z2_mom Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I am trying to find something that teaches literary elements....like style, plot, character, irony, etc..... This would be for Junior high student, who is an excellent reader. I need to stretch her mind more! It can either be a reading curriculum or something that uses living books. I would like something that has a good teachers manual or guide for me. Something that that has the student dig a bit deeper into the book. I don't mind comprehension questions but want more depth. Suggestions please???? thanks,. lynda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia in WA Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Lightning Literature? DD used LL7 and she found it pretty easy as she had read most of those books. She found it enjoyable! We skipped LL8 since she really had read all those as well. We decided to go with something a little more challenging and are working our way thru the Medieval British guide. We have just started it but so far so good. HTHs, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 In addition to Lightning Lit. 7 and 8 (each a full year program, with student information, student workpages, complete literary works, and teacher guides), Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings is a great, gentle intro to literary analysis. Lighting Lit = http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/book/blight.asp Lit. Lessons from Lord of the Rings homepage = http://www.homescholar.org/ Lit. Lessons from Lord of the Rings table of contents = http://www.homescholar.org/Table%20of%20Contents.htm Lit. Lessons from Lord of the Rings samples = http://www.homescholar.org/Samples.htm And two very helpful resources for learning about literary elements are: - Figuratively Speaking: Using Classic Literature to Teach 40 Literary Terms - Story Elements (both the gr. 5/6 AND the gr. 7/8 ones are helpful) See sample pages of each at http://www.rainbowresource.com Not used this resource myself, but several people really like the Christian Light Education reading program, which, starting in 4th/5th grade, teaches literary analysis. See it at: http://www.clp.org/store/by_subject/1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 My oldest started the CLE reading program (reader/workbooks) in grade 7. It's a reader and 5 workbooks that takes 16 weeks if you do it 5 days/wk. I highly recommend CLE reading! Join the CLE yahoo group to see samples in the photos section of the group. Here's what in CLE reading 7: SUNRISE READING 700 – The Road Less Traveled 701 Labeling similes and metaphors Interpreting similes and metaphors Identifying the main ideas of paragraphs Learning to form correct mind pictures from the story Reviewing alliteration Working with the Latin word parts co-, con-, com-, col- Learning about theme Learning about imagery in poetry Studying etymologies of words Identifying internal and external conflict Learning to accept differences in others Working with personification Working with the Latin prefix pro- Learning to correctly read poetry Reviewing mood in a poem Working with humor in a story Interpreting various dialects Learning good judgment in reading Learning about symbols Working with the Latin word part trans- Studying about history and legend Working with rhyme scheme in poetry Learning qualities of parables Thinking about fads Studying humor in language Reviewing internal and external conflict 702 Studying various Latin roots Writing paraphrases Identifying allusions in a story Reviewing onomatopoeia Working with the Greek word auto- Finding where something is first introduced Observing characters’ various reactions to a problem Identifying the conflict Working with story plot Determining the importance of story details to the plot Thinking about heroes Marking rhyme scheme Identifying alliteration Working with an expanded metaphor Interpreting the story Using context clues to define words Thinking about right and wrong ways to treat people Working with the word part uni- Learning about monologue Interpreting figures of speech Working with setting and mood Determining rhyme scheme Learning about and writing a parody Practicing clear thinking Making inferences Determining character from speech and actions Reviewing static and dynamic characters Organizing a paragraph in sequence form Developing good diction Choosing words with good connotation Working with imagery Marking meter in a poem Working with the word part peri- Working with setting and plot Reviewing conflict, crisis, climax, and resolution Writing the story from a different point of view 703 Classifying related items from the story Working with the Greek word part tele- Writing a basic outline of the story Choosing correct descriptions of characters Using context clues to find vocabulary words Working with metaphors Marking rhythm pattern Using the dictionary Working with figures of speech Determining broad and specific setting Working with conflict and crisis Finding vivid descriptions Working with the Greek word phobos Reviewing expanded metaphor Interpreting symbols Thinking about prejudice Communicating clearly Determining the reason for happenings Working with the word part aqua- Identifying setting and plot Deciding which details are important to the plot Learning to think about what you hear Writing rhyme scheme Learning about eye rhyme Interpreting the poem Reviewing prejudice Thinking about personal responsibility Working with irony Working with the theme of the reader 704 Reviewing characteristics of parables Choosing the correct paraphrase Comparing two similar stories Classifying items Working with the Greek word bios- Making analogies Learning the difference between imply and infer Finding allusions Interpreting unfamiliar terms Recognizing faulty thinking Determining premise and conclusion Learning about parallels in poetry Identifying figures of speech Working with the root word solus Working with the Greek word part geo- Working with the Latin word scribere Identifying premise and conclusion Learning about four reasoning fallacies Working with plot Interpreting the image in the poem Marking rhyme scheme Writing contrasting parallels Working with the Greek word chronos- Thinking about fairness Marking rhythm pattern Matching synonyms 705 Defining stoop Reviewing clear thinking Working with the suffix -ism Interpreting the metaphor Learning about free verse Dividing a poem into stanzas Identifying faulty thinking Reviewing conflict Working with the Greek word micro- Dividing a poem into stanzas Writing clear sentences Thinking about racism Thinking about slavery Reviewing irony Learning about sarcasm Determining setting Making inferences Reviewing premise and conclusion Reviewing various word parts Reviewing metered and free verse Comparing and contrasting characters Thinking about consequences of sin Determining the symbol in the story Choosing synonyms Finding similes and metaphors Working with the word part inter- Considering different points of view Matching themes with story titles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I use Lightning Lit (which I find kind of light) and Teaching the Classics and I have Stobaugh for Jr. High handy as well. I should probably add that while I use and love CLE for many subjects, I can't abide "readers". I like real books and so that was a real issue for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 We've started out very busily this year with an online literature and writing class so I never started CLE Reading in the fall. Now that the class is thankfully over, I pulled out the CLE Reading I bought last summer because of recommendations I read here. (Thanks, Michelle!) Dd 13 has started with the 7th grade anthology and she LOVES it. She's a very solid reader but is missing answers because it forces her to think more deeply than she's used to. She has started another coop English class because I want her to work on essay writing in preparation for high school, but she has asked to have CLE Reading as her English class. It's something she looks forward to and with other things going on she's made room for it. The integrated vocabulary is nice, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I use Lightning Lit (which I find kind of light) I'm glad to have started using it early. It has worked fine with a younger child who was happy to read fairly long texts. We are also using So You Really Want to Learn English, which includes a light introduction to technical terms in poetry (assonance, alliteration, etc.). I expect to dive into all this more deeply when Calvin is about fourteen. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2_mom Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 How light is Lighting Lit 7? ----I know that my dd has read some of the books in LL 7, and that the other would be an easy read for her. I do not mind it being an easy read because I know that to teach some of the concepts that one needs not be challenged by reading itself. How much time does it take to do each day? How much time is spent on each book etc? Teaching the Classics, does this give you a general idea of how to teach literature and then to apply that to each book? Is there a standard set of questions that it goes through? Does it have a list of each literary term and its definition, so that can help you to find it in each book? Does the book list that accompanies this let you know what books may be a good example of certain literary elements? How is the Bravewritter? Is this enough for each book or would something deeper be better? Elson readers does this cover things like the CLE reading? My dd is afraid that the CLE would get to religious. We don't mind the Christian content but she did not like the Progeny Press guides because it related everything back to religion. She like both a secular and a religious view point. This is my child that is on the edge with her faith so I don't want to push her to hard in either direction--KWIM. thanks lynda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougarmom4 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Figuratively Speaking with my ds11. It is not a literature program, but it teaches hyperbole, idiom, characterization, conflict, setting, etc. using excerpts from classic literature. I also have a strong reader and didn't necessarily need comprehension questions, but wanted to make sure we were covering some of these literary concepts. You can cover them in any order & tie them into a book you are reading already. If you check it out on the Rainbow Resource website, you can see the table of contents and a sample page. I think it was around $12-14 and says it's for grades 5-8. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I can't tell you how long LL7 takes per day, as we've done it over an extended period, switching back and forth between it and SY English. The schedule also assumes that you will spend a long time having your student just read the texts; we do that as assigned reading, so it doesn't fall into the 'English' box of our timetable. If you go to the LL website, I think there's a list of what elements are included. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamabyrd Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Teaching the Classics! It is wonderful and you can use it with whichever novels or stories your child is already reading! I also use CLE Reading which is also good, although I believe Teaching the Classics is more effective at teaching literary elements. I previously used Mosdos and it was okay (beautiful book but not as comprehensive as CLE). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 How light is Lighting Lit 7? ----I know that my dd has read some of the books in LL 7, and that the other would be an easy read for her. I do not mind it being an easy read because I know that to teach some of the concepts that one needs not be challenged by reading itself. How much time does it take to do each day? How much time is spent on each book etc? Depends on how you decide to schedule LL7, but we found that it took us about 40-50 min/day, 4 days/week -- and that was with reading the works out loud together. Also, while it is scheduled for 36 weeks, I don't think it took us more than 30 weeks to complete. It's a very gentle program, and it was easy to do LL along with: - separate writing program - separate grammar program - additional literature and/or solo reading Here's a recent past thread in which a number of people shared how they scheduled LL7 and how long it took. Warmest regards, Lori D. Lightning Lit: How Long? http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79899 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2_mom Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 Thanks for all the link and information. I think that I need to spend some time with the internet tonight and really just dig and compare samples. Part of me is worried that LL might be too light. But then if it covers what I need it too, we can just do it faster or do a book/unit take a break read something else then do another unit etc. ---------Maybe I just need to get cliff notes for each book and instead of sitting here at the internet make up my own literature units! :lol: Thanks for the link to the other thread, I am going to go read it right now, and try to figure this all out. Thanks, lynda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FourOaks Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 My vote is for Teaching the Classics also! I just love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Wisc Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) I am trying to find something that teaches literary elements....like style, plot, character, irony, etc..... This would be for Junior high student, who is an excellent reader. I need to stretch her mind more! It can either be a reading curriculum or something that uses living books. I would like something that has a good teachers manual or guide for me. Something that that has the student dig a bit deeper into the book. I don't mind comprehension questions but want more depth. Suggestions please???? thanks,. lynda I use the Learning Language Arts Through Literature Gold Book--American Literature study of the Short Story which covers many literary elements: character study - conflict - flat characters - round characters - crisis - outlines - elements of fiction - setting - plot - foreshadowing - irony - themes - outcome - supporting your answer - point of view - first person narrative - omniscient author - third person objective - main character - interpretation - allegory - figurative meaning - novella - character development - plot development - topics - reference books - stream-of-consciousness - compare and contrast - comparison (taken from http://www.commonsensepress.com/scope/scope2.htm#gold). Stories read: The Real Thing (Henry James) The Open Boat (Stephen Crane) Unlighted Lamps (Sherwood Anderson) The Catbird Seat (James Thurber) To the Mountains (Paul Horgan) Young Goodman Brown (Nathaniel Hawthorne) The Fall of the House of Usher (Poe) Bartleby the Scrivener (Melville) Baker's Bluejay Yarn (Twain) A Village Singer (Freeman) If you do it all, it can take most of a semester, depending upon how you schedule it. They have the student answer questions about the stories that deal with the literary elements; there are thought questions and some writing assignments. There is an answer key in the student book--after each week's worth of student's material, there are a few pages of the answer key for the mom. I use it with my children in 9th grade; an 8th grader who reads well could do it. $27 new--I bet you could find it for a lot less used. I wouldn't buy the older edition. More depth? Maybe. Maybe not. Jean P.S. Here is a sample lesson from the book, but it is from the poetry section, not the short story: http://www.commonsensepress.com/slessons/gold-sl.htm Edited February 12, 2009 by Jean in Wisc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usetoschool Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Reading Strands has a lot of good ideas for how to discuss literature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kailuamom Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 The literature guides by Garlic Press go into a lot of the literary elements. We used one for The Giver and are using another one for The Hobbit right now. We also have Figuratively Speaking, which someone else mentioned. We just started it, but it is a good resource with activities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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