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Looking for Literature guides like Glencoe's but...?


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For high School?  The Lit guides on Glencoe are great, and not just because they're free. I like the questions, the background, the writing prompts, especially the questions ;)  But, the majority of them seem to be middle school level (I realize there are a few that work for High School) I'm having trouble finding anything else similar in layout for more difficult books.  Any ideas?

 

 

Not looking for Shmoop or Sparknotes. I need something more in depth and complete... 

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Glencoe tends to use a lot of graphic organizers; is that one of the things you're looking for in a guide?

 

Novel Unit guides (NOT free) have some graphic organizers, as well as background info, discussion questions, some literary analysis info, writing assignment ideas, optional activities/resources. Rainbow Resource has these so you can "look inside" at the table of contents and a few sample pages

 

Portals to Literature guides (NOT free) are written for classroom use, and remind me a bit of a longer version of Glencoe guides. We have used one or two of these and just adapt for home use. Some reproducibles; background info; writing assignment ideas; exercises/class activities; discussion questions, etc. Also at Rainbow Resource.

 

No graphic organizers, and only limited handful of guides, but the Garlic Press Discovering Literature Challenger level guides (about $10/each at Rainbow Resource) are MEATY! Background info, excellent discussion questions, literary analysis info, writing assignment choices, resources, etc. Answers in the back.

 

No graphic organizers, but the Penguin Teacher guides are meaty, with many high school/college titles. And they are FREE.

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Honestly, I need something to hand to DN to fill out so that I know he's actually reading the books I've assigned.  He balks at any book that seems young, he's already read most of the Glencoe books in grade school (he's super smart and doesn't feel he should have to actually work at anything). DS and DD will do discussions and such but he pretty much refuses to join in.  Plus it would be nice to have actual prepared questions for the discussions so that I don't have to reread books I already read 20-30 years ago.  I'd also like essay question options and a simple test.  I need things to grade.  We recently moved to TN, where they require grades, and I've never actually graded anything of the kid's before.  We're doing okay with most of our other subjects, it's just literature that I'm having trouble with.

 

I've changed my previous choices to fit with what Glencoe has so far, but it will only work so long.  Eventually I'd like to do a few books that they don't have guides for...... Off to check out Lori's suggestions, thanks.

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Honestly, I need something to hand to DN to fill out so that I know he's actually reading the books I've assigned... Plus it would be nice to have actual prepared questions for the discussions ...  I'd also like essay question options and a simple test.  I need things to grade.  We recently moved to TN, where they require grades...

 

Hmmm... Then most my options will most likely NOT work for you. SilverMoon's suggestion of Holt is the closest to Glencoe with short answer, fill in the blanks, graphic organizers...

 

Penguin guides are great, but they are TEACHER guides -- lots of background info, theme and other literary element info, and discussion questions.

 

Garlic Press Discovering Lit. Challenger level -- also TEACHER guides, with great for discussion questions, literary analysis info and writing assignment ideas -- but NO short answer, fill in the blanks, or graphic organizers like Glencoe.

 

Portals to Literature is the most likely to have reproducibles and fill in the blank / hand-off to the student types of assignments and exercises that might fit the bill. And they do have a lot of background info and discussion questions (for you the teacher), plus writing assignments, etc. However, they are expensive (about $18 each), AND you would have to pick and choose through all of it and just have DS do selected exercises...

 

 

Maybe try searches for individual book titles? Sometimes the Teachers Pay Teachers site has short guides that are like that... Ug. Sorry I can't be of more help.

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If you're looking for a workbook type program, you might consider Read with the Best. It is a more structured program in that it covers specific pieces - many shorter works from Norton anthologies as well as a few longer works such as novels. It is available for both American and English literature. 

 

These look good- really wish they had them in World or Ancient Lit. I'm looking for the same thing as the OP.

 

Other potentials for purchase:

Memoria Press Lit Guides and Classical Studies Guides (scroll to the bottom for the high school stuff)

 

Lightning Lit

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Smarr Literature might be worth a look as well. They do have worksheets with vocabulary and comprehension questions as well as essay assignments. They cover a good variety of classic literature.  They have courses which cover a number of works structured in a chronological (Ancient, Medieval, etc.) or topical approach (American, British, World etc.). They also sell individual guides so you can structure your own course. Here is a review which may be helpful.

 

 

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Just to clarify: only the grade 7 and 8 Lightning Lit. programs have a student guide AND actual student work pages in which the student practices various aspects of the literary lesson for that unit, and does beginning literary analysis on a passage from a work of Lit. that is included in the work pages. The high school programs only have a student guide which is the literature lesson information for the work of literature, plus comprehension questions. No work pages.

 

:)

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Just to clarify: only the grade 7 and 8 Lightning Lit. programs have a student guide AND actual student work pages in which the student practices various aspects of the literary lesson for that unit, and does beginning literary analysis on a passage from a work of Lit. that is included in the work pages. The high school programs only have a student guide which is the literature lesson information for the work of literature, plus comprehension questions. No work pages.

 

:)

 

No work pages, but it does have comprehension questions and essays. It covers literary analysis topics, but doesn't require the essays use the taught topics. Good background information on authors.

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