Jackie Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I remember reading a post somewhere on the WTM boards a while back where someone posted something along the lines of "just like kids doing algebra in 5th grade cut their teeth on Singapore and Zaccaro, kids reading/analyzing Shakespeare in middle school cut their teeth on J.M. Barrie and Kipling and A.A. Milne." Sorry, didn't bookmark the thread, but it stuck in my head. I'm in the process of revamping my Big Excel Spreadsheet of Literature. I include piles of picture books, chapter books, classics, and am trying to add more modern books and books that represent a diverse world. But what would you consider those essential, wonderful classics for kids to cut their teeth on? DD's reading level is very high, but I usually use these classics for our read aloud time. Point me in the right direction, please. I'm especially looking at books for a child of age 6-8. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 My reading list for K-3rd are these: Kindergarten Wizard of Oz Little House In The Big Woods Peter Pan Wind In The Willows Beatrix Potter The House At Pooh Corner Aesop's Fables Pinocchio Charlotte's Web Mrs. Pigglewiggle A Children's Garden of Verses Rikki Tikki Tavi 1st Grade Matilda Dr. Doolittle 5 Children and It The Little Price James & The Giant Peach Ralph S. Mouse Mr. Popper's Penguins Alice In WonderlandThe Reluctant Dragon Just So Stories Edward Lear poem collection 2nd Grade The Water Babies Ramona The Pest The Jungle Books Through The Looking Glass Heidi The Railway Children Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Desperaux Grimm's Fairy Tales The Secret Garden 3rd Grade Homer Price Pippi Longstocking Cricket In Times Square The Invention of Hugo Cabret Harriet The Spy The Graveyard Book Johnny Tremain Robin Hood The Whipping Boy The Hobbit (possibly 4th) They're not all classics. Some were chosen to show the author's other works, some were chosen to be easy to relate to, and some were chosen because of beautiful language or pictures that would have him going back to them over and over. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 If your DD wants kids to discuss lit with, I'd look at the Athena's Academy classes. They're 5th and 6th grade level books, but a majority of the kids doing the class are going to be in the 6-8 age group, and the instructor is amazing at handling kids who are good readers, but are still also little kids who get scared and get upset. Having those other kids who had a child's perspective to bounce the ideas off of really helped. G3 has similar courses using Lightning literature, starting at 7th grade level. My DD loved the Athena's classes so much that she's continued as a TA for some of the LA classes since she's finished all but the "teen focused" ones. She didn't want to leave :). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 If your DD wants kids to discuss lit with, I'd look at the Athena's Academy classes. They're 5th and 6th grade level books, but a majority of the kids doing the class are going to be in the 6-8 age group, and the instructor is amazing at handling kids who are good readers, but are still also little kids who get scared and get upset. Having those other kids who had a child's perspective to bounce the ideas off of really helped. G3 has similar courses using Lightning literature, starting at 7th grade level. My DD loved the Athena's classes so much that she's continued as a TA for some of the LA classes since she's finished all but the "teen focused" ones. She didn't want to leave :). This may be a possibility. DD turns 6 in May and she's been very focused on wanting to take online classes ever since she learned they existed. As a sideline to my thread - what skills are most needed before she starts? She takes one-on-one Skype tutoring through Homeschool Spanish Academy, so she is comfortable with headphones and a microphone. I'm assuming she'd also need to be able to write a basic paragraph and have a passable typing speed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Short paragraphs, usually 3-5 sentences for the kids just starting, the ability to stay on task (there is both discussion and a chat box happening, and just staying on top of the class. They're very willing to adapt, but if a child hasn't done the reading and isn't prepared, they'll find it hard to follow the discussion, and, for literature, will hit spoilers for the books as well. They're a good introduction to online learning, and for my DD, the chance to be part of a group talking about the topics that was her age was a big plus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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