Heather in VA Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I want a literature program that reads full books. I want there to be questions, worksheets, maybe projects or writing assignments to go with the books. I don't want a stack of study guides - I want it to be one program. I want it not to be all history stuff, in fact no history would be great. Just regular literature. I want the books to be specified. I don't want to run around trying to find a bunch of books that fit particular catagories. I want the focus to be the books, not a grammar program in disguise. I'm looking for mid-elementary. Basically I want something like First Favorites for older kids or Lightining Literature for younger kids. Oh - and I looked at Drawn into the heart of Reading. It doesn't look at all like what I'm looking for. HELP!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jackie_roberts_1999 Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Have you ever looked at Learning Language Arts Through Literature?? It is not totally about literature, but each grade level has four book studies and there are units/lessons in the workbook that you have to have read the books to answer questions and write things about them. I like them because it is all in one deal. spelling, grammar, vocabulary, writing, and reading. There is a book list in the back for suggested readers, but each one has a set of four books and studies on each one. The cheapest place I have found them is www.rainbowresource.com. Each grade level is a color. Hope that helps. There is also another one called total language plus. It is a whole workbook on one book. The only bad thing is that there are not a lot of books to choose from in the younger grades and I don't think they have anything younger than 3rd. They have their own website. I did like the way it looked, but I have not used it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Beyond Five in a Row? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyinNNV Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 What about Progeny Press? They have a buy 4 get 1 free special right now. Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in VA Posted April 14, 2008 Author Share Posted April 14, 2008 Beyond Five in a Row? I don't know much about this one. Have you used it? Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie in OR Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 How about Living Books Curriculum (www.livingbookscurriculum.com) or Beautiful Feet books (www.bfbooks.com)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 You might check out Teaching The Classics, you could adapt it to whatever your reading. Although they don't offer projects, their lit. analysis is great. Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 What about the Junior Great books? You used to be able to order samples of their material. They provide good discussion questions and really focus on reading comprehension with activities and some writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yslek Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 My friend uses a program called Total Language Plus (I think:tongue_smilie:), which she switched to after using LLATL for several years. She really likes it. Based on what she has told me about it, it sounds exactly like what you're looking for. HTH Kelsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 See, now this is the curriculum I've been thinking of writing. Do you think there's a market for it? I was going to come up with some sort of customizable curriculum where you could pick the books from a list (I hate looking at a curriculum only to realize dc have read half of the books,) and I would package it with a schedule for those books and make sure all literary elements were covered for the year among those books, but also have questions of different sorts, activities, etc. My dear friend has been encouraging me to just do it for years. It would be a little late to help you, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genie Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 K12's Literature program sounds just like what you are describing. It is packaged with grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and composition, but I would pay for the package for just the literature alone. Some of the classics are abridged versions (Robinson Crusoe, Don Quixote) but they are quality versions. All of the books can be purchased as a package, except for the 3 or 4 novels of your choosing. How that works is that they have a list of probably about 30 or 40 novels that you can choose from. The "lit guides" for these are all online and available to you. So you pick the ones you want to use and they are entered into your online schedule. There are 180 total literature lessons per year, so this year we haven't done any of the extra novels because we were only doing literature 3 days per week at the beginning of the year. Anyway, if you have any questions, let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 :iagree: I liked that the list of novels had a Lexicon level associated w/ it so I could choose or let dd choose only those that I felt would challenge her. Great books and discussion questions. It is pricey and does come w/ all the extras as Genie said, but the grammar, spelling and vocab program isn't bad. Grammar uses the Voyages in English workbooks, Wordly Wise for vocab, their own spelling program that is quite good, etc. It does sound like what you are looking for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 See, now this is the curriculum I've been thinking of writing. Do you think there's a market for it? I was going to come up with some sort of customizable curriculum where you could pick the books from a list (I hate looking at a curriculum only to realize dc have read half of the books,) and I would package it with a schedule for those books and make sure all literary elements were covered for the year among those books, but also have questions of different sorts, activities, etc. My dear friend has been encouraging me to just do it for years. It would be a little late to help you, though. Get crackin' missy! I'm waiting for this very thing! :toetap05: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in VA Posted April 14, 2008 Author Share Posted April 14, 2008 See, now this is the curriculum I've been thinking of writing. Do you think there's a market for it? I was going to come up with some sort of customizable curriculum where you could pick the books from a list (I hate looking at a curriculum only to realize dc have read half of the books,) and I would package it with a schedule for those books and make sure all literary elements were covered for the year among those books, but also have questions of different sorts, activities, etc. My dear friend has been encouraging me to just do it for years. It would be a little late to help you, though. OH YES!!! There is definately a market for it. If you get on the stick you can have it done for my youngest :-). Seriously though, I think it would be great. Every year I wish for something like this and every year I end up with some kind of pale imitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in VA Posted April 14, 2008 Author Share Posted April 14, 2008 K12's Literature program sounds just like what you are describing. It is packaged with grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and composition, but I would pay for the package for just the literature alone. Some of the classics are abridged versions (Robinson Crusoe, Don Quixote) but they are quality versions. All of the books can be purchased as a package, except for the 3 or 4 novels of your choosing. How that works is that they have a list of probably about 30 or 40 novels that you can choose from. The "lit guides" for these are all online and available to you. So you pick the ones you want to use and they are entered into your online schedule. There are 180 total literature lessons per year, so this year we haven't done any of the extra novels because we were only doing literature 3 days per week at the beginning of the year. Anyway, if you have any questions, let me know. Interesting, I've never looked at K12. I'll have to take a look. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in VA Posted April 14, 2008 Author Share Posted April 14, 2008 What about the Junior Great books? You used to be able to order samples of their material. They provide good discussion questions and really focus on reading comprehension with activities and some writing. Oh I remember this program from when I was in school - although it may have just be 'Great Books' then. I went online and ordered a sample. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicMom Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 See, now this is the curriculum I've been thinking of writing. Do you think there's a market for it? I was going to come up with some sort of customizable curriculum where you could pick the books from a list (I hate looking at a curriculum only to realize dc have read half of the books,) and I would package it with a schedule for those books and make sure all literary elements were covered for the year among those books, but also have questions of different sorts, activities, etc. My dear friend has been encouraging me to just do it for years. It would be a little late to help you, though. Angela, I think you would be great at this! :iagree: Behind you 100%!! Blessings, Candace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Heather, Sorry, I have never used Beyond Five in a Row. It just popped into my head as a program that uses whole books and fits into that space between First Favorites and Lightning Literature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I've come to the conclusion that my options are to either just read the same book as my child and then discuss it with him as we go, or purchase a lit program like Mosdos, which isn't whole books, but does exlusively cover lit. If you find what you're looking for, let me know.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in VA Posted April 14, 2008 Author Share Posted April 14, 2008 I've come to the conclusion that my options are to either just read the same book as my child and then discuss it with him as we go, or purchase a lit program like Mosdos, which isn't whole books, but does exlusively cover lit. If you find what you're looking for, let me know.:001_smile: I'm starting to think the same thing. I'll look at Mosdos. Thanks Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I know you don't want a set of books, but we LOVE BJU Booklinks. There are about 3 per grade level and we've done them for 3 years now. The set comes with a novel, a teacher guide, and a folder. It's not very much as far as taking up space. The teacher guide has vocabulary and comprehension questions on each chapter, with reproducible worksheets at the end, covering lots of topics in literature and even going across the subjects. The folder has art, science, even cooking type projects to do with certain chapters. One book we read this year was "The Bridge". I literally cried when we read it together, because of remorse the main character felt over harsh words spoken to someone who died defending them. Most are fiction, but there was a biography in third grade and next year will have fiction set in a historical time period (WWII). Hope this might help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I am going to be using Literary Reflections published by the College of William and Mary this year. I hesitate to recommend it since this will be the first year I have used their curriculum. Here are the books it covers (copied from the website.) Student Readings Novels/Books The Secret Garden; Frances H. Bumett (Lessons 3,6,12,19,20) Year of Impossible Goodbyes; Sook Nyul Choi (Lessons 3,19) Underrunners; Margaret Maky (Lessons 3,19,20) Words by Heart; Ouida Sebestyen (Lessons 3,19,20) Taking Sides; Gary Soto (Lessons 3,19,20) Call It Courage; Armstrong Sperry (Lessons 3,19,20) Short Stories "The Power of Light"; Isaac B. Singer (Lessons 1,6) "The Old Man and His Affectionate Son" (Lesson 13) "The Tongue-cut Sparrow" (Lesson 15) "Poor People"; Leo Tolstoy (Lesson 24) Poems "Dream Deferred"; Langston Hughes (Lessons 4,9,17) "We Live by What We See at Night"; Martin Espada (Lesson 7) "Border Towns"; Roberto Durcin (Lesson 7) "The Habit of Movement"; Judith Ortiz Cofer (Lesson 7) "Monument in Black"; Vanessa Howard (Lesson 9) "Good Morning"; Langston Hughes (Lessons 9,17) "I never saw a moor..."; Emily Dickinson (Lesson 12) "Presentiment is..."; Emily Dickinson (Lessons 16,17) "Funny to be..."; Emily Dickinson (Lessons 16,17) "The morns are meeker than..."; Emily Dickinson (Lessons 16,17) "It sifts from leaden..."; Emily Dickinson (Lessons 16,17) "Dear March, come..."; Emily Dickinson (Lessons 16,17) "I'm Nobody!..."; Emily Dickinson (Lesson 17) Resources The Story of Emily Dickinson; Edna Barth (Lesson 17) Emily; Michael Bedard (Lesson 17) Coming Home: From the Life of Langston Hughes; Floyd Cooper (Lessons 9,17) Langston Hughes: Poet of the Harlem Renaissance; Christine M. Hill (Lessons 9,17) Emily Dickinson; Victoria Olsen (Lesson 17) Where the Sun Will Never Go Down; Chanticleer (Lesson 9) Negro Spirituals; Moses Hogan Chorale (Lesson 9) Amazing Grace: American Hymns & Spirituals; Robert Shaw Festival Singers (Lesson 9) The Secret Garden; Original Broadway Recording (Lesson 20) Optional Extensions Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl (Lesson 1) Number the Stars; Lois Lowry (Lesson 1) All the Colors of the Race; Ed. Arnold Adoff (Lesson 9) Bronzeville Boys and Girls; Gwendolyn Brooks (Lesson 9) My Daddy Is a Cool Dude; Karama Fufuka (Lesson 9) Honey, I Love, and Other Love Poems; Eloise Greenfield (Lesson 9) On Our Way: Poems of Pride and Love; Compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Lesson 9) A Little Princess; Frances H. Burnett (Lesson 12) Poor Richard's Almanac; Benjamin Franklin (Lesson 15) http://www.kendallhunt.com/samples/191.html If I like it I will be using the next guide - Patterns of Change next year. I do like the look of next year's book list (again copied from the website.) Student readings NOVELS The Watsons Go to Birmingham A Wrinkle in Time Bridge to Terabithia A Long Way from Chicago Maniac Magee My Daniel SHORT STORIES/ESSAYS The Helpful Badger A Bouquet of Wild Flowers Walking POEMS New feet within my garden go On the Pulse of Morning (excerpt) all ignorance toboggans into know In the Windowsill Frequently the woods are pink As children bid the guest goodnight The Wind Was Blowing West Buffalo Dusk Below When forty winters shall besiege thy brow Little Gidding (excerpt) AUTHOR Christopher Paul Curtis Madeleine L'Engle Katherine Paterson Richard Peck Jerry Spinelli Pam Conrad AUTHOR Laurence Yep Laura Ingalls Wilder Linda Hogan AUTHOR Emily Dickinson Maya Angelou e.e. cummings Mary Pleiss Emily Dickinson Emily Dickinson Joseph Ceravolo Carl Sandburg Joseph Bruchac William Shakespeare T. S. Eliot I am also planning to have my children do a couple of their individual novel studies each year. Several are available for free online. http://cfge.wm.edu/curr_language.htm Scroll down to Navigators Available Online for the free literature guides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I had Mosdos Pearl and sold it unused. I highly recommend CLE reading; it's a 15 week course that uses a reader with short stories (not abridged) and poetry with 5 workbooks (15 lessons/workbook). Here's what's covered in CLE reading 8: SUNRISE READING 800 – Where Roads Diverge 801 Analyzing story characters Working with the Latin word roots annus, quattuor, and junctum Identifying setting in a story Defining and identifying foreshadowing Identifying figurative language: metaphor, personification, simile Understanding and identifying allusions Considering the results of respecting older people Understanding and identifying conflict Relating characters’ actions to “where roads diverge†Understanding what an essay is Identifying the theme of an essay and a story Interpreting unusual figures of speech Rewriting a passage to eliminate a figure of speech Identifying the lessons taught in a fable Identifying the theme of a fable Identifying paraphrases Paraphrasing passages Identifying personification Extracting lessons from characters’ mistakes and examples Identifying the parts of plot: conflict, crisis, climax, resolution Labeling a plot map for a story Understanding and identifying prejudice in story characters Identifying a strategy for avoiding wrong judging Interpreting symbolism in literature Considering anger as a response to stimuli Considering and identifying satire Identifying the main ideas of paragraphs Writing the main idea of a paragraph Interpreting a metaphor from a Scripture verse Gaining information from letters, dialogue, and narrative Identifying allusions Comparing a character’s situation to a Bible character’s Identifying the main points of stanzas of poetry Identifying summaries of stanzas of poetry Marking the rhyme scheme of a poem Identifying eye rhyme Contrasting two characters Interpreting the meaning of a poem Applying the message of a poem to life 802 Identifying first- and third-person narrators Considering how point of view helps develop a story Identifying characters as static or dynamic Identifying a selection as romantic or realistic Identifying the theme of a selection Determining the likely veracity of statements Analyzing a poem’s structure Identifying beautiful language in a poem Working with the Latin roots jactum and dentis Identifying the possible varying sides of a story Interpreting description Analyzing character in relation to ‘‘where roads diverge†Analyzing how characters took responsibility Analyzing setting Identifying foreshadowing Applying principles from the story to life Interpreting passages from an essay Inferring from the essay Identifying onomatopoeia Marking the rhyme scheme of a poem Identifying similes Identifying a paradox Interpreting poetry Comparing a poem and an essay Identifying mood-creating words in a poem Telling why the first person to declare his cause usually seems right Understanding unity in a poem Writing an additional stanza for a poem Marking meter in a poem Learning the term iamb Identifying the thesis of an essay Identifying examples that support the thesis Identifying the double meaning of a title Working with the French root para Comparing characters’ actions to Scripture passages Determining character traits from actions Interpreting symbols in a story Using context clues to determine word meanings Identifying the elements of setting Interpreting and applying Bible verses Identifying an allusion Identifying proper response to life situations 803 Identifying a story frame Telling how a character obeyed a Bible command Telling how someone could have better obeyed a command Defining denotation and connotation Identifying the denotation and connotation of words Identifying the climax of a story Determining the broad setting of a story Working with the Greek roots biblos and philos Identifying reasons for characters’ feelings Interpreting figurative language Describing how different views of the same thing can be both right and wrong Choosing the most likely correct view of an incident Identifying the lesson taught by folktales Describing the characteristics of folktales Comparing two versions of a folktale Determining word meanings from context clues Inferring details from the story Identifying character qualities from characters’ actions Paraphrasing text from the story Interpreting an allegory Summarizing a list of items Identifying a statement that best states the idea of a number of statements Interpreting symbolism Describing the results of jealousy and envy Analyzing characters’ actions in light of “where roads diverge†Identifying irony Thinking clearly about disagreements Tracing the internal conflict in a story Identifying a character as static or dynamic Working with the Latin root centum Understanding the reasons for a character’s actions Identifying an allusion Understanding stereotypes Identifying indications of prejudice Explaining the irony in a statement Applying a verse to the story Paraphrasing a poem Interpreting symbolism in a poem Identifying the main idea of a stanza of poetry Learning the term anecdote Identifying the keyword in an anecdote 804 Identifying problem-solving skills Identifying actions that show persistence, observation, and understanding Identifying protagonist and antagonist Relating setting to mood Identifying character traits from actions Identifying the elements of plot: conflict, climax, resolution Working with the Greek root hydro Analyzing a character’s actions in light of ‘‘where roads diverge†Explaining how “talk leads to penury†Identifying the resolution of the story Determining word meanings from context clues Paraphrasing lines of poetry Explaining the poem title Identifying mood or atmosphere of stanzas of poetry Identifying the theme of a poem Matching paraphrases to lines of poetry Completing two parodies of a poem Identifying four types of fallacies in thinking Marking rhyme scheme and rhythm Identifying alliteration in a poem Identifying the moral Paraphrasing a verse Working with the Latin roots terra and pedis Identifying unfair judgments Determining character by observing actions Identifying couplets Identifying refrains Telling how a refrain affects the mood of a poem Identifying irony Identifying the theme of several verses Matching a popular saying to a proverb from Proverbs Explaining the meaning of unusual phrases Identifying foreshadowing Analyzing character in light of the story verse Noting the descriptive language used to describe setting Inferring details from the story Matching figures of speech to their meanings Describing aspects of the story setting Explaining characters’ actions 805 Determining meanings of words from context clues Inferring details from the story Analyzing characters’ actions in light of “where roads diverge†Understanding the historical background and setting Identifying four types of fallacious thinking Comparing and contrasting two characters Considering how others can stereotype you and your family Relating setting and mood Identifying the double plot of a story Identifying the theme of a story Considering the effect of one’s actions on others Matching lines of poetry to paraphrases Identifying the theme of a poem Paraphrasing lines of poetry Matching lines of poetry to anecdotes that illustrate them Identifying foreshadowing Determining character from actions Identifying how different characters would respond Identifying “victim†and “overcomer†responses Identifying how characters obeyed a Bible commandment Defining parallel Identifying three types of parallelism in Hebrew poetry Identifying the meanings of stanzas of poetry Identifying an implication of the poem Identifying the part of the plot Working with the theme of the story Identifying a character as an “overcomer†or a “victim†Identifying protagonists, antagonist, and conflicts Explaining irony in story events Drawing lessons from story events Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamabyrd Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I had Mosdos Pearl and sold it unused. I highly recommend CLE reading; it's a 15 week course that uses a reader with short stories (not abridged) and poetry with 5 workbooks (15 lessons/workbook). If you don't mind me asking, why didn't you like Mosdos? I've been swinging back and forth between these two programs. Well, I just ordered and received Mosdos but I'm having second thoughts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I loved the beautiful artwork/illustrations in the Mosdos textbook/reader but I didn't like that it was large and heavy. I bought it used on ebay so it wasn't the expense (it's EXPENSIVE); I had the TM & SM. I don't like abridged stories, it was too teacher intensive and didn't cover half of what CLE reading covers. HTH, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNC Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Someone PLEASE write this! I would love a program like this! Seriously - there is a huge need. The Veritas and Logos novel guides are wonderful in their own way, but a program that includes several novels each year would be outstanding. A wide variety of exercises, projects and worksheets would be great also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamabyrd Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I loved the beautiful artwork/illustrations in the Mosdos textbook/reader but I didn't like that it was large and heavy. I bought it used on ebay so it wasn't the expense (it's EXPENSIVE); I had the TM & SM. I don't like abridged stories, it was too teacher intensive and didn't cover half of what CLE reading covers. HTH, AAARRGGG..... I try and research to avoid curricula mistakes. I swung back and forth for weeks between CLE and Mosdos. Looking at the Mosdos samples, it seemed to have what I wanted and seemed easy to do. I JUST received it yesterday afternoon. I bought the whole package - teacher manuals, student text and student workbook. It DOES, in fact, cover all the literary elements, genres and teaches analysis; I have no complaint with the content. My problem is that I already have novels that I want to cover and I was looking for something to do on a daily basis between the book discussions/guides I will do with my dd. Looking at the Mosdos I can tell that it will be too much. It is very extensive and a lot is covered. Because of co-op, we will be doing school only 4 days per week and there is no way I can finish this program. I hate expensive mistakes. CLE would probably have suited my needs better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 In the early years, it uses excerpts from good books. Sampled selections include The Wind in the Willows, Alice in Wonderland, and others. It does use complete folk tales and short stories, and some poetry. It is a program which I think is better suited to a coop setting than an individual one--very discussion oriented, at least through about the 5th grade level. I recently purchased some studies from Total Language Plus that might suit your needs. They are definately more literary and less 'language artsy' than other programs that I have seen. They have some Christian content. I like them, but they are kind of pricey--around $20/book studies. Have not used them yet, but I bought the ones for "Rifles for Watie" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" to try with DD, 11. The first will probably be a little easy for her, and the second quite challenging (recommended for high school). I may just study TKAM with her lightly this year and return to study it in depth at the high school level later, using that guide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 use it over 2 years. If you really like Mosdos then use it over 2 yrs.; you have 3 dc so you could use it for them over the years :001_smile: Good Luck!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna T. Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 We haven't used Total Language Plus yet, but I plan to pick up one of the gudies when I go to convention in a few weeks. I've looked at the samples and they look great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanessaS Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 If you build it they will come. That sounds like a great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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