“Narrating is an art, like poetry-making or painting, because it is there in every child’s mind, waiting to be discovered, and is not the result of any process of disciplinary education.” ~Charlotte Mason
As a homeschooling parent, witnessing your child struggle with language arts can be disheartening. Like many, I found myself observing my fifth grader going through the motions of his language arts curriculum with a distinct lack of engagement. The traditional textbook approach, while comprehensive, simply wasn’t sparking his interest or fostering a genuine love for language. It became clear: we needed a change, a shift towards a more immersive and engaging method. (Please note that affiliate links are present in this post. For complete details, kindly refer to my disclosure policy). He could effortlessly complete worksheets, identify parts of speech, and underline correctly. Yet, when faced with real-world writing tasks, the connection between textbook grammar and practical application seemed to vanish. He struggled to transfer those learned grammatical rules and sentence structures onto a blank page.
This disconnect led to frustration for both of us. And in my experience, frustration and effective learning rarely coexist. By mid-October, I reached a crossroads. Continue down a path of reluctant learning, or pivot to a curriculum that truly resonated with his needs? I opted for the latter, deciding to explore alternative approaches.
Seeking guidance, I turned to the wisdom of Charlotte Mason, a visionary 20th-century educator. Mason championed a holistic educational philosophy, advocating for learning as an enriching lifestyle, naturally and gently integrated into a child’s life. She believed that language skills flourish best through consistent exposure to high-quality literature, combined with a relaxed introduction to grammar. This approach naturally weaves vocabulary, narration, copywork, and composition into the fabric of all subjects.
For Charlotte Mason, the potent combination for language arts mastery consisted of:
- Quality Literature
- Narration
- Copywork/Dictation
With this powerful triad as my guide, I embarked on a search for a curriculum that could effectively implement these principles for my son. While our extensive home library offered abundant resources to teach grammar, mechanics, and sentence structure organically, following Mason’s philosophy, I also recognized the value of a structured program. As a busy homeschooling mother of five, time is a precious commodity, and reinventing the wheel felt impractical. A well-designed program, while not strictly essential, represented a worthwhile investment in efficiency and effectiveness.
Alt Text: Learning Language Arts Through Literature Purple Book open on a table, showcasing a literature-based homeschool curriculum.
Following a friend’s recommendation, who was aware of my son’s language arts struggles, I decided to purchase Learning Language Arts Through Literature, specifically the Purple Book, designed for fifth grade. Several months into using this curriculum, both my son and I have been captivated by its approach. We’ve been progressing through grammar concepts, not through dry exercises, but through engaging encounters with quality literature, famous speeches, well-known poems, and captivating stories. We are thoroughly hooked on this method.
Alt Text: Learning Language Arts Through Literature curriculum set with student workbook and teacher’s guide, highlighting a literature-rich language arts program.
Unpacking Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL)
Staying true to Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy, LLATL employs an integrated approach, seamlessly weaving together several key subject areas:
- Grammar
- Reading
- Spelling
- Vocabulary
- Composition
- Research
- Study Skills
- Reasoning
Each LLATL book is structured into units. While each unit incorporates elements from almost all of the subjects listed above, they strategically emphasize two to three areas primarily. The curriculum revolves around three main unit types, thoughtfully rotated throughout each book:
Book Study Units
While excerpts from exceptional literature, celebrated speeches, and significant writings are integrated into the daily lessons across the entire Purple Book, four units are specifically dedicated to in-depth book studies. For the Purple Book (Grade 5), the selected books are:
- Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
- Meet Addy by Connie Porter
- Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Each book study unit enriches the reading experience with carefully chosen vocabulary words, thought-provoking discussion questions, and a variety of engaging reading-related activities.
Alt Text: Inside the Learning Language Arts Through Literature Purple Book, showcasing a book study unit focused on “Farmer Boy,” a classic children’s literature title.
Everyday Words Units
Grammar, mechanics, and spelling instruction in LLATL are primarily delivered through copywork, dictation, and targeted practical exercises. In the Purple Book, students delve into passages from a diverse range of sources, including:
Each “Everyday Words” section in the workbook typically spans a few weeks and is further divided into daily lessons, with each lesson designed to be completed within a week. A typical week’s lesson begins with the introduction of a short, rich literary passage. The student is encouraged to read the passage silently, discuss any unfamiliar vocabulary with the teacher, and then listen attentively as the teacher dictates a few sentences from the passage aloud for copywork.
Following the principles of dictation, after writing the excerpt, the student meticulously compares their work against the original text. This process encourages self-correction, identifying errors in spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Misspelled words are recorded for focused practice throughout the week. In subsequent days, the passage is analyzed in detail, and the student learns specific grammar, mechanics, and writing concepts directly from the context of those paragraphs. By the week’s end, the same passage is dictated and copied again, allowing the student to visibly witness their progress from the initial dictation to the final one.
For example, Lesson 12 in the Purple Book utilizes an excerpt from The Trumpet of the Swan.
Alt Text: Lesson 12 of Learning Language Arts Through Literature Purple Book open, using “The Trumpet of the Swan” excerpt to teach grammar concepts within literature.
These paragraphs serve as practical examples of homonyms and their dictionary definitions, the structure of dialogue and proper use of quotation marks, comparative and superlative adjectives, interjections, and prefixes. Each day’s section of Lesson 12 then focuses on one of these specific grammatical elements. This contextual approach makes grammar learning more relevant and engaging, contrasting with traditional grammar programs that often present rules in a somewhat disconnected and arbitrary manner.
Following each “Everyday Words” unit, a concise one-to-two-page review section is included. This allows students to consolidate their understanding of the grammar and mechanics skills covered throughout the unit.
Alt Text: Review section in Learning Language Arts Through Literature Purple Book, designed to reinforce grammar concepts learned through literature.
Oral Presentations, Research, and Writing Skills Units
Interspersed throughout the Purple Book are units specifically designed to develop practical skills in oral presentation, research, and writing. Each skill is carefully broken down into manageable steps throughout the week. Students work on a small component each day, and by the end of the week, they have successfully crafted and delivered an entire speech, poem recitation, report, or letter. This step-by-step approach makes these potentially daunting tasks achievable and builds confidence.
Additional Activities
Beyond the three core unit types, the Purple Book also incorporates strategically placed assessments. These are designed to provide teachers with valuable insights into student progress, highlighting both strengths and areas for growth. These assessments are not intended to be high-pressure tests but rather diagnostic tools. Furthermore, some lessons conclude with optional enrichment activities, such as higher-level word puzzles that encourage critical thinking and analytical reasoning.
Alt Text: Enrichment activities page in Learning Language Arts Through Literature Purple Book, featuring word puzzles for critical thinking and analytical skills development.
The Appeal of LLATL: What Works Well
Grounded in Great Literature
Quality literature has always been the cornerstone of our homeschool. I firmly believe that a reading-rich environment profoundly enriches all academic areas. Exceptional books not only nourish the mind but also cultivate character and shape perspectives. In the realm of language arts instruction, exposure to excellent writing is the most potent catalyst for developing strong writing skills in children.
Regrettably, many language programs rely on simplistic, uninspired basal readers and contrived writing examples. However, if the goal is to cultivate exemplary writing abilities, why settle for mediocre models? Why use the writing of fictional, average students as the benchmark for my child? Basal readers and textbook writing samples often lack inspiration and are, at best, unremarkable. LLATL, in contrast, understands that to produce good writing, children must first immerse themselves in good writing. They need to study it, copy it, and use it as a model for their own work. The entire LLATL program is built upon a foundation of wonderful literature.
Open-and-Go Simplicity
The beauty of LLATL lies in its simplicity and ease of use. A student workbook, a teacher’s manual, and access to a library – that’s all you need to fully implement LLATL. There are no supplementary tests to purchase or extra manipulatives required. Teacher preparation time is minimal, and there’s no need to wade through lengthy introductory materials to understand how to use the program effectively. It is intentionally designed as an “open-and-go” resource, making the Charlotte Mason approach accessible and practical for busy homeschooling parents.
Demonstrated Improvement
My decision to switch to LLATL stemmed from a need for change. My son’s language arts progress had stagnated with our previous curriculum. Since incorporating LLATL, I have witnessed significant improvements in his sentence structure, his application of basic mechanics, and, most importantly, his ability to self-edit his writing. He is beginning to grasp the inherent value of proper grammar and structure beyond the confines of “language arts class.”
Alt Text: A student using Learning Language Arts Through Literature, carefully checking his copywork against the original text, promoting self-editing skills.
Customizing LLATL for Our Homeschool
Prioritizing Delight-Directed Reading
The Purple Book includes four book study units, each designed to be completed in a week. However, recognizing my son’s mild neurological condition, which sometimes affects his reading speed, I allow more time for these units. Furthermore, while I appreciate the book selections within LLATL, I also highly value delight-directed learning and book choices driven by my child’s individual interests, spiritual or academic needs, and developing curiosities. Books chosen with a child’s passions in mind are invariably enjoyed more deeply. Therefore, while my son has completed one book study and is about to begin a second, we will likely not complete the third and fourth assigned book studies. Instead, I use these units to enhance, rather than dictate, his overall reading experience.
Integrating Spelling with Our Existing Program
Like my other children, my son’s spelling skills have flourished with an Orton-Gillingham-based spelling program. When introducing LLATL, I knew I would need to integrate the LLATL spelling component with our current spelling plan seamlessly. To my surprise, this integration proved to be remarkably easy. Following the Purple Book’s instructions, each week my son identifies up to six words misspelled during the initial copywork exercise. He records these in his workbook. Instead of having him rewrite these words daily within the LLATL book as suggested, I simply note them in my homeschool planner at the start of the week and incorporate them as “real-world” words in our daily spelling sessions.
Adapting the Pace and Content
One of the most rewarding aspects of homeschooling is the ability to tailor education to each child’s unique needs. Unlike a traditional classroom teacher who has a student for a single year and lacks a complete understanding of their prior learning, I have a holistic view of my son’s academic journey. I know his strengths, weaknesses, and prior mastery. With this personalized perspective, I see no benefit in dwelling on concepts already mastered or belaboring points unnecessarily. I can adjust the pace, slow down, speed up, or even skip material as needed.
Knowing that my son had extensively studied Tall Tales in his previous grammar program the year before, I opted to move quickly through the Tall Tale grammar section in the Purple Book and skip the Tall Tale writing portion altogether. Prioritizing project-based learning in our “extra” time, I generally skip the enrichment sections. This isn’t to say these sections are unimportant, but rather that he receives ample opportunities for reasoning and analysis in other areas of our homeschool curriculum, making these sections somewhat redundant for his specific needs.
Alt Text: Dictation exercise page within Learning Language Arts Through Literature Purple Book, demonstrating the copywork and dictation method.
Important Considerations about LLATL and the Charlotte Mason Approach
Before deciding to purchase Learning Language Arts Through Literature, it’s helpful to understand key aspects of the Charlotte Mason approach and the program itself:
The Charlotte Mason method emphasizes endurance and gradual, consistent progress through gentle modeling. It prioritizes quality over quantity and recognizes education as nurturing the whole child, rather than simply achieving test scores or checking off boxes. It’s about creating a rich learning environment, presenting a feast of language, and allowing children to absorb knowledge at their own pace. Therefore, the CM method is not a quick fix. Immediate, dramatic results may not always be apparent. However, with time and consistency, it cultivates a lifelong love of learning and deep understanding.
If you are accustomed to traditional, textbook-based language programs, the LLATL teacher’s manual might initially seem different. Unlike manuals that directly replicate the student pages with answers filled in, the LLATL manual abbreviates the student page and places correct answers in the margins. This format is neither superior nor inferior, simply a different approach that may require a brief adjustment.
Alt Text: Learning Language Arts Through Literature teacher’s manual showing answers in the margin, a unique format for a literature-based language arts curriculum.
Ultimately, Learning Language Arts Through Literature has significantly improved my son’s attitude towards language arts by making traditionally dry topics like subject-verb agreement and prepositions relevant and engaging. We’ve enjoyed countless enriching conversations about books while using this program, and language arts time has become cherished “us time” each day. He has always loved creating stories, and now, he is finally finding joy in writing them down.
Alt Text: A happy student engaged with Learning Language Arts Through Literature workbook, reflecting a positive learning experience with literature-based language arts.
For further information about LLATL, visit Common Sense Press and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Use the promo code unlikelyhomeschool at checkout to receive a 15% discount on your entire Common Sense Press order.
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*Disclaimer: I received a complete set of Learning Language Arts Through Literature in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are authentic and entirely my own. Individual experiences may vary.
