Core Skills Language Arts, Grade 2

I am using this as a second grade phonics supplement. It is replacing another supplement program from Horizons Phonics and Reading.Pros:- As a supplement, I think it does a fantastic job of concisely covering specific topics precisely and succinctly in a single day's exercise.- The exercises are very short.- It requires writing, but it is not writing intensive.- It does allow the student to read and mostly understand the lesson immediately using the examples and perform the work without a great deal of oversight.- There are no colorful pictures. I thought that would be a problem. My son is changing my mind though. I'm beginning to get the impression that all of the gloss and color and shiny and sparkle of the other program I used before was more of a distraction rather than an aide.Cons - I'm using it as a supplement. Therefore, I don't think you could rely on this alone as a phonics program for 2nd. I feel like this just rounds out the rest of the program I'm using - and it was specifically recommended to me by Memoria Press Classical- The pages are super cheap. Think dollar store coloring books. I hate that. I feel like that alone makes the book look poorly done. I'd rather pay a few dollars more for quality worksheet paper - especially since the student has to write on the front and back and there is some bleed through if he is a particularly heavy handed writer. Also, if there is aggressive erasing, the page could tear.

I like the Steck-Vaughn Series of workbooks for homeschooling. They gradually require more from the child and are step by step easy to use.

Great systematic progression of skills!

Very concise, practical and forward...Finally found a Language Arts book my kids don't complain about!

Very basic and broken down. Step by step and not distracting like all other 1st grade workbooks.