HappyGrace Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Trying to get a very general lit plan together for the next few years but not sure which one of those would come first. Here's the plan: 6th grade-Lightning Lit 7 7th-LL8 8th LL LOTR 9th WttW I'm wondering if I should switch LL8 and LL LOTR around? Dd is pretty advanced with LA and enjoys it. We're doing Figuratively Speaking this yr in 5th and she is very intrigued and wanting and ready for more! I would take any other comments on my plan too-like if doing it as is will not include enough of certain elements or whatever. I'm just starting to formulate it so I'm not married to any of it yet-lol! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 We did/are doing: LL7 in 7th LL8 in 8th LLfLOTR in 9th I like this sequence because I hate change. I like the comfort of 2 years in a row of predictability. ;) I know that Lori D. did LL7->LLfLOTR->LL8, and I remember her saying that her ds was very happy to return to LL8 after all the work of LLfLOTR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted December 21, 2010 Author Share Posted December 21, 2010 Thanks, Sue. That's what I'm thinking, that LL8 looks like it would make sense to go first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 We've done LL7, are doing LL8 and will do LLfLotR next year. I don't know yet if it was the right sequence though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 We're doing LL8 this year and will do LLfLOTR next - no idea if that's the "right" order or not, though... :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 LL7 in 7th LL8 in 8th LLfLOTR in 9th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5LittleMonkeys Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 If you could only choose 2 of the three, which would it be? This would be from a student who will have completed Figuratively Speaking and has been reluctant to read much in the way of classical literature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted December 23, 2010 Share Posted December 23, 2010 These are flexible programs, so if you need to insert Lord of the Rings in there to draw interest back towards classic lit. -- feel free to do so! :) We have 2 DSs one grade apart and did the programs in this order: gr. 7/8 = lit. separate = LL7 / LL8 gr. 8/9 = lit. together = LLftLotR AND a WTM Great Books study of ancients lit. gr. 9/10 = lit separate = LL8 / "Worldviews in Classic Sci-Fi Lit." AND Windows to the World with both DSs as part of a WTM Great Books study of modern lit. ENJOY your lit. adventures together! Warmest regards, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 gr. 9/10 = "Worldviews in Classic Sci-Fi Lit." AND Windows to the World with both DSs as part of a WTM Great Books study of modern lit. Lori, Is "Worldviews in Classic Sci-Fi Lit" a purchasable curriculum or a course you made up? Can you either give me a link or more info on what you include? My ds would love this after LLftLoTR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 These are flexible programs, so if you need to insert Lord of the Rings in there to draw interest back towards classic lit. -- feel free to do so! :) We have 2 DSs one grade apart and did the programs in this order: gr. 7/8 = lit. separate = LL7 / LL8 gr. 8/9 = lit. together = LLftLotR AND a WTM Great Books study of ancients lit. gr. 9/10 = lit separate = LL8 / "Worldviews in Classic Sci-Fi Lit." AND Windows to the World with both DSs as part of a WTM Great Books study of modern lit. ENJOY your lit. adventures together! Warmest regards, Lori D. Lori, while you are here...:D What do you think of Windows to the World? I ordered it last minute because I wasn't sure where exactly my 12th grader was at. We are using it as a quick review for her and so far have been pleasantly surprised and pleased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn On the Border Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 We used LL7 for 7th and LLfLOTR for 8th (Ds15 went to school for 9th). I think it makes sense to do LLfLOTR after LL- it's really a high school level course. It's much more advanced than what my son is doing in 9th grade Catholic school. We really enjoyed LLfLOTR! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 I think it makes sense to do LLfLOTR after LL- it's really a high school level course. It's much more advanced than what my son is doing in 9th grade Catholic school. Wow! That's good to hear since I've no clue what a 9th grade English class is like. :biggrinjester: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 Lori, while you are here...:D What do you think of Windows to the World? I ordered it last minute because I wasn't sure where exactly my 12th grader was at. We are using it as a quick review for her and so far have been pleasantly surprised and pleased. I really like it! DSs *hate* the annotating, but... too bad. :tongue_smilie: I find it to be a great review / fill in any gaps program, and the checklists at the end of units are a great springboard for ANY work -- ideas of what kinds of things to be looking for in whatever literature you are reading -- and for ideas for group discussion of whatever lit. we're covering. I was actually thinking of photocopying those checklists or typing them up to onto one sheet of paper as a handy reference for "discussion starters"... I also LOVE the chapter on how to write a literary analysis -- very specific and step-by-step; plus showing you how to explain HOW your examples from the work support your contention -- that is the hardest step in writing a paper! And while they hate the annotating, they are seeing *why* it's a good idea for when you later on go to write a paper about the work. I think that's a *super* idea of using it as a final review with your 12th grader! That's kind of what we're doing too -- we used the first half of WttW two years ago (DSs were 9th and 10th), and this year we're finishing it up. I like that it's open-and-go, and you can use as much or as little of it as you want. Hey, Swimmermom, on a totally different topic, you might be interested in this super cheap ($3), but very helpful booklet from the "Stack the Deck" writing program people: "How to Write an Essay Exam". What I really love about it is the list of exactly what is being looked for when an essay exam question says "analyze" or "discuss" or "compare" or "evaluate". We've been practicing essay writing with the past SAT essay prompt questions at the Online Math Learning website. So, how is your 12th grader doing, coming home for the last year? Hope you are both enjoying your year together! Hugs, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicheleinMN Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 We made our own lit. and entitled it that. Below is what we did; we did not use all the online resources I included below -- just wanted to give you some things to choose from. It was DS's favorite lit. year! Warmest regards, Lori D. Worldviews in Sci-Fi and Gothic Literature 1 year course. We selected a list of books, used various study guides, and had fantastic discussions. DS had just gotten very interested in worldview, and we just couldn't stomach doing a lot of depressing 20th century lit. to go with our 20th century history, so we focused on some very well-written and thought-provoking sci-fi, which is often an overlooked literary genre. We had great flexibility in picking works of interest to us, and looking for works to cover as wide a variety of worldviews as possible. DS still tells me how much he loved doing that! Due to the mature themes in some of the works, I would suggest doing this kind of study in 11th or 12th grade, or do it with younger teens, but substitute for the more mature works. Here is what we used: 1. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Stevenson) - worldview = Christian; gothic elements - guides = Wikipedia article on the book = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Case_of_Dr_Jekyll_and_Mr_Hyde Progeny Press Sparknotes free online guide - theme = Christian theme = man is basically sinful and cannot on his own seperate himself from his sinful nature - reading level = grade 8+; not long, but the Victorian language/sentence structure can slow you down - note = REALLY great book to compare/contrast with Frankenstein; optional book: The Deadliest Monster (Baldwin) 2. Frankenstein (Shelley) - worldview = Romanticism; gothic elements - guides = Wikipedia article on Romanticism = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticism Wikipedia article on Mary Shelley = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Shelley; Progeny Press Sparknotes free online guide - theme = Romanticism (the individual and his/her emotions are the most important thing; nature (the creation) exalted over the Creator (God) reading level = grade 9+; loonnnggg slloowww read - note = REALLY great book to compare/contrast with Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde; optional book: The Deadliest Monster (Baldwin) 3. Time Machine - worldview = Evolution; Socialism - guide = Wikipedia article on H.G. Wells = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.g._wells Wikipedia article on The Time Machine = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Machine free online guide = http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/timemachine.pdf - note on the theme = we found it fascinating that Wells had the courage to take evolution and socialism -- 2 ideas he actively supported -- and shows the ultimate end of each as really quite unpleasant! - readling level = grade 7/8+; short, fast read 4. Animal Farm (Orwell) - worldview = Communism/Capitalism - guide = Wikipedia article on Animal Farm = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_farm Sparknotes free online guide - reading level = grade 7+; short; fast read - note = it is helpful to read a little bit about communism and some of the key early Soviet communists, as some match up very closely to characters in Animal Farm 5. The Giver (Lowry) - worldview = Utopia/Dystopia - guides = Wikipedia article on Utopian/dystopian Fiction = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopian_and_dystopian_fiction'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopian_and_dystopian_fiction'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopian_and_dystopian_fiction'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopian_and_dystopian_fiction Discovering Literature series guide from Garlic Press publishers Glencoe Lit. Library free online guide - reading level = gr. 7+; short, fast read - note: theme of euthanasia may be too disturbing for younger teens 6. Brave New World (Huxley) - worldview = Utopia/Dystopia (also the idea of consumerism to create a stable society) - guide = Wikipedia article on Utopian/dystopian Fiction = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopian_and_dystopian_fiction Sparknotes free online guide - reading level = gr. 10+; longer work, but not difficult to read; lots to discuss, but -- MATURE THEMES, so preview first 7. Farenheit 451 (Bradbury) - guide = Progeny Press; Sparknotes free online guide - worldview = loss of literacy; cultural ascendency of the image (a bit apocalyptic at the very end) - reading level = gr. 7+; medium length, and not difficult, BUT, somewhat poetic in writing style which some students may dislike - theme = loss of literacy in a culture leads to corresponding loss of rationality/critical thinking skills; rise of the primacy of the image leads to emotions 8. Canticle for Leibowitz (Miller) - worldview = Post-Apocalyptic world; rise to power/self destructive cycle of the state vs. church preserving culture/literacy/knowledge - guide = Wikipedia article on apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fiction = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-apocalyptic Wikipedia article = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canticle_for_Leibowitz free online guide = http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/science_fiction/canticle.html - theme = post apocalyptic work; destructive nature of man seen as a cycle of devastating war, slow rebuilding of political power, reaching greater pinnacles, leading to pride and even greater devastating war -- meanwhile, the Church acts as the "keeper of the flame" of books, literacy, knowledge, and faith - reading level = gr. 10+; a longer work, very well-written; takes time to think about and absorb 9. short stories from Cosmicomics - worldview = Existentialism - guide = Wikipedia article on Existentialism = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism Wikipedia article on author Calvino = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvino Wikipedia article on Cosmicomics = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmicomics for-a-fee online guide at Bookrags - reading level = gr. 8+; short, fast read; while these are all clean, Calvino does often have a theme of male sexual longing for unobtainable women in his works; it is at a very subtle almost unnoticeable level here 10. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Adams) - worldview = Absurdism guide = free online guide = http://eolit.hrw.com/hlla/novelguides/hs/Mini-Guide.adams.pdf Wikipedia article on Absurdism = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism Wikipedia article on Absurdist Fiction = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdist_fiction - reading level = grade 9+; very easy to read; fast read; a few crude sexual references; a few 4-letter words note = highly recommend also doing the sequel, Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which continues the story Ideas for other sci-fi classics: - 1984 (Orwell) -- totalitarian dystopian state - War of the Worlds (Wells) -- (optional book: "When the Tripods Came" -- only mediocre in writing, but a fun go-along) - The Invisible Man (Wells) - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Verne) - Journey to the Center of the Earth (Verne) - I, Robot (Asimov) - The Martian Chronicles (Bradbury) - short story: There Will Come Soft Rains (Bradbury) - short story: The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (LeGuin) - C.S. Lewis, space trilogy (sometimes called the Ransom trilogy): Out of the Silent Planet; Perelandra; That Hideous Strength -- 1st book traditional sci-fi; 2nd book very much Christian theme of the tempting of Adam and Eve; 3rd book has some discussion of sexuality (not graphic); themes of Christian faith vs. lust for power ending in judgment - The Traveler (Todd) -- nihilist worldview; very depressing; mature themes - The Left Hand of Darkness (LeGuin) -- mature themes - Children of Men (James) -- VERY mature themes Some worthwhile sci-fi works: - The Green Book (Walsh) -- short, easy, young adult book - trilogy: City of Ember; People of Sparks; Diamond of Darkhold (DuPrau) -- short, easy, pre-teen books - Enchantress from the Stars (Engdahl) -- teen book - Below the Root (Snyder) -- somewhat of a utopian theme; pre-teen/teen book - House of Stairs (Sleator) -- behavior modification used on teens; short, young adult book - Lathe of Heaven (LeGuin) - Eye of the Heron (LeGuin) - Ender's Game (Card) -- medium read; long - Dune (Herbert) -- easy read; long - Foundation (Asimov) -- easy read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 Lori, as usual, you blow me away with your lists! I'm considering do sci-fi for a year for ds. Your list is exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you! :svengo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted December 24, 2010 Share Posted December 24, 2010 Lori, I have no idea how many of hour messages are saved in my homeschool planning files - you are great! Thanks for this one ds will LOVE it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted December 25, 2010 Author Share Posted December 25, 2010 I'm in the Lori D. Fan Club too! Thanks, that is awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn On the Border Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 Wow! That's good to hear since I've no clue what a 9th grade English class is like. :biggrinjester: My son is in Pre-AP English, reading Eragon (which he read many times previously), Star Wars (spending classes watching the movies), and modern fiction. His vocabulary words are ridiculously easy- like tortilla and salamander. There is no grammar, little vocabulary, little writing, few literary terms. Most of the classes (including Pre-AP) spend a lot of time doing artsy projects, like making posters. It drives me crazy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 Lori, as usual, you blow me away with your lists! I'm considering do sci-fi for a year for ds. Your list is exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you! :svengo: LOL! Glad to be of help. Enjoy your own sci-fi lit. adventure -- I'd love to hear what you guys do! Warmest regards, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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