steppingstonemomma Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Does anyone have a link to a Great Books list that is separated by reading level or grade level? I want to start my 8th grader on an actual list but I want to be sure I'm not picking too difficult of a book to start with. I have hardly read any myself so I'm behind the power curve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I'm not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for ...... ??? http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html or perhaps this ... http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/100.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppingstonemomma Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 I had seen the 100 great books list, but not the other. Thank you! The 7-9grade range should work! That's a lot of books, though! A long time ago I had seen a publisher (I thought it was actually called The Great Books, but I've google searched and it didn't come up) that had about 20 recs for 7th, 20 recs for 8th, and so on up through high school. They were the best of the best- most well known. Anyone have a clue what I'm talking about? Sorry, it's not too helpful! LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Great Books Academy Book Lists Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 (edited) I personally find it difficult to give someone an "8th grade Great Books list " or "9th grade Great Books list", because I don't know the student to know their interests, their reading level, their ability to grasp and discuss themes, and what kind of intensity level the child can handle. For example, I keep seeing "All Quiet on the Western Front" pop up on 9th grade reading lists -- good grief! That book was so intense -- and the members of our family are NOT "wuses" -- *I* would not recommend it for any student under age 16 -- and for many, not until college. On the other hand, I think some of Dickens' works (Oliver Twist; A Christmas Carol; Cricket on the Hearth) CAN be tackled in middle school -- BUT probably done aloud *together* because of his Victorian vocabulary and sentence structure. Another thought: what edition you choose also makes a difference. For example, if you are JUST getting started with becoming familiar with some of the Great Books, an abridgement or retelling might be a good choice in middle school in preparation for the "real thing" later on. For example, Rosemary Sutcliffe retellings of The Iliad and The Odyssey are nice prep for later in high school for reading the full translations, which may be a bit overwhelming for a student's first "outing" with The Great Books. And finally, especially if you are not familiar with The Great Books and literary analysis, starting with a good introductory literature program is an EXCELLENT way of starting out, and it will have a great book list. I highly recommend something like: - Hewitt's Lightning Lit & Comp 8 *3 units each with 6-8 classic poems *3 short stories (A Crazy Tale; Wakefield; Reflections) *1 novella (A Christmas Carol) *5 novels (Treasure Island; A Day of Pleasure; The Hobbit; My Family and Other Animals; To Kill a Mockingbird) scope and sequence = http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/book/blight8.asp sample: student guide = http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/pdfs/3285.pdf sample: teacher guide = http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/pdfs/3286.pdf Cathy Duffy review (of the high school levels) = http://cathyduffyreviews.com/phonics_reading/lightning-lit.htm - Excellence in Literature: Intro to Literature * 6 Short Stories (White Heron; Purloined Letter; The Necklace; Ransom of Red Chief; A Worn Path; Secret Life of Walter Mitty) *2 plays (Pygmalion; The Tempest ) *1 novella (Animal Farm) *5 novels (Around the World in Eighty Days; A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court; Jane Eyre; Treasure Island; Gulliver’s Travels) scope and sequence = http://everyday-education.com/literature/eng1.shtml Cathy Duffy review (to the 11th and 12th grade lit. programs) = http://cathyduffyreviews.com/phonics_reading/excellence-in-literature.htm - Windows to the World (6 short stories) AND - Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings (3 novels of the trilogy, a poetry unit; and with the option of doing The Iliad or The Odyssey; Beowulf; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight) WttW sample: student guide = http://www.christianbook.com/windows-the-world-introduction-literary-analysis/lesha-myers/9780980100518/pd/100518?item_code=WW&netp_id=523440&event=ESRCG&view=details WttW sample: teacher guide = http://www.christianbook.com/windows-the-world-introduction-literary-analysis/lesha-myers/pd/5007348?item_code=WW&netp_id=523467&event=ESRCG&view=details WttW: Cathy Duffy review = http://cathyduffyreviews.com/phonics_reading/windows-to-the-world.htm LLftLotR program = http://homescholar.org/LOTR%20Curr.htm LLftLotR content = http://homescholar.org/LOTR%20Contents.htm LLftLotR table of contents = http://homescholar.org/Table%20of%20Contents.htm LLftLotR samples = http://homescholar.org/Samples.htm These 3 past threads may be of help in getting started: - What 20 Books Help Prepare for Reading the Great Books = http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93913&highlight=Great+Books - Where do you start with a high school boy who has never read classic lit = http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133932&highlight=lit - How do I choose Great Books when I haven't even read most of them = http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177578&highlight=great+books And I *highly* recommend checking out this past post on The "motherlode" of links to past threads on a Great Books study = http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2478983#poststop -- links to many past threads on a wide variety of topics re: a Great Books study that will help you think through what you want to accomplish with a Great Books study in the high school years, and what that might look like in YOUR home. :) BEST of luck -- and ENJOY your entrance into "the great conversation" with The Great Books! Warmest regards, Lori D. Edited July 23, 2011 by Lori D. added info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Thanks so much for this very helpful reply Lori!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppingstonemomma Posted July 26, 2011 Author Share Posted July 26, 2011 Wow, Lori, you've done it again! You've blown me away with all that advice and the links! Off to read them all now... BTW, I was planning on doing Lightning Lit 8 next year so it should be perfect to ease us into the Great Books... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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