One of the newer curriculum options we added to those available through Bridgeway Academy is the Walch Daily Skillbuilders package.  The full language arts package includes the following titles:

• Daily Skillbuilders Reading
• Daily Skillbuilders Spelling and Phonics
• Daily Skillsbuilders Vocabulary
• Daily Skillbuilders Grammar and Usage

Yes, it seem like a lot of workbooks for just one school subject, but they all work together to give students a language arts program that meets all requirements in a fun and non-intimidating way.

When I reviewed these books for the academy, I was pleasantly surprised.  Although presented in black and white, the graphics and page layouts make them fun and engaging.  In addition, because students need only complete one page per book per day (for the most part), they make it easy to keep kids motivated.

Available from grades 3-6, Daily Skillbuilders present the concepts, then provide a few pages of review to ensure that students truly grasp each new concept.  In addition, there are review worksheets (which can be used as tests) that go back and review entire sections of each book to ensure that students are retaining the information.

The Daily Skillbuilders Grammar and Usage covers what you would expect in a grammar textbook with applications to how what they are learning applies to writing.  And because it is presented in bite sized chunks, kids seem to grasp the concepts pretty quickly and tend to improve their writing and communication skills.

The Daily Skillbuilders Vocabulary uses a themed based vocabulary program to teach students various words that fit the theme.  More basic than you would find in Wordly Wise, this vocabulary program aims to build vocabulary while also inspiring students to write in a variety of styles using that vocabulary.  The book covers various writing strategies as well as a variety of forms of writing.  However, if you are looking for advanced vocabulary,  I would recommend you supplement with Wordly Wise.

The Daily Skillbuilders Reading is a fantastic reading program that doesn’t stop at building reading comprehension.  This one really focuses on the skills of reading–from finding the main idea to analyzing supporting material, students must approach reading critically as they work their way through this workbook.  However, this is not a literature program so if you are seeking a reading program to teach literature, this is not the right choice for you.

And the Daily Skillbuilders Spelling and Phonics is a phonics based spelling program that provides helpful rules and patterns in spelling.   Each rule is explained clearly and simply and then students are challenged to apply what they are learning with practice activities.  I also appreciate how the book teaches decoding strategies and challenges students to both decode and encode words; thus applying the instruction in various ways.  Again, not as challenging as a Wordly Wise course so if you have a student who excels in spelling, you may want to consider another program.

If you are looking for an easy to use, non-biblically based language arts program for grades 3-6, then you might want to check this one out.  Because of its simple presentation, we do not use the program for sixth grade students unless they struggle with language arts.  In addition, we have assigned this package to advanced second grade students.

You can also purchase the reproducible copies to use them for more than one student.