Hoggirl Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 What are these like? Are there thought-provoking discussion questions? Just wanting to make sure they move beyond only comprehension. Is there somewhere to see samples? TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Two places I've seen sample pages: 1. Rainbow Resource at http://www.rainbowresource.com Type in "Discovering Literature Series" in the search box, and it will pull up the 2 dozen guides by Garlic Press. Click on the individual guide you want to see, and you'll be able to see the 2 pages of the table of contents, plus 1 sample page for many if not all of the guides. 2. Christian Book at http://www.christianbook.com Not every guide is available through this website, and not every guide they offer has sample pages, BUT -- about 6 do, and you see both the entire table of contents, plus 2-5 sample pages. You'll find the discussion questions are on the same page as the chapter summary. Search for a specific guide by typing in either: "Discovering Literature: ____", or "A Teaching Guide to ________", with the book title filling in the blank. The guides are between 70-110 pages long. The regular guides are best suited for gr. 5-8, while the guides labeled "challenging level" are best for gr. 7-10. Only familiar with the challenging level guides, but there's certainly a lot there: - pages of intro material (author/translator info; pre-reading suggestions; historical times info; etc.) - material for each chapter (summary; discussion questions; vocabulary) - 12-16 "Strategy" pages, each with info on a literary element with examples from the book; reading strategy; comparison to other lit; etc. - 8-10 "Writer's Forum" pages, each with either specific info on writing about literature, or a list of ideas for writing assignments - 4-6 tests, with vocabulary quiz and essay questions - answers - additional resources list If you don't find a sample pages of discussion questions or essay questions, let me know, and I'll give you a sample from one of the guides we have. Hope this helps! Warmly, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 The middle grade samples didn't look that super to me. I am trying to find something that has more analysis and less comprehension. Do you have any ideas for me? However, I don't want it to "beat the book to death." My ds is fine doing stuff orally, but he doesn't like workbook-type assignments. Answers he can type (even if they require more) are preferred. We did one Progeny Press guide, but he grew weary of it b/c he felt like it dragged on and on. But, I did think it was a bit more analytical than what I am seeing on the limited samples of the Garlic Press guides that I can see. I am really trying to figure out what I can do next year for "literature." I don't really want a daily program. I'd rather have something we can sit down and discuss once a week. Any ideas at all for me? I feel like we are in that "in-between stage," kwim? I wish could get him to sort of take notes as he reads, but I think that is too much to ask of a 12-yr-old boy. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pensguys Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I'd like to know too.....I'm looking for something I can use in a co-op setting for discussion about the part of the book they read the week before at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) Well, one thought is if you liked the more analytical questions in Progeny Press, go with those guides -- just don't feel you have to do the entire guide. We've used some of them this year, and frankly, I skip the vocab. and comprehension questions and just pick 2-3 of the more analytical questions per chapter to discuss, and occasionally use one of the essay question ideas for a writing assignment. I will say that some of the upper level Garlic Press guides are good -- but three of the six books covered I would not suggest using below high school (The Giver, To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies) -- which only leaves you The Hobbit, Redwall, and The Odyssey. Some other guides to consider: The Great Book guides = http://www.thegreatbooks.com/ High school level guides, from a Christian perspective, with a Worldviews basis for analysis/discussion. Click on the 4 historical time frames to see which books they offer guides for. Glencoe free online literature guides = http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/ Lengthy guides, for middle school and high school literature. These are good, but again REALLY don't feel you have to do the whole thing -- there are a lot of exercises and a variety of ways to respond to the literature, but you can glean some fairly decent discussion questions if you skim through the guides. Sparknotes free online literature guides = http://www.sparknotes.com/sparknotes/ Lengthy, mostly meant for high school and college. A lot of symbols, themes and motifs discussed. Secular, and often including discussion on sexuality. However, there are good chapter summaries and analyses -- but not much in the way of discussion questions; just a few (about 4 each) study questions and essay question ideas at the very end after you've finished the book. I find these helpful for the author backgrounds, and for the chapter summaries if I didn't have time to read the work myself. And, of course, you can always try a google search for whatever book you're reading and see what you come up with. I've found 1-2 decent study guides or literature guides that way. Sounds like you might just want to start moving towards the kinds of questions and analysis that can be applied to any literature, as described in the first few chapters of The Well Educated Mind. I read through that first section of Susan's book and jotted down the questions on a few index cards and keep it handy for discussing literature. We tend to still read most of the literature aloud together so we can stop and discuss, compare, analyze, etc. in the moment, even though we're doing 9th & 10th grade. However, I realize not everyone has that time or ability to do the lit. along with their student. Hmmm... I'll keep thinking! BEST of luck in finding that "tween" literature program/guide! :) Warmest regards, Lori Edited February 10, 2009 by Lori D. added a link and some info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pensguys Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Thanks, Lori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 I appreciate your thoughts. I am glad you suggested adapting the PP guides and not feeling the need to do them in their entirety. I am such a type "A" personality that not checking all of the boxes often never occurs to me! I also have Teaching the Classics which I should probably pull out again. I would just like to do some guide-specific books as well. Think I will revisit PP in a more limited scope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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