature for next school year. 🙏🌸
My daughter used grade 3 last year and is using grade 4 this year. My son will be starting grade 2 next school year! Always appreciate your reviews and flip throughs.
Thanks! 😊
I am currently using this with my daughter. I chose it after watching your first grade review along with my own research. So far it is working well for her.
So glad to hear it!
Why have I never heard of this one?? And I think you said you did a level 5 review??! Going to check as soon as I finish this. I am naturally already wondering if it’s too much to fit in on top of bookshark and TGTB, aha! Speaking of, I know you don’t really do day in the life videos of your homeschooling, but I can’t recall if you update how you lay out your day - what you generally DO accomplish and your approach to the schedule?
I should do a video on this. 😊 And level 5 is posting next week!
Thank you for the great review! I’ve been thinking about it but I was not sure of all the details. This is definitely what we will be using! Now I’m not sure to get grade 2 or grade 3.
If you have a strong reader, I’d go with grade level, but if your child is a bit less confident/ready, try the lower level and just speed up if it is too easy.
This is on my list of ideas for next school year for my son.
Great flip through! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Hi! I've been watching your reviews for the Hewitt Lightning Literature and I think it would be a great fit for my kiddos. You mentioned that you use it alongside Build your Library and Torchlight. I'm curious as to how you do that? We've already started the year with some books that I purchased for Language Arts and Grammar, but I feel like we need a little more. I just don't want to over do it, ha! If you have a video on that I would love to watch! Thanks for all you do!
We ended up abandoning the TL schedule and using the books as supplements that year. I def bit off more rHan we could chew, particularly in a year where we moved. At this point, I’m probably going to build off of BYL every year.
Thank you 🙏🏾
Thank you for this! I had never heard of this curriculum and now I'm sold!
We’ve really enjoyed the younger levels - the middle school levels are being redone, but they’re currently not as secular as I’d like.
I really like the looks of this - is the child supposed to read the picture book and the chapter book? It sounded like it was up to the teacher, but I am wondering what the curriculum intends. Thanks for another great review - I love your flip through videos!
The curriculum leaves it open to you to decide. Right now my 7 year old is reading the picture book on her own and using audiobooks to accompany her reading of the longer chapter book.
Please name the two books in Lightning Lit 1 that you found insensitive. I would like to avoid them as well and have alternatives prepared ahead of time. Thanks!
Tikki Tikki Tembo was one, and Babar the King was the other. The first was def more of a problem for me.
@@ProjectHappyHome thank you for the heads up.
@@ProjectHappyHome btw, I would LOVE to see you do a video where you talk about this sort of thing in books or materials you were planning to use and how you make adjustments or evaluate whether a text is problematic. I have not seen any other youtuber do that, yet. Would be very helpful!
@project happy home
What books did you choose if you didn’t do those?
You mentioned that your daughter is sort of “hybrid” 2nd/3rd. Do you have a video explaining how you do this? If my daughter stays with us for homeschool next year, I feel like this is what she will need. She’s technically in 1st but in math she’s already finished all grade 2 material while she struggles a lot more with writing. As a new homeschooler this year (also former lawyer), I really appreciate all your videos. Thank you!
When I say she's a "hybrid 2/3 grader," I mean that she is at the 2nd grade level for language arts, but the 3rd grade level for math/science. I simply use whatever materials fit her level of study, regardless of age or technical grade level. :)
Great review! I think next year is the year that I'm going to try this with my rising 2nd grader.
It’s really worked for us. But I supplement the writing component for my 5th grader with IEW’s new SSA program.
@ProjectHappyHome are you able to purchase your own reading books or does it have to come all together once purchased? (I like buying hardback versions)
Hi thank you for these videos! Do you think the daily worksheets are enough or do you add to it ?
If one wanted to two days in one, does it throw things off ?
Not at all! I generally kept the schedule loose - in the early years especially. The worksheets for grades 1-3 are very simple, so it’s easy to do a few at a time. And I did supplement with other grammar workbooks for interleaved practice - mostly from Evan Moor and Well Trained Mind (and, later, Beowulf Grammar).
Great tips on your channel , working with asd and possibly dyslexia.
My youngest has a touch of dyslexia-like features, and we’re having an entirely unique reading experience with her. We’ve been having good progress with Logic of English Foundations.
I went on their website and couldn’t find the readers for the books they would read for the year. Can you please a link for those for 2nd grade and 3rd?
I mention all the books early in the video on the Table of Contents page, but if you scroll down on the following Student Workbook webpages, you will see the list of readers. Hope these help! hewittlearning.org/product/lightning-lit-gr-2-student-workbook/
hewittlearning.org/product/lightning-lit-gr-3-student-workbook/
I have a 7year old who struggles with learning to read. We are currently working through LOE Foundations B. Do you think grade 1 of lighting literature would pair well with LOE or at least for a child who isnt at reading level yet? Thanks!
Yes, absolutely! LL1 is so easy to read aloud (to the student or in tandem) and the worksheets are written very simply.
Thank you for your review, how long does each lesson take a day??
It depends on how you split the lessons. We don’t do them as prescribed. We generally read the book on the first day, discuss, and prep for the composition assignment. The second and third days, we complete the grammar and continue to discuss the book. The fourth and fifth days, we complete the writing assignment. I would say we spend about 45 min on it per day.
@@ProjectHappyHome I’m curious to know how much time you spend on ELA per day if LL takes about 45 minutes. We are doing LL grade 2 and supplementing with other curricula but I’m finding the majority of our homeschool day is spent on ELA. I’m struggling to keep the right balance.
Love your Channel and These awesome reviews. I’m considering using this for next year with my oldest but we have read Winnie the Pooh so many times already. Do you have any substitution ideas that might work well with this curriculum?
Actually, the Winnie the Pooh reader doesn’t figure prominently in the lessons/grammar/comp, so you could prob substitute almost any reader appropriate to your child’s reading level.
Where do you purchase your books from? Are the suggested books on grade level for the average second grade student to read independently?
I purchase most of my books from thrift stores, ThriftBooks online, and Bookstore.org online.
And the books are on grade level for independent reading if you child is a strong reader. For example, my eldest child is a very strong reader and does his grade level, but my middle child is a bit more anxious about reading big books, so she does a grade level below her math level.
So helpful. Loving the wrist candy!❤️
Glad it was helpful!
I don’t know how to use the Pooh bear book. I’m a little confused about that. I read through the first lesson, maybe I need to read through to the second to know what to do about it?
I found almost all books at the library!
I just watched your whole video and realized I missed the Winnie the Pooh section completely! Thank you for this review!!! 😍😍
I’m still figuring out that part myself! We just started this Year 2 level and I’m a bit confused as well. For the first weeks, it seems that it is simply an additional reader with some oral narration questions.
Thanks for this review!
Thank you!!!! This helped me so much!!
i havent heard the story will you talk about your past professions you mention it in every video and im curious
I like school a lot, lol. I was a pathologist, then a medical science teacher, and then an intellectual property attorney. I gradually transitioned out of law over the last few years as my homeschooling mom career ramped up. It's been an adventure!
Would you say lightning literature is a comprehensive language arts program that doesn’t need any supplements if not what areas do you supplement? Phonics?
I would say it is a comprehensive program for reading, reading comprehension, and grammar. While it does have a composition component, I supplement that with other programs. We also add in other grammar resources for review, such as Evan Moor, Michael Clay Thompson, Beowulf Grammar, and 180 Days of Language (depending on grade level of kids, supplements vary).
@@ProjectHappyHome I just stumbled across this review, and noticed how you also have plans to begin Beowulf (which we also do). Is it too much for both? Are they truly not overlapping?
Do you feel this is enough writing and grammar? Or do you supplement with extra workbooks?
I think it depends on your style of homeschool and each individual child. We supplement, but I think it could easily stand alone if you like less seat work. I think the curriculum is stronger in grammar and literary analysis than it is on writing instruction.
Do you supplement with anything or is this a considered a full L.A curriculum?
This is a reading, writing, and grammar curriculum, but I do supplement with other resources. If you check my grade level playlists or my language arts playlist, you will be able to see what I use. ☺️
@@ProjectHappyHome thank you! :)
I was wondering if you feel the grammar portions are enough without a separate program?
Yes and no. Great alone if your child absorbs grammar easily (there is built in review, but it is not extensive). We supplement grammar with Evan Moor and Shell Education workbooks.
@@ProjectHappyHome Thanks for the response. I'm considering this program for next school year.
Have you reviewed the grade 5 yet?
Upcoming this week!
How does this compare to Arrow or Dart from Bravewriter?
You know, I have the Arrows for the first time this year but we haven’t incorporated them yet. @Arleneandco on Instagram has several flipthrough videos of Bravewriter - maybe that could help?
Would you say this is advanced 2nd grade ?
I think it’s pretty on target for the grammar and reading comp, but the writing assignments are not scaffolded well unless you have a confident writer.
Does "secular" mean religious, or non religious ?
Sorry - it means non-religious.
Thanks 😊