Literary Analysis?

[sweetbaby]

Do you think literary analysis in a curriculum is necessary in k-6? My children will be in 6th, 5th and preK in the upcoming year and one in junior college but I had been considering adding CLE reading to our line up for the 5th and 6th graders in order to get some deeper literary analysis. I ask questions and they do book narrations at the present along with a little poetry analysis. Do you think they need this or could I just hold off til junior high level (7th/8th)? I'm really wondering if it would be necessary and if we would even get to it after the literature in science and history.

[plimsoll]

I think it depends what you mean by literary analysis. Do you mean being able to identify plot, setting, characters, themes/lessons, etc.? Identifying certain stylistic techniques, e.g., assonance, allegory, simile, metaphor, etc.? Discussing character development? Writing compare and contrast paragraphs about two characters in a story? Writing essays?

I thnk it is important to teach children gradually to recognize and appreciate these literary elements. I don't think it's important at this age to be able to write an essay about them, though with guidance and a good outline, it might be a good writing exercise.

[sweetbaby]

I think it depends what you mean by literary analysis. Do you mean being able to identify plot, setting, characters, themes/lessons, etc.? Identifying certain stylistic techniques, e.g., assonance, allegory, simile, metaphor, etc.? Discussing character development? Writing compare and contrast paragraphs about two characters in a story? Writing essays?


Yes! Sorry I wasn't clear about that. Thanks for responding!:)

[razorbackmama]

I have been pondering this exact same thing!

:lurk5:

[MIch elle]

My oldest used CLE reading 7 & 8. This prepared him well for his private high school, but he did struggle a bit at first never having used CLE reading or having to think that hard about what he read.

My younger ds did CLE reading 4 & 5 so far. I've held off using CLE reading 6 with him because he's just not ready for it. He's currently reading King Arthur and using The Grammar of Poetry.

I LOVE the stories and poems in CLE reading. We used them as readers only (no workbooks) in grades 1-5 for my oldest and 1-3 for my younger.

In hindsight, I think CLE reading 6 is a great place to start the series WITH the workbooks; so CLE reading 7 isn't as hard.

So either way will work. :D

[sweetbaby]

In hindsight, I think CLE reading 6 is a great place to start the series WITH the workbooks; so CLE reading 7 isn't as hard.
So either way will work. :D

Thanks, Michelle! Very helpful info about CLE! We have the books for CLE 5 this year but not the workbooks. I will go ahead with adding them for 6.

[Lori D.]

In gr. 1-6, we just read a lot, and discussed both books and films a lot ("what do you think will happen next?" "what consequences could his choices have?" "oo, look, a long close up on that knife -- do you think that will come into play later on in the movie?" "wow, the author used really great descriptive words here; can you picture -- see and hear and smell -- the landscape in your mind")

Starting about 7th grade, when the logic (questioning) stage really kicks in, we used some beginning literary programs (Lightning Literature) and literary element resources (Story Elements; Figuratively Speaking).

Below are some older threads on this same topic with some great resources listed. Enjoy your literature journey! Warmest regards, Lori D.


If Not Deconstructing Penguins for Literary Analysis, Then What?
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78236&highlight=literary


Figures of Speech -- When to Introduce These?
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75234&highlight=literary


DD (10yo) Wants to do Literary Analysis
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15397&highlight=literary


Is It Absolutely Necessary to Teach Literary Analysis?
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13598&highlight=literary


Teaching Literary Elements??
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81876&highlight=literary

[sweetbaby]

Below are some older threads on this same topic with some great resources listed. Enjoy your literature journey! Warmest regards, Lori D.


If Not Deconstructing Penguins for Literary Analysis, Then What?
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78236&highlight=literary


Figures of Speech -- When to Introduce These?
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75234&highlight=literary


DD (10yo) Wants to do Literary Analysis
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15397&highlight=literary


Is It Absolutely Necessary to Teach Literary Analysis?
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13598&highlight=literary


Teaching Literary Elements??
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81876&highlight=literary

ooh! Thanky! Thanky!

[BizyPenguin]

Wanted to add that I've been using Mosdos (Pearl) loosely with my 6th grader this year to cover literary elements. It's a reader, but it's quite good. There are a variety of stories and they are very engaging. The complete program is not cheap, but I simply bought the student reader and we read the stories in tandem and discuss them. Sometimes I also require my ds to answer a few of the questions in his reading notebook. Simply reading the stories, reviewing the notes, and discussing is plenty, though, and a very gentle way to add this to your busy school schedule. I ordered a sample CLE reading LightUnit and didn't care for it at all. The content was good, but it was way too workbooky for our tastes. My ds would completely melt down with something like that. (Love CLE math and lang arts, though...but I digress.) Anyway, just throwing something else out there for you to consider. Mosdos Press (http://www.mosdospress.com)has wonderful samples on their web site if you're interested. All the best!