language arts for high schooler who wants explicit instruction

[EmilyGF]

I'm working on DS15's English class for next year, focus American Literature.

DS15 likes things explicitly taught. I try to make him think on his own, but he is always asking me to explain figures of speech and cultural references. Always. Usually I start with, "Well, what do you think?" and then refuse to say anything until he has given it a try. This can range from cultural references on billboards to puns in newspaper headlines. This literally happens 5+ times daily.

Is there some sort of curriculum I could use that would help me work through these things with him a bit more systematically or that would help him gain some more of this cultural knowledge and help me be a little less frustrated? My daughters just pick these things up. Often, when I make him guess, he's right, but not always, and he certainly never trusts himself to be right. He is definitely NOT an intuitive thinker.

Thanks, Emily

[almondbutterandjelly]

Super Duper Publications has some great "fun decks" on idioms, metaphors and similes, and famous words and proverbs.  

[Junie]

I would recommend The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy by E.D. Hirsch.  

https://smile.amazon.com/New-Dictionary-Cultural-Literacy-American/dp/0618226478/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+dictionary+of+cultural+literacy&qid=1596409961&sr=8-1

[EmilyGF]

3 minutes ago, Junie said:

I would recommend The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy by E.D. Hirsch.  

https://smile.amazon.com/New-Dictionary-Cultural-Literacy-American/dp/0618226478/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+dictionary+of+cultural+literacy&qid=1596409961&sr=8-1

That sounds like what I'm looking fro. Thanks!