First Language Lessons
A gentle, fully scripted grammar course for grades 1 to 4 that trains the ear and the pen through memory work, copywork, narration and dictation.
OneHomeschool is an independent planner, not affiliated with or endorsed by First Language Lessons. You buy the books and materials from the publisher, and our lesson guides work alongside them.
First Language Lessons, by Jessie Wise, teaches grammar the classical way: short lessons the parent reads aloud from a fully scripted instructor guide, with poems to memorize, stories to narrate back, sentences to copy and, from Level 2, dictation. Levels 1 and 2 are almost entirely oral. Levels 3 and 4 add a student workbook and a gentle introduction to sentence diagramming. Our guides turn every lesson into a daily plan: the concept being taught, the poem to review, and each copywork, narration or workbook exercise as its own checklist item.
Fully scripted: read the lesson aloud, no prep and no grammar background needed
Short lessons, two or three a week, that fit a young child’s attention span
Memory work, copywork and narration build correct speech before heavy writing
Four levels carry a child from first nouns to diagramming complete sentences
What we support
Levels We Support
- •Level 1 (grade 1)
- •Level 2 (grade 2)
- •Level 3 (grade 3)
- •Level 4 (grade 4)
Not yet in our guides
- •Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind (grades 5 to 12) and Writing With Ease. Tell us if you need them and we will move them up.
How many lessons a week?
The publisher suggests two or three lessons a week, which finishes a level in a school year. Levels 3 and 4 include a 36-week sample schedule with the optional end units either at the end or spread through the year. Our plan follows whichever pace you set.
What you get with OneHomeschool
- Every lesson labelled new concept, review or mixed, in the book’s own order
- The definition or rule being memorized called out for the parent
- Poem reviews listed as daily review so nothing slips
- Copywork, dictation, narration and workbook exercises as separate checklist items
- Enrichment and optional follow-ups marked optional, never required
- Progress tracking through all four levels for every child
What you still need to buy
OneHomeschool works alongside your curriculum and does not include it. You buy the original materials from the publisher.
- •The First Language Lessons book for Levels 1 and 2 (script and child’s material in one volume)
- •The Instructor Guide and consumable Student Workbook for Levels 3 and 4
- •Paper, pencil and a notebook for copywork and narrations
- •Optional: the Audio Companion recordings of the poems
Note: First Language Lessons stops at Level 4. Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind, from the same publisher, continues for grades 5 to 12 and is not yet in our guides.
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