How many literature guides for grade 7 would you say?

[Janice Lyn]

Hello Ladies,

You have all been a wealth of information to me and an inspiration to get our homeschool back on track after a lengthy illness of mine. I had asked several questions on writing and literature programs in the past few weeks and now I've made my decision....hopefully! I've reworked our curriculum 3 times now and redid our booklist for our HomeLife Academy we are members of.

My question I am hoping someone can take a stab at, is just approximately how many literature study guides is appropriate for grade 7? I was able to purchase a TWSS used, but it is truly brand new and I sprung for it. So, I have decided to go the cheaper, well, free, route with literature. I have started printing out a few Glenco Guides and have decided that I am pleased with them and can be content using them. I am just not sure how many to require. Any advice?

So, it's IEW, R&S English and Glenco Lit guides for my grade 7 daughter next year. My younger daughter will be doing R&S English 3 along with Simply Spelling and just a fun book list. I have Primary Language Lessons on the side bookcase, if we need a little R&S break for her, as some of it looks redundant to me. So far, so good with R&S grade 2. I think she knows her grammar better than the grade 6 daughter and so I am starting that daughter in R&S English 5 after Easter break here. The writing will be young for her, but hopefully I am placing her in the right book for her grammar skills as she just turned 12 and has had a more CM approach to grammar than the younger.

Anyways, SO sorry for getting off course. Does this sound good and how many Lit guides would you attempt?

Thanks bunches:001_smile:
Janice

[MIch elle]

on what type of books they are (length & difficulty) and what other books are being read for history and other subjects.

[Beth in Central TX]

My 7th grader is doing R&S grammar, CW, and Omnibus I. Omnibus I covers literature, history, and Bible. I don't plan to read all of the books of Omnibus I. He will read and study 10 literature books and 12 books of the Bible.

[Lori D.]

Since you're trying this as a new way of doing things, and since the point of using Lit. guides is to go DEEP into a book, I'd suggest do 1 book, with a meaty lit. guide, per quarter (9-10 weeks). So do 4 books that way during 7th grade, and then do a variety of other books as solo reading and read alouds. Perhaps consider also doing one book report per quarter from the solo reads.

Another option, all laid out for you in one place, like multiple lit. guides all in one program: Lightning Literature & Composition for 7th grade! It covers realistic novel, fantasy novel, autobiography, short stories and 2 poetry units, in 8 units spread over a 36 week schedule, easy to do with additional language arts programs (i.e., other writing, grammar, and reading). See sample unit at: http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/book/blight.asp


BEST of luck in finding what works for your family! Warmest regards, Lori D.

[Lori D.]

PS -- If the Glencoe guides aren't too meaty, then you might manage 6-8 lit. guides (one per 4-6 weeks).

[Janice Lyn]

Thanks, ladies.....my kids are voracious readers. They keep an ongoing reading list of books they read on their own from my list of recommended books for their age.

We do read A LOT for history. We are going through SOTW, but using books from Stout's guide History Plus and it's comprehension questions for my oldest daughter. She also will do papers on some of the supplemental books we read. We will be on SOTW 3 next year and 4 during her grade 8 year, so I will have to beef things up for her. I plan on getting audiotape of SOTW next year for during the school day and my husband will do the supplemental read alouds at night.

So, perhaps 4 to start with is just right. We can adjust as we go. I did have my eye on Lightening Literature, but since I sprung for TWSS yesterday, I want to keep it cheap. We will add poetry from The Harp and Laurel Wreath.

Thanks for your thoughts.....
Janice