This is obviously an over-simplification (and my own personal interpretation), but sometimes we have to simplify things in order to better understand the principles behind them. I hope this helps you all to get a grasp on the different parts of CM’s LA and how they fit together to form the whole picture. The way I see it, there were five basic parts to her style of teaching LA and she taught them separately and distinctly and for very different purposes. The separate parts were not specifically integrated in the way that we are used to seeing them in curricular materials today (i.e. LLATL, Sonlight LA, etc.). However, one of the beauties of CM's system is that all of the component parts strengthen and support each of the other parts -- without the added burden of the detailed lesson-planning that the more integrated methods often require. Much integration occurs naturally and that's the best kind! (For more on natural integration see "An Easy Way to Integrate Mechanics-teaching without Elaborate Lesson Plans" .)

CM LA Consists of 5 "subjects"

1. Memorization (recitation)

2. Handwriting (copywork)

3. Spelling (dictation)

4. Composition (narration)

5. Grammar (Simply Grammar or other CM-compatible text)

* Memorization of excellent literary passages through recitation of selected passages over and over again.

* Handwriting perfected through copying excellent literary passages; copywork passages NOT used for dictation.

* Spelling learned through dictation; student studies words in passage BEFORE being expected to write from dictation.

* Composition practiced through oral (and later, written) narration of school books (of literary quality); more formal composition courses taught at high school level.

* Grammar taught formally in the traditional manner (i.e. "textbook"), beginning around age 10 or so.

Possible CON of using CM’s methods:

You must be willing to step out in faith that correct spelling can be learned through dictation and that composition can be learned through narration. Those are the only major stumbling blocks to her methods that I see many homeschoolers getting frustrated over again and again.

Possible PRO of using CM’s methods:

If you aren’t confident of your grammar skills, no need to worry because the CM way is to use a GRAMMAR TEXTBOOK! You won’t have to worry that you are leaving something out.

Most of us agree on the benefits of CM’s recitation and copywork techniques. And most of us agree that dictation and narration are great LA tools as well. The thing that you must decide (IMO) is whether or not you want to leave the SPELLING and WRITING skills development up to chance by using ONLY the dictation and narration methods advocated by CM (until high school) or if you want to go ahead and teach those two subjects formally with whatever curricula you like the best or even curricula that you write yourself. I think a lot of us will find a middle ground by using the dictation and narration methods and also supplementing those methods with other teaching materials and/or methods. And that’s OK! I’m just hoping to help you all make informed decisions about exactly to what extent you want to implement CM or other language arts methods and to what extent you wish to supplement with other methods/materials.

Personally, as the holder of a BA in English with a Writing Specialization minor, I believe that using CM’s methods alone would be sufficient -- no need for further integration or supplementation. But this is my conjecture based on my limited experiences. I may have to eat my words in a few years. :-)