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Suggestions for 'easy' high school English


AliR
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I am currently planning for 9th grade and beyond, for a DD whose main challenges lie with language.  The only area that I really don't know where to start is English.  A typical 9th grade English class is well beyond her capabilities at the moment, mostly with the written output although reading complex works is also a problem.  I have to use something that  is either offered by an 'accredited organisation', or that would be acceptable to a cover school.  Unfortunately we are overseas, and don't have access to IEPs or 504s which could make it easier to self-design a remedial course and have it accepted for high school credit.

 

Any suggestions?

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Would the AGS textbook series help with meeting requirements?  I am linking the website where you can see the textbooks but I don't recommend you buy from there.  If you are able to purchase things through Amazon, that would be your best bet since you can usually get the books much cheaper, and the used ones really aren't bad looking if you get a used/good condition or better version.

 

I know here most 9th grade English classes include some sort of Literature study.  AGS has a World Literature textbook written at a lower reading level but  interest level is for Middle School/High School.  It is for High Schoolers that are struggling with reading/writing.  There are at least two different versions so if you did purchase this one, and wanted some of the support materials (like the vocabulary workbook, student workbook, Teacher Textbook) make absolutely certain that the front covers match.  I am linking that specific book below.  You can click on the preview on-line button and see several pages of the book.  It covers study skills, reading skills, world literature selections and analysis, etc.  

 

http://www.wiesereducational.com/products/ags-world-literature-mm8351.htm

 

What are you doing for reading remediation, if anything?  

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I don't know what an accredited high school English course looks like.  I would just purchase what you think entails one and then accommodate it to make it work.  I would add some grammar/diagramming and essay writing instruction.  Reduce the reading selections down to an doable number, use adapted versions, audio books with Immersion or Whisper Sync technology, and supplement with Cliff notes, movies, and plays.   Explore mindmapping and use Socratic questioning.  Used Holt publishing world lit texts are cheap on Amazon.  I personally like Teaching the Classics DVDs.  With the Jill Pike syllabus, you and your DD could work through TtC in 8-10 weeks.

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Thank you both for these suggestions, which I am exploring.

 

For reading remediation we are currently using Rewards Secondary.  However, it is not really a reading issue, but a language one and is not one that is going to be 'fixed' any time soon, if ever.

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I don't know how to make a course palatable to a cover school.  And without knowing more specifics, I can't really offer writing advice.

 

However, with literature my advice would be to focus on authors, rather than specific works.

 

Movies, play, and audiobooks (as mentioned above) are a great place to start.  My ds recently watched "Emma" because I knew making him slog through Jane Austen was not in my best interest.  But, 2 hour later, he was familiar with her style and had a general idea of what the novel was about.  And he learned what a "chick flick" is.  ;)

 

Short stories are another great option.  When we studied American lit last year, I didn't want him to read The Great Gatsby.  Immoral, in my opinion, and I knew he wouldn't enjoy it.  I had him read a synopsis of the story (as I wanted him to know a little about it -- just not be entrenched in slime for a week or so) and I had him read a biography of Fitzgerald.  He also read a few of Fitzgerald's shorter works.  It seems that he really enjoyed "The Strange Case of Benjamin Button".

 

hth

 

 

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