Teaching the Classics, Windows to the World, or other?

[BlsdMama]

I need thorough grounding in how to write a literary analysis. I believe Teaching the Classics is intended for K-12. I believe Windows to the World is for high school.

 

I would like something to walk through with Ana. Suggestions? I'm completely open minded right now. ;)

 

I do have Writing Aids, The Well Educated Mind (through the library though I could purchase it), and TWSS.

[Lisabeth]

I talked to a representative for these products at convention this past year and he said that teaching the classics is really the groundwork for teaching kids how to study literature. It's also not necessarily for the kids to do by themselves. It's meant to be a tool for parents and kids to use together. You both read the book independently and then discuss the book using the tools/questions in teaching the classics. After you learn the tools in Teaching The Classics I believe if I remember right that you can move on to Windows to The World. My freshman this year did the DVDs of Teaching the Classics and then chose books out of the back of the book that were high school level. I required about one a month and then we discussed them. I haven't read all the books she has read and that has definitely hampered some of our discussions, but I just don't have the time to read all the books she does. We are a big IEW family so I'm going to have her do a paper on her last book of the year.

[BlsdMama]

I just really wonder about using Teaching the Classics with DD. She's very literary adept and pretty good with writing and analyzing. I want something that will help "fine tune" her abilities. That said, I know little to nothing about what expectations to set up - the parameters of what a literary analysis should include. Does that make sense?

[Janice in NJ]

There are free lessons plans that combine TTC and WttW into a one year literary analysis course.

 

The first page says

 

A One-Year Course Combining:

Teaching the Classics by Adam Andrews

Windows to the World: An Introduction to Literary Analysis by Lesha Myers

Teaching the Classics World View Supplement by Adam Andrews (optional)

Each student will need:

• Windows to the World: Student Book (one per student)

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (you may substitute another novel)

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (you may substitute another novel)

• Hamlet by Shakespeare (you may chose a different play)

 

The author asks for a $5 donation via Paypal if you use the materials.

Sounds like what you are looking for.

 

Peace,

Janice

[mjbucks1]

We are using the Jill Pike lesson plans that Janice mentions. It does combine both Teaching the Classics and Windows to the World. IT IS WONDERFUL!!! The syllabus really adds to Windows to te World. Teaching the Classics is used for about the first five lessons. My ds and I watched it together. This is one resource I will for all my children as they get older. Blessings, Michelle

[mom31257]

:bigear:

[BlsdMama]

So I have a question to go along with this:

 

Do either of these programs *only* evaluate certain books or are they used to teach the actual writing/analysis process by themselves?

 

The reason I ask is because we are deep into Middle Ages and I'm not going to jump forward and deviate for a writing program. Better to learn the actual analysis process and then apply it to that which we are studying than to get sidetracked.

 

Sigh. I'm just not feeling energetic this morning. Usually something new energizes me, spurs me forward. Today I'm just taking in a deep breath and thinking, "Add one more thing to the list."

 

Must go have cocoa and pray over my attitude this Monday morning.

[MamaT]

So I have a question to go along with this:

 

Do either of these programs *only* evaluate certain books or are they used to teach the actual writing/analysis process by themselves?

 

The reason I ask is because we are deep into Middle Ages and I'm not going to jump forward and deviate for a writing program. Better to learn the actual analysis process and then apply it to that which we are studying than to get sidetracked.

 

Sigh. I'm just not feeling energetic this morning. Usually something new energizes me, spurs me forward. Today I'm just taking in a deep breath and thinking, "Add one more thing to the list."

 

Must go have cocoa and pray over my attitude this Monday morning.

 

:grouphug: It's Monday - give yourself a break!

 

I had the same thoughts about not wanting to deviate from our history rotation for a lit program. I ended up buying all 5 units of Excellence in Literature so that I could use different books from different units to match our history studies. Instead of individual books it comes in a binder so that you can pull out whatever book you want to study, make copies, etc. I was able to look at it at the SE Convention and I was impressed with the content.

[krstbrwn]

I've only used Windows to the World, but I LOVED it. My three children can write essays about the literature they've read and include quotes from the book for proof. My daughters started an online writing/literature class in the fall, and they were almost the only students who knew how to do this. Windows teaches them step by step how to prove their thesis. You can apply this to any type of paper in my mind. You just wouldn't be using quotes from the book to prove your point, you would be using quotes and paraphrases from your research. Anyway, I think it is the best writing book I have used to date.

[jibaker103]

So I have a question to go along with this:

 

Do either of these programs *only* evaluate certain books or are they used to teach the actual writing/analysis process by themselves?

 

The reason I ask is because we are deep into Middle Ages and I'm not going to jump forward and deviate for a writing program. Better to learn the actual analysis process and then apply it to that which we are studying than to get sidetracked.

 

Sigh. I'm just not feeling energetic this morning. Usually something new energizes me, spurs me forward. Today I'm just taking in a deep breath and thinking, "Add one more thing to the list."

 

Must go have cocoa and pray over my attitude this Monday morning.

They teach the actual writing/analysis process using short stories included in the curriculum to walk you through doing it. After you have learned how the techniques can be applied to any type of literature.

[mjbucks1]

So I have a question to go along with this:

 

Do either of these programs *only* evaluate certain books or are they used to teach the actual writing/analysis process by themselves?

 

The reason I ask is because we are deep into Middle Ages and I'm not going to jump forward and deviate for a writing program. Better to learn the actual analysis process and then apply it to that which we are studying than to get sidetracked.

 

 

 

 

Teaching the Classics is meant to be used with any literature selection. Windows to the World uses short stories (such as "The Most Dangerous Game" and "The Necklace", so it doe not add a lot of additional reading to teach the elements. One can then apply this to any literature selection. The Jill Pike syllabus combines the two, and adds in two novels and a play. But you could substitute what you are reading for these assignmnets. Also, you could just watch Teaching the Classics at the beginning of the year, then work through Windows to the World, having your child substitute the books he/she is reading for the short story assignments (although I think starting with a short story may not be as overwhelming). I really love both of these programs, and think you could easily adjust the assignments to fit the literature you are currently reading.