Practice Makes Polished 2 is a language arts supplement that can be used alongside Language Lessons for a Living Education 2 or another language arts program. It can also be used over the summer to keep language arts skills sharp. While it’s designed for second grade, it might be used by students in first through third grade.
This 248-page book is printed in full color and is divided into three sections:
- Spelling Practice
- Grammar & Reading Practice
- Writing Practice
Each section has 36 two-page lessons that parallel and reinforce concepts and skills taught in the 36 lessons of Language Lessons for a Living Education 2. Instructions at the front of the book explain exactly how and when you might use the lessons in that context. However, you can use as many of the lessons as you wish, such as using only the spelling and writing sections or picking only lessons that cover particular content. You can easily use it alongside another language arts program since the table of contents shows exactly which topics are covered in each lesson.
Like Language Lessons for a Living Education 2, Practice Makes Polished 2 has a solid phonetic base. Spelling words are often grouped by common phonograms, and the same phonetic concepts flow through the other two sections.
In the spelling lessons, students work with the same set of words through two activity pages. The two most common activities for spelling are “Spell with Color” and “Word Shape Spelling.” To Spell with Color, students use two different colored pencils to print spelling words, using one color for consonants and the other for vowels. Word Shape Spelling has students identify and write in the correct set of boxes that fit each spelling word. Occasionally, other spelling activities include word searches or writing silly sentences that incorporate spelling words. (I would prefer to see more variety in the spelling activities.)
Grammar & Writing activities include Mad Libs© style exercises where students come up with words defined only by their part of speech. A parent writes the words into what turns into a silly story. Other silly pre-written stories for students to practice reading incorporate the week’s spelling words. Students also circle words with a particular phonogram that appear in the pre-written stories. I think most children will have fun with the Grammar & Reading Practice section.
Writing Practice has students first write three sentences, using one or more of the week’s spelling words in each. The second activity page provides journaling prompts. They all start with. “Write today’s day of the week,” and “Write today’s date.” A third prompt differs each day, such as “Write the name of your favorite color and three things that are that color” (p. 166) and “What is your favorite part of church? What do you like about it?” (p. 202).
Answer keys for the Spelling Practice and Grammar & Reading Practice sections are at the back of the book.
How effective each section will be depends on the needs of each child. For example, some children like the visual clues of spelling boxes and enjoy writing words in them, while others find them distracting.
Summary
Practice Makes Polished 2 should be helpful for students who need additional reinforcement in any of the areas of spelling, grammar, reading, and writing.
