First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind (Vol. Levels 1 & 2) (First Language Lessons)

"First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind" by Jessie Wise, Sarah Park (Illustrator)undoubtedly has great expectations for families who use it. It expects children of a first and second grade level who have completed the book to understand adverbs, adjectives, interjections, direct and indirect quotations, paragraph formation and four basic types of sentences among other things. My first reaction on reading the Table of Contents was a little reticence. How frequently do you hear of first and second graders who have proficiency not only in the practice, but also the terminology, of grammar? I can, however, unequivocally state that this scripted language curriculum accomplishes its stated goals and does so painlessly.

My son, who has been known to balk when it comes to school time in the morning, eagerly goes through his language lessons. He has gained confidence in our language and he is capable of giving you not only the definition, but also examples of many points of grammar. So what? Many kids can do that? I understand those may be some of your reactions. But how many kids age 6 can do it with enthusiasm??? After roughly 1 semester using this curriculum, my young son composed a poem today. A good one- using recognizable rhyme and meter- at that. THAT, to me, is the great success of this book. It not only delivers on the educational angle, it delivers on generating enthusiasm for the language.

Not a homeschooler? This book is still for you and your kids. Many parents are displeased at some level with the education their children receive in school. The scripted lessons take only a few minutes per day and will exponentially enhance your kids' education. I'm certain that their increased language proficiency will improve their comprehension of other subjects. Give it a try! At best, your children will flower intellectually. At worst, you will have spent some extra time reading to your kids and interacting with them. Either way, you and your children come out ahead of the game.

Bully for Jessie Wise for writing a fabulous language curriculum and bully for me for purchasing the book. I hope you do the same. Your kids' knowledge will be better off for it!


Extremely simple to use and very effective tool for grammar   August 5, 2003
Kathleen Funk (Austin, Texas USA)
140 out of 143 found this review helpful

I am very happy with this book! My six year old now BEGS to "do grammar" because this book is perfectly designed for 1st and 2nd grade homeschool kiddos and their parents.

I love the scope and sequence of this book! It covers all the basics of elementary grammar. Nouns, all types of verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, articles, conjunctions and interjections are all taught in a very quiet, gentle manner. Students learn how to construct a complete sentence, how to write a simple letter to a relative, how to narrate (re-tell) a simple story, memorize short poems, and much more.

In the style of Saxon textbooks, Jessie Wise has completely "scripted" the parent's conversation / teaching time with the child. This script can be used word-for-word, used as a springboard, or completely ignored. Using the book as a scope-and-sequence guide alone makes it worth its price. Having 200 quick and easy lessons to present to your child makes it invaluable!

Although the 200 lessons are designed to be used over a 2-year period, I think that most average students would move more quickly through the material. There is much repetition and review built in (on purpose... this is for a grammar-stage student). If your child has thoroughly mastered action verbs, simply move past that topic when it comes up. Just make sure to review the concept from time to time, so your child isn't stymied when they are confronted with a formal grammar textbook for the first time.

I very much appreciate these short, easy grammar lessons! Thank you, Jessie Wise, for fulfilling this homeschooler's need.


Great beginning grammar book!!!   September 15, 2003
75 out of 76 found this review helpful

This book is absolutely wonderful! My daughter and I love it to pieces. The lessons are brief and feel natural. The concepts are gently introduced and reviewed often throughout the text. There are also optional enrichment activity ideas for many of the lessons.

This scripted book is truly a gem...including lessons requiring narration (for example, I read a fable and then I prompt my daughter with questions so that she can tell the story back to me), sweet poems for memorization, Picture studies/narrations, grammar rules and definitions, Copywork, and much, much more! The lessons often take no more than 15-20 minutes to complete, yet despite the short amount of time required for these, I've found that my daughter's retention of concepts is high.
If you're looking for a gentle approach to early grammar, this is it!


Wow!   July 12, 2004
38 out of 38 found this review helpful

Wow! Incredible balance of easy to teach from (no preparation), "meaty", quick paced, and gentle. Includes lots of repetition of only a few concepts so that the child really learns something. This is how I would write a first language book for my own kids if I had the time. It is good for my gifted kids, my learning disabled kids, and my ESL/internationally adopted kids.

--by a homeschooling mom of six kids


WE LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!   January 5, 2005
C. Sourber (Farmersville, TX United States)
35 out of 35 found this review helpful

This book is wonderful! My 7 year old son completed the first grade portion and is now half way through the second grade portion. Grammar is now his FAVORITE SUBJECT!!!! I used English for the Thoughtful Child for my older son and truly believe Wise's book is head and shoulders above it. If you want a thorough grammar curriculum that also gives you fun, quality time with your child THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!!! Yes, you will have to repeat, "A preposition is a word that shows the relationship of a noun or pronoun to another word in the sentence" at least three times with your child during the short lesson. I submit that when your child can repeat that back to you independently (within just 2 or 3 lessons) you will see the value in this book!!! Simply by overhearing his younger brother move through these lessons my older son has filled in the gaps left behind with English for the Thoughtful Child and is now handling ABeka Grammar with ease!!!!