Homeschoolers - what do you use for middle school literature curricula?

Question

I'd like to get a list of middle school literature curricula. I have all the other strands of language arts: grammar, spelling, composition, and vocabulary figured out for fall. Now I'm on a hunt for literature and *only* literature (no other strands thrown in).

Can you tell me what you use for middle school lit? Thanks!

Answer 1

We use the book list that is part of the Robinson Curriculum.

There are over 300 printable books included on the 22 cd set.

www.robinsoncurriculum.com

Answer 2

I assume you don't just mean titles of literary works, but rather study guides to go with them?

I like the progeny press guides, they cover many different titles, so you can pick and choose:

http://www.progenypress.com/Catalog/midd...

Now, while I do really like those guides, and I have used them on occasion, what I used with my daughter was mostly just great literature, journaling about what was read each day, and discussing it.

I don't have the  7th grade list handy but the 8th grade list is still fresh in my mind:

Alice in Wonderland

Anne of Green Gables

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Treasure Island

The Screwtape letters

The Call of the Wild

Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl

In addition she read a lot on her own, the entire black stallion series by Walter Farley, as well as a great many other books.

In our discussions we would talk about things like setting, theme, and mood, I used the Write Source book to help with that!

EDIT----EDIT----EDIT

Skills for Literary Analysis by James Stobaugh (I think that's how his name is spelled) is really good if you want a full year literary course.

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/B...

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/B...

Answer 3

The library :-)

Seriously!  My son has made great friends with the children's librarians, and they keep him stocked full of award-winning lit.  He generally goes through 1-2 books a week just for free reading.  These can be anywhere from Lewis and Tolkien to My Side of the Mountain or Johnny Tremain.

For comprehension and analysis, I use Gifted Books for Gifted Readers and Teaching the Classics (IEW).  Gifted Books should be available at your library, it has all kinds of lit units for gifted upper elem and middle school kids.  Lots of great activities, no boring busy work.

He also gets quite a bit of lit and lit analysis through TRISMS, which we use for history, geography, and language arts.

Edit - I just saw this on the IEW site, thought it might interest you.  I wasn't sure if you wanted to use longer or shorter works, this is for shorter.  It's for your gifted one, right?  I don't think he'd have a problem keeping up with it :-) http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/index...

Answer 4

My son is only in 2nd grade; however, I have found a site for literature that you may find useful; the link is below:

http://www.worldwideschool.org/about.htm...

I hope this is helpful.

Answer 5

If you aren't looking for accredited

This may sound very easy but I would get a good Middle school reading list from online...

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estat...

or

http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/middl...

and then use the SparkNotes website.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/

It offers quizzes, in-depth analysis and great study guides.

*This method isn't as easy as a pre-made curriculum, but makes for more in-depth study.

Answer 6

I read these books in 7 and 8 grade:

Robinson Crusoe

The old man and the sea

Wuthering Heights

Farenheight 451

Gifts

Little Women

These are just some of my favorites. I didn't have a "curriculum" my parents selected books that they wanted me to read.