Literature and writing program for younger child...

[Donna]

I am wondering if anyone knows of a literature program (similar to Lightning Literature) for a younger child. My dd (will be 6 next week) loves to discuss what she has read and loves to write.

She writes/spells very well though we need to work a bit on grammar which I am going to attend to in the coming months. I have been putting it off in favor of letting her creativity lead her. I was looking through Rainbow Resources' catalog and there are so many choices for writing and literature programs, I don't know which would be best. I have also seen the little booklets/study guides written for separate books but the cost of those for even half the books she reads would be overwhelming plus she goes through books too quickly to even use half the material in those guides.

I just started using Lightning Literature with my oldest last year and I love it and think it would be perfect for dd with just a slightly different choice of books. She has read through the Little House books, The Hobbit, a few of the Narnia books, and now is reading The Secret Garden (not an abridged version) so that is about her reading level.

I know I could put together something myself based on books she finds of interest but homeschooling 3 kids, I would love to find something less work intensive for myself.

Thanks.

[KAR120C]

There's a series "Best ___" guides (Best Poems, Best Short Stories, Best Plays, Best Nonfiction) with short works... some adapted... and the Introductory Level is aimed at 5th-6th grade, so a little lower than LL&C. I've not used them myself, but they look like they might make a good start for a younger kid who was reading well, or for a kid who didn't need a ton of guidance, but just a little something to get them the vocabulary and an idea of how we think of books. I should clarify -- it's sold at the Hewitt site, but it's written and published by someone else, so a) you can probably get it elsewhere if you prefer and b) it might not be as similar as it sounds. But it does sound similar.

The way we started, at about the same age and reading level, was with a Junior Great Books group, but it sounds like that would be more work than you're prepared for right now. The plus side of the group was that it really helped the kids learn to discuss their reading (which I think is key), and the reading itself was short so it didn't take up all our literature time... of course the minus side was that we had to buy the materials, organize the group, show up every week... you know, the hard parts ;)

[Donna]

She is reading the Junior Great Books and we discuss them together. There is no group near us and I don't really have the time to start one though it does sound like a great idea.

I will look into the other books you suggested.