MCT Literature Trilogy vs. MP Literature Units

[bfw0729]

I had tried a lapbook unit study this year with my fifth graders and fourth grader using the Phantom Tollbooth and it worked out nicely. They weren't totally interested in the story, but enjoyed creating their lapbook. I want to continue this literature process but may want to try something different. I'm considering possibly using MCT (Michael Clay Thompson) or MP (Memoria Press). 

 

With regards to reading, I read to my children almost everyday (our read aloud) and they read silently about 30 minutes a day (book on their list or free choice). I want to continue this separate literature program where the children take turns to read aloud and we discuss and maybe write a little about the chapter we had just read. When we had done the Phantom Tollbooth, we worked on it about three days a week and took us about 2 months to get through it. We took our time and they enjoyed the process of reading together and doing a small minibook to stick on their lapbook. 

 

I had tried Memoria Press a couple of years ago and it was a lot of writing. I'm leaning toward MCT and trying a couple of their books. I'm taking a look at the Search Trilogy, which includes Treasure Island, The Call of the Wild, and The Invisible Man. Has anyone used MCT's literature approach? 

 

Edited December 29, 2017 by bfw0729

[bfw0729]

Bump...

[mamamoose]

I don’t know anything about MCT but also think MP is a lot of writing. I think it’s the right kind of writing though, and adds to their overall approach. I guess it depends on how much writing you’re doing elsewhere.

[EmseB]

For MP lit guides, keep in mind they are made for classroom use. A teacher is having kids take turns reading, the whole class is helping the teacher compose a sentence on the board, and the kids are copying it down, AND they aren't writing the answer to every question.

 

The lit guides aren't designed for one kid, reading a chapter by himself and sitting and writing, writing, writing, filling in every last blank space. Some kids can do that, but some cannot, and others have to work up to it all.

 

IOW, they can and should be adapted to fit your homeschool.

[bfw0729]

For MP lit guides, keep in mind they are made for classroom use. A teacher is having kids take turns reading, the whole class is helping the teacher compose a sentence on the board, and the kids are copying it down, AND they aren't writing the answer to every question.

 

The lit guides aren't designed for one kid, reading a chapter by himself and sitting and writing, writing, writing, filling in every last blank space. Some kids can do that, but some cannot, and others have to work up to it all.

 

IOW, they can and should be adapted to fit your homeschool.

 

Interesting... maybe I should call MP and ask how to manage using the lit guides for one or two kids. 

[EmseB]

Interesting... maybe I should call MP and ask how to manage using the lit guides for one or two kids. 

 

You can, and they'd probably be glad to give you advice. I have two kiddos using the guides and they both work in different ways with different amounts of writing vs. oral work. Also, you can look at the tests and quizzes to see what MP's learning objectives are, the connections and understanding they want students to have for each book, and work backwards from there in determining which answers you want your kids to write and which you feel you can do orally. Some people don't give quizzes and tests at all based on how they run their homeschool.

 

The important thing to remember is that the lit guides are a tool for teaching the book. They aren't mandating a certain amount of work.