Does anyone own "Classics in the classroom"

[Melenie]

by Michael Clay Thompson?
I was looking at RFP last night and came across the book. I like the look of it, but would really be buying it for the book suggestions. If anyone has a copy, can you please tell me if it is worth spending the money on? Or would it be better to compile my own list from places like AOL and catalogs? This is what I have done up till now, but it would be so handy to have it done for me.

Another question: Has anyone used his grammar program and what are your thoughts?

[The Dragon Academy]

I own Classics in the Classroom and it is a great resource. Much better than conducting searches all of the time.

I am using MCTLA. Books are in my siggy.

There are a number of WTM families using a variety of the MCTLA levels. If you do a search on MCT/MCTLA/RFWP you will find many threads to keep you busy.

[Melenie]

I own Classics in the Classroom and it is a great resource. Much better than conducting searches all of the time.

I am using MCTLA. Books are in my siggy.

There are a number of WTM families using a variety of the MCTLA levels. If you do a search on MCT/MCTLA/RFWP you will find many threads to keep you busy.

Thank you!

I was looking at threads related to RFWP last night to see what everyone was using, but could not figure out what MCT was. lol Makes perfect sense to me now!

[The Dragon Academy]

Here are some of the abbreviations we MCTers use:

MCT- Michael Clay Thompson
MCTLA- Michael CLay Thompson Language Arts
RFWP/RFP - Royal Fireworks Press
Island-MCTLA Level 1
Town - MCTLA Level 2
Voyage - MCTLA Level 3
CE1 - Caesar's English 1
CE2 - Caesar's English 2
WWW - Word within the Word
ML - Magic Lens
AAW - Advanced Academic Writing
STWWO - Suppose the Wolf were an Octopus
CiC - Classics in the Classroom

[Gratia271]

We have it and really benefit from it.

[Melenie]

Here are some of the abbreviations we MCTers use:

MCT- Michael Clay Thompson
MCTLA- Michael CLay Thompson Language Arts
RFWP/RFP - Royal Fireworks Press
Island-MCTLA Level 1
Town - MCTLA Level 2
Voyage - MCTLA Level 3
CE1 - Caesar's English 1
CE2 - Caesar's English 2
WWW - Word within the Word
ML - Magic Lens
AAW - Advanced Academic Writing
STWWO - Suppose the Wolf were an Octopus
CiC - Classics in the Classroom

Thanks, this is helpful.

[Bird Girl]

I have Classics in the Classroom. I would say that it is a book that presents an educational philosophy, and addresses some issues that you won't need to worry about as a homeschooler. (But if your DC ever go back to school, it may help you advocate for them, or convince you to afterschool.) The list of books at the back is extensive, but doesn't give information about each book, so you will still need to find out more about a particular book before you assign it, assuming you haven't read that title. It's useful, but it's not a literature program in any way.

I use Sonlight, and on the whole, for younger students, I find the Sonlight catalog to be more informational. But I was already clear on the importance of and reasons for teaching classics.

[Melenie]

I have Classics in the Classroom. I would say that it is a book that presents an educational philosophy, and addresses some issues that you won't need to worry about as a homeschooler. (But if your DC ever go back to school, it may help you advocate for them, or convince you to afterschool.) The list of books at the back is extensive, but doesn't give information about each book, so you will still need to find out more about a particular book before you assign it, assuming you haven't read that title. It's useful, but it's not a literature program in any way.

I use Sonlight, and on the whole, for younger students, I find the Sonlight catalog to be more informational. But I was already clear on the importance of and reasons for teaching classics.

Thanks for the info. Would you please tell me if the book lists the classics by age and/or grade? Although I have done a lot of English reading as an adult, it is my second language, so I have not read many of the good classics geared towards children.

I realize that it is not a literature program, I am looking more for age appropriate classic book list. The info on why to teach classics would be a nice to have, but I am sold on that so not a must have.

TIA

[EKS]

I think it's worth spending the money on but not for the book suggestions. One thing that drives me *nuts* about Classics in the Classroom and makes it very difficult for me to use is that the books aren't separated by reading level at all. It's alphabetical by author. This means that I have to scan through the entire list to find books that would be appropriate for my 8yo. If I'm not familiar with the title already, I have no idea if it would be good for an 8yo kid. MCT says that he didn't want to confine gifted readers to just one level of material. That's great, but it would still be helpful to know whether a book's intended audience is children or adults.

Also, we love MCT's grammar program here.

[Tress]

Thanks for the info. Would you please tell me if the book lists the classics by age and/or grade? Although I have done a lot of English reading as an adult, it is my second language, so I have not read many of the good classics geared towards children.


Hi Melenie,

I bought Classics in the Classroom expecting to find a useful booklist, English is a foreign language to me too. I found the book inspiring and his explanation on how to discuss books useful, but the lists at the back of the book are not useful at all :crying:. The books are sorted alphabetically by author and there is no age/grade mentioned.

[Melenie]

Thanks everyone, your replies have been very helpful to me.

[Jen3boys]

Hi Melenie,

I bought Classics in the Classroom expecting to find a useful booklist, English is a foreign language to me too. I found the book inspiring and his explanation on how to discuss books useful, but the lists at the back of the book are not useful at all :crying:. The books are sorted alphabetically by author and there is no age/grade mentioned.

Actually, the book list does include an indication of grade level, in the codes listed after each book. It is very difficult to, say, find all the sbook on the list appropriate for 5th graders without going through the entire list though!
I think this book would be more helpful tome as my kids get older--upper middle to high school level, for ideas on how to discuss books with them, and choosing some good books.

[Melenie]

I think this book would be more helpful tome as my kids get older--upper middle to high school level, for ideas on how to discuss books with them, and choosing some good books.

This part would be useful to me as well.
I think I am going to get it, thanks everyone.