Good reading program

[Mommybostic]

I plan on using real books as is suggested in TWTM, but after reading on here about reading programs, I thought I might check a few out. Nothing too intense, but something that could be used to go along with real books to reinforce skills.

 

I looked at CLE, but it seems VERY intensively religious, and I prefer to teach religion myself with the Bible. However, if it is a good program, I wouldn't rule it out. The Bob Jones stuff looks pretty neat, but is it expensive or what! I wouldn't mind the cost, but it seems like a lot for something to be used as a supplement.

 

I do MCT for grammar, so it is a reading only program I'm wondering about.

 

Thanks!

:bigear:

[plain jane]

You may want to take a look at Mosdos. It's not too intense, teaches a great number of concepts and while not "religious", is full of wholesome stories.

[creekmom]

This year I purchased the Teacher's Edition for Prentice Hall's 6th grade literature text. I love it! My son reads straight out of the book, and I have all the teacher notes I need on the side of the page. The HM book has poetry, essays, dramas, nonfiction and short stories. My son really looks forward to reading the selections. You can find very inexpensive teacher editions to older literature books on Amazon.

[MIch elle]

I plan on using real books as is suggested in TWTM, but after reading on here about reading programs, I thought I might check a few out. Nothing too intense, but something that could be used to go along with real books to reinforce skills.

 

I looked at CLE, but it seems VERY intensively religious, and I prefer to teach religion myself with the Bible. However, if it is a good program, I wouldn't rule it out. The Bob Jones stuff looks pretty neat, but is it expensive or what! I wouldn't mind the cost, but it seems like a lot for something to be used as a supplement.

 

I do MCT for grammar, so it is a reading only program I'm wondering about.

 

Thanks!

:bigear:

 

But if CLE reading is not to your liking, then try Lightning Literature and Composition 7 and 8. It's not as complete as CLE reading but it's good.

[nd293]

You may want to take a look at Mosdos. It's not too intense, teaches a great number of concepts and while not "religious", is full of wholesome stories.

 

I'll second that recommendation. We used the first level of Mosdos this year, and I have been very impressed. The student book is beautiful, and the stories are appealing, and cover a range of literature types. Each story is used to illustrate a particular literary concept, while stories are also grouped according to the values they encourage.

 

The two teacher's manuals reproduce the student book in reduced format with (numbered) notes for the teacher next to the relevant page. These allow you to draw the student's attention to things like similes and metaphors, imagery, turning points, characterisation, theme, rising action, conclusions and a range of other literary concepts. Below the reproduced copy of the story are literal and analytical questions.

 

Mosdos is very popular with dd10, and it's the one lesson she actively asks for each week. (We do our Mosdos at MacDonald's over coffee/hot chocolate each week, but I'm sure that this has nothing to do with the programme's popularity in our house :))

 

Nikki

[Mommybostic]

I appreciate these recommendations. I checked out Mosdos, and I like the look of it. Like I said, I want to use real books, too, but I think it may help my son in his transition if things are very school-like in the beginning. Plus, I do worry I might miss teaching him something from a real book. We have good conversations about the subject matter, but not really about metaphors.

 

Thanks again!

[Another Lynn]

While you're researching, you might look for Elson Readers. I have only used the lower levels, so I'm not sure what the TM is like at the higher levels.... but the thing I love about it is that the readings are so classical. The younger levels include Aesop's Fables, folk tales, nature stories, etc. The upper levels have retellings of The Illiad and The Odyssey (by Alfred Church, I think) as well as various American writings, etc.

[Mommybostic]

Also, if I did Mosdos or a similar program, since he will be halfway through the fifth grade year, should I go ahead and start in the sixth grade level and just work slowly and thoroughly? I hate to start him back over at the fifth grade level.