What to do for 7th & 8th grade literature/reading?

[athena1277]

Help, please. My dd will be 7th grade next year. Ever since finishing OPGTTR in K, she has been ahead in reading/literature. I've slowed her curriculum down at times to work on comprehension and other reading skills, but she is finishing CLE 8th grade reading this week. I've been told on the high school board that I can't/shouldn't count high school work until she is 9th grade. My cover school (we are in AL) administrators say I can count anything done at a high school level towards high school, so I could start her on high school work if I wanted to.

 

She is doing R&S grammar on grade level and doing very well with it. Her writing, however, is still a long ways from high school level work. She is currently halfway through WWS1. I plan for now to keep her going with the same curriculum for those 2 subjects.

 

So what do I do with her for reading/literature for next year? I hate to waste her time doing more 7th-8th grade level work. If she was to move to a high school level curriculum, wouldn't that include grammar and writing, which would likely be too advanced for her? And if I did start her early on high school level work, What will I do with her when she gets to 11th and 12th grades?

 

BTW, I am not very good at schooling without a guide, so just having her read books doesn't work well. When we have done books, I know she's not getting all she could out of them because I just don't know how to teach it. I love to read, but analyzing and such is tedious for me.

[Momling]

I'm not sure it's helpful to think about language arts in terms of a strict grade level progression. Outside of easy readers, books don't really come in grade levels. A person can read a novel in first grade, and then in 8th grade and again in college and get something different from it each time. The same writing assignment could be given in multiple grades and while the written output will hopefully improve over time, the assignment of summarizing or analyzing or whatever isn't really linked to grade level.

 

My suggestion is that you disregard grade level and simply teach her where she's at. When she's in 9th grade, whatever you are doing will be appropriate 9th grade work for her. Now in 7th grade, whatever you have chosen that will challenge or enrich or excite her will be appropriate for her regardless of whether the number on the book says "grade 5" or "grade 12".

 

Since it sounds like you prefer structured programs, I'd consider Lightning Literature or Galore Park So You Really Want to Learn English. If you feel like her writing mechanics are up to speed, I'd drop grammar. If you think her spelling or handwriting needs work, add those. If WWS is working, keep on going with it. Just don't get hung up on grade level. It's really pretty arbitrary.

[EndOfOrdinary]

Writing level dictates most everything. In fact, many people on this board use the writing level to designate when kids start early college. It is that significant. Until she is writing at high school level, her English or literature should not be considered high school level.

 

If you are really wanting to grade skip her, then get a writing tutor. We went this route because though I can teach literature, my writing instruction was terrible. Leaps and bounds have been made! It was a very good decision. We have one more year and then more than likely will not need said tutor. If you can swing it financially, outsource classes that you know are not a strength. No one can be great at everything.