Smart Start In Language Arts Grade 1 & 2 – Home Educator's Edition

  by JoAnne Moore

Grade 1 & 2 Smart Start in Language Arts: Home Educator's Edition

Grade 1 & 2 Smart Start in Language Arts: Home Educator's Edition
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A Complete Program of Language Arts Instruction for Grades 1 & 2


The grades one and two English language arts programs teach children to read through phonics and sight words taught in a sequential order. Phonetic concepts are introduced through sentences which gradually turn into short stories using a controlled vocabulary. Basic comprehension skills are developed through answering simple questions about the stories. Sight words are introduced in the short stories one at a time and practiced in a repeated reading book. The repeated reading book is made from sentences composed of the sight words which the child illustrates. As soon as they are able, children also begin to read short books independently in the classroom library.

Spelling is based on phonetic concepts and rhyming words. It is taught on alternate days. Sentence writing builds strong verbs and shows children how to vary sentence starters. Picture books are read aloud by the teacher and culminate in creative story writing projects. Each story writing project is based on three sequenced pictures which are taught through a guided writing process.

Parents are shown how to teach their children step by step through two teacher's manuals. There is one teacher's manual for each grade which includes answer keys.


Bullet Child is guided by a workbook that introduces reading, writing and spelling skills in a sequential order. These are applied in the lessons and reviewed until mastery is obtained.

Bullet Parents discover a simple, effective method of teaching reading and writing using a teacher's manual. Lesson plans and answer keys are presented in a simple, straightforward manner.

Bullet The Home Education Edition of Smart in Language Arts is divided into two parts. It is designed for grades one and two to be completed in order. We do not recommend using the second grade program without having completed the first grade program.



Downloadable Resources


Credits
  • Letter names by JoAnne Moore: bumper words (long vowel words with silent e), mouse words (long vowel words with two vowels together), regular vowel words (happy face over short vowel), y copycat words (long i sound, long e sound at end of one and two syllable words), doctor word keys (au, aw) , R word keys (ar, er, ir, or, ur), s copycat word keys (ce, ci, cy), j copycat word keys (ge, gi, gy), cool word keys (ai, ay), f copycat word keys (ph, gh) piglet word keys (oi, oy), silent word keys (kn, wr), tug of war words (word keys beat silent e who likes to bump) Examples: grease, horse
  • editing Elva Hopkins, Kara Myers nee Moore
  • all book covers by Kara Myers nee Moore since 2009
  • JoAnne wrote the original Smart Start in Language Arts, Smart Start Companion, Sequence Stories
  • JoAnne wrote everything in the revised edition of Smart Start in Language Arts school edition and Smart Start in Language Arts Home Education Edition
  • JoAnne decided to write the home education edition of Smart Start in Language Arts after being approached by a teacher who worked for Alberta Distance Learning at a Smart Start workshop. This teacher was interested in a home education edition. By the time JoAnne completed the project, Alberta Distance Learning had selected another individual to create a program for them.
  • JoAnne wrote the bumper words puppet show and mouse words puppet show scripts during the time period of directing the filming of the updated puppet shows
  • JoAnne drew almost every illustration for the phonics worksheets, all the illustrations for the preposition practice and colour review worksheets, many of the compound word graphics, she created and drew the characters Ben the bear, Sally the squirrel, Penny the pig, Max the monkey and Pammy the parrot, as well as wrote and drew all the illustrations for the Smart Start readers (except the spotted skunk which was drawn by her daughter Jenna)
  • JoAnne also drew numerous illustrations for her book Smart Start Companion (currently included in the school edition of Smart Start in Language Arts)
  • back cover summary pages by JoAnne Moore, idea for back cover summary pages by Verlynn Alexander
  • sequence story pictures by artist Lisa Petruic (loose tooth, snowy day, baby dinosaur, knight, camping trip, waiter)
  • sequence story classroom exemplars (loose tooth, baby dinosaur, knight) shared with written permission from three of JoAnne Moore's students and/or student's parents taught in grade one
  • sequence story exemplars shared with written permission from our daughters (snowy day by Jenna Moore, camping trip by Kara Myers, nee Moore, waiter by Kara Myers nee Moore)
  • exemplars by Jenna Moore: firefly paragraph, squirrel paragraph, frog paragraph
  • exemplars by Kara Myers, nee Moore: student worksheet for the letter v, all exemplars for the repeated reading sight word book
  • exemplar by Josiah Isaacs: student worksheet for the letter j, permission granted by Robin Isaacs
  • some graphics by artist Kayla Hilsabeck
  • letter names shared by Margie Haase
  • spelling chart concept shared by Margaret Bouma
  • mouth pictures for short vowel sounds taken by Kara Myers, nee Moore, of Verlynn Alexander
  • Puppet Shows
    • scripts JoAnne Moore
    • props JoAnne Moore
    • puppet stand Kevin & JoAnne Moore
    • puppets, video camera, video editing software, P.A. system purchased by Kevin and JoAnne Moore
    • director JoAnne Moore
    • filming Kevin Moore
    • film editing Isaac Alexander
    • puppeteers: Kara Myers, nee Moore, Jenna Moore, Verlynn, Natalie, Isaac, Simeon, Seth (Alexander)
    • narration: Brent Alexander
    • actors: Natalie Alexander, Adon Alexander
  • reference to silent gh (ghost letters), words which break spelling rules (jail words), from Anna Ingham


  1. The binder contains two reproducible workbooks. The workbook material can be used with all the children in ONE family, because it can be photocopied. If you have only one child, you can use the pages in the binder as a consumable workbook.

  2. The first workbook is for grade one and the second workbook for grade two. A tab divider separates the two workbooks.

  3. Behind the second workbook is a colored page indicating a final section which contains a short summary of reading and comprehension strategies. These are supported by research.

  4. I SPY photographs for the alphabet lessons, printable sight word and phonics games (lotto and bingo), and thirty-five puppet shows which introduce letter sounds, long vowel words with silent e and long vowel words with two vowels together are all resources located on this web page.

  5. Lesson plans and detailed instructions are located in the grade one and grade two teacher's manuals.


REVIEWS

"Starting out as a homeschool mom, I was hesitant to teach my child to read and write, worried that I wouldn't succeed. Smart start in language Arts Home Education Edition put my mind at ease and it became our favorite part of our day! It was easy to follow and told me exactly what to teach and how to teach it so my daughter could understand. Reading and writing has become my daughter's favorite subjects and she constantly asks to read books and write stories! I highly recommend this program to anyone who is homeschooling!"

– Amy


JoAnne Moore has put together one thorough language arts program that is a breeze to implement in one's home education program. My child and I not only liked the variety, but that the lessons were short and sweet. It is great for both auditory and visual learning styles. I have noticed a progressive improvement in my son's reading, printing, spelling and creative writing since we've started using JoAnne's program. I like how the lessons are laid out (very easy to present) and I particularly like the use of "real" books for story time to share with your child. We're heading into the Grade 2 portion soon and looking forward to it.

– Josie


"Absolutely amazing curriculum, so thorough, and covers all aspects-so sad I didn't discover this years ago for my older children!"

– -Michelle
Ottawa, ON