Literature Study Guides

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Our family loves reading. Literature is the foundation of our education, so we always appreciate reviewing products that are based around books. There's something very special about opening a story and getting lost in its pages together as a family.

When we want to take our learning deeper than just simply reading the book, we utilize the help of study guides. These aids enrich the experience and help the reader fully grasp the themes within the pages. One of our favorite companies to use for this purpose is Progeny Press. We've used their products multiple times in the past and were excited to work with them again. This time, we were able to use two of their downloadable resources: A New Coat for Anna Study Guide for elementary and My Side of the Mountain Study Guide for middle school.

Progeny Press is a Christian company owned by Michael and Rebecca Gilleland. It is their mission to "teach our children to think clearly, to understand literature, and to rely on the scripture for truth and values, and enjoy themselves while they do it!" They offer more than 100 study guides for classic, popular, and award-winning books. The guides are designed to help students better understand and enjoy literature by getting them to think through the themes and ideas written in the stories. The study guides are available in three formats: a physical book, a CD with a PDF ebook, and a downloadable PDF file.

The A New Coat for Anna Study Guide is designed for grades K-3. The guide accompanies the book by Harriet Ziefert. A New Coat for Anna is a picture book that is based on a true story. In it, young Anna had outgrown her winter coat. Because of WWII, stores were empty and money was scarce. Anna's mother used her resourcefulness to meet her daughter's needs. Anna learned the art of bartering and the value of hard work as she watched her mother trade her possessions for goods. She learned about sheering sheep, spinning wool to get yarn, using berries to make dye, weaving yarn into cloth, and sewing the bolts into a coat. It is a story of patience, sacrifice, thankfulness, and planning ahead.

The study guide has 30 pages of learning activities. It starts with a synopsis of the book and background information about WWII.  There are a handful of Before-You-Read activities including map work, questions to ask relatives who lived during the war, watching a movie, taking a field trip, and more. The next sections are the As-You-Read activities, Vocabulary, and Looking at the Story exercises. Each portion reviews the story through various means such as short answer, matching, defining, and chart work.

There are Bible verses that complement the lessons in the story in the Dig Deeper sections. The verses are written out in the guide itself, but we chose to pull out our KJV and read directly from the Bible. There are also questions that accompany the verses and reinforce the themes.

The study continues even after the story is finished through the After-You-Read activities. This is our favorite section as it is filled with hands-on learning! There is a recipe for a silver cake (reminds me of my favorite childhood recipe!), a craft idea and template, a writing and art project, and fill-in-the-blank questions which correspond with a word search. The guide ends with suggestions for further reading of other books by the author and those of related interest for the age range. A full answer key is available as a separate download.

My younger boys (ages 5 and 8) completed this study together. We enjoyed reading the story and expounding on the hardships of the war. We took advantage of the editable PDF and filled in the answers together on the computer. The boys learned some new things like how to take clothing measurements, the meaning of various words like garnet and bolt, how to paraphrase, and what the Bible teaches us about patience.

Because we like to learn as a family as much as possible, I chose a second study guide. The My Side of the Mountain Study Guide is for the 5th-8th grade group and has 63 pages. My kids range from preschool-9th grade, but everyone can benefit from spending time together enjoying a good story and hearing rich vocabulary used in context. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George brings to life the dream of many people--running away from the hustle and bustle of city life and responsibility and living secluded off the land. It follows the story of young Sam as he learns to care for himself by finding what he needs to survive on the mountain. Though the story is fictional in nature, it mentions many factual survival skills such as how to find food in the river and on land, using all parts of an animal for various uses, finding necessary nutrients in foraged food, storing and planning ahead for difficult weather, building a fire, finding shelter, and more.  The story will resonate with anyone who loves the wilderness and adventure.

The guide begins with the same type of sections as the other (synopsis, author and background information, and pre-reading activities), but then suggests reading the entire book before delving into the meat of the study. This format worked well for us as the kids got to simply enjoy the story without stopping to work. There were a few times when we had to go back to review parts of the story where they didn't remember exactly, but that's all part of the process.

This guide for middle school includes vocabulary skills and comprehension questions, but they are more difficult than the elementary level. This guide also has an editable PDF so a student can type the answers directly without having to print it out. Because of that option, a separate file with the answer key is given, so a student does not have access to the answers himself. One way that this level is different is that the Bible verses are not written out, encouraging the learner to grab his Bible to look them up himself. There are a lot of "what do you think," "what does this mean,'' "why or why not" questions. The guide is also broken into sections that correspond with chapters of the book.

Other activities include discussing safety protocols and choosing a family safe word; measuring rooms in your house and calculating square footage; determining flashbacks and foreshadowing in stories; creating a shelter in your home using blankets and furniture; creating a journal and learning to record daily entries; making a wooden slide whistle; learning about skunk spray through videos and articles; following recipes for candied nuts, mock frog soup, and more; making snow dough with common household supplies, and more. There are multiple ideas for research topics, field trips, art ideas, and writing assignments. The study could easily take 8-10 weeks to complete by incorporating many of the learning exercises.

As always, my kids enjoyed these studies from Progeny Press. We had many thoughtful conversations about life of the past and how blessed we are now, about utilizing the resources that God has given us, and being content with what we have. The books were a good reminder that we could live a simpler lifestyle with many fewer possessions and that we take too much for granted. We make family read aloud part of our regular schooling, but it's good to take our learning deeper. I appreciate that these guides incorporate Bible lessons to help kids see a deeper meaning behind the stories.Whenever you can apply a lesson, rather than just hear about it, it's much more likely to make a lasting difference.

We reviewed an elementary guide and a middle school guide, but Progeny Press offers many different study guides ranging from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade and cover many popular books. There truly is something for everyone. If you have older students, make sure to check out the upper level guides, as well. Their resources are greatly enjoyed in our home.

You can connect with Progeny Press on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

YouTube

You can read more reviews of these study guides along with additional choices reviewed by my Crewmates on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Relating to Seuss

* This post may contain affiliate links.

Yesterday was Dr. Seuss' birthday! Our family looks forward to this day every year. Sometimes we create Seuss-themed crafts, most times we make green eggs and ham, and every time we spend the day in a reading marathon. Seuss published over 60 books, and we own the majority of them. I love his writing style. It's a combination of silly and whimsical with made-up words and animals off-set by deep concepts that are written for the littlest learners to comprehend. 

My kids love reading the Who Was Dr. Seuss? book and sharing details of his life that they've learned. Do you know which book was written because of a bet from his editor? Or which one was in reference to the Cold War? Or do you know which book and character were fashioned after Adolf Hitler? Many of this writings have more meaning than simple rhyming words like hop on pop for early readers. 

Nine years ago, I listed some of our favorite Dr. Seuss books and quotes. I also attributed a story to each of my kiddos. Of course, the kids are older now, and we've also added a couple to our family. It's time to relate a story to each of them again!  

The book I choose for Jake is The Rabbit, the Bear, and the Zinniga-Zanniga. It is a forgotten tale found in The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories. In it, a little rabbit is about to become a big bear's dinner when he uses his quick thinking to outsmart the beast. It starts with a simple missing eyelash and swiftly escalates to a crooked head, a sore throat, a broken backbone, and more. The bear becomes terrified of dying from this missing eyelash ailment and eagerly obeys the rabbit's medical advice, leaving the wily creature free to escape with his life. 

"Unless I think terribly, terribly fast . . . I've got to be smart! Got to think of some trick! And that little old rabbit, he thought mighty quick!"

Jake is my quick-witted, philosopher, clever child. He is able to choose his words to manipulate situations, both to get his way and just for fun. When he tries it with me though, I often remind him that he came by that thinking naturally and can usually anticipate what is swirling around in his head. His mental ingenuity has the ability to frustrate yet impress me at the same time.

Alyssa's book is easily I can Read with My Eyes Shut! She is my bibliophile and is often found deep in a book. In this story, the Cat in the Hat explains just how much you can learn by reading. Bees. Hoses. Anchors. Wishbones. Foo-Foo the Snoo. Ice. Glad. And much more, too. 

And when I keep them open I can read with much more speed. You have to be a speedy reader 'cause there's so, so much to read!

That perfectly describes my girl who reads stacks of books each week.

Anyone who knows my Zachary knows that he is a loving, compassionate child. Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose is my book for him.  Thidwick is a moose who allowed a tiny Bingle Bug to hitch a ride on his antlers. As he traveled the countryside eating moose moss, more and more creatures took advantage of his hospitality. A spider, many birds, a family of squirrels, a bobcat and turtle, a fox, mice, fleas, and a bear all made their residence in his roomy antlers. The burden was cumbersome and cost him much, yet he continued to show kindness.   

"Of course not!" Smiled Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose. "I'm happy my antlers can be of some use. There's room there to spare, and I'm happy to share! Be my guest and I hope that you're comfortable there!"

Just like the moose, Zac lives a life of benevolence. He is always thinking of others and going out of his way to bless people, even when it comes at a cost to him. He is a people-pleaser and a problem-solver whose big heart can be hurt when people take advantage of him, but ultimately is full when he demonstrates his generosity. 

If this would have been a few years ago, I wouldn't hesitate to say that The Cat in the Hat was absolutely Tyler. The antics of the Cat--always getting into mischief, always causing trouble, always doing what he shouldn't and always with a smile--was Tyler as a toddler. I could write a book on the shenanigans he caused, but he has since outgrown that stage. Mostly. 

Instead, I decided on If I Ran the Circus. The book relates Morris McGurk's dream of creating a circus. His plans include acrobats and jugglers and clowns, of course, but also horn-tooting apes, the Remarkable Foon who eats sizzling pebbles that fall off the moon, a Blindfolded Bowman from Brigger-ba-Root, a Jott who juggles 22 question marks and 44 commas and 1 dot, a Flummox, a Harp-Twanging Snarp, and 5 layers of To-an-Fro Marchers. Page after page, the Circus McGurkus gets bigger and better with "wild ruckus-ing."

"But that's just my Side Show. A start. A beginning. This way to the Big Tent! You'll find your head spinning."

Tyler is my inventor. He loves to create elaborate designs--on paper, with Lego, using odds and ends from around the house. He draws detailed doughnut machines where the treats follow conveyor belts to be drizzled with chocolate or glaze or sprinkled just right. He builds all sorts of Rube Goldberg-type of machines where one feature triggers something new. His mind is filled with complicated feats, but then he creates and designs and constructs them into existence. In fact, he showed me his latest fabrication as I was typing this. If he ever decides to create "The World's Greatest Show on the face of the earth," you can be sure he'll bring it to life.  

Nick's book is Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? This was probably my favorite Seuss book growing up. I loved all the silly sounds and melodious rhymes. It's such a fun book to read to little ones.

Oh, the wonderful things Mr. Brown can do! Moo Moo Buzz Buzz Pop Pop Pop Eek Eek Hoo Hoo Klopp Klopp Klopp Dibble Dibble Dopp Dopp Cock-a-doodle-doo Mr. Brown can do it. How about you?

Nick is my performer. He loves to be in the spotlight and often calls for my attention as he lip syncs and dances along with songs, complete with dramatic faces and mannerisms. He spends his days singing--literally all day long--and makes silly sounds. Maybe one day he'll follow Mr. Brown's example and become a voice actor.  

I had originally planned to choose books for only the kids, but when I saw Oh, the Places You'll Go!, I immediately thought of Leighton. The book is a popular choice for gifting to graduates because it talks about possibilities. The chance to see great things, accomplish worthy tasks, and go amazing places. Sometimes, hard times will come and you'll make mistakes. That's life. Pick yourself up, work hard, and you'll succeed.

You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Many people know that Leighton had a difficult childhood. He experienced things that no child should ever have to, yet he didn't let those circumstances break him. He is an intelligent man with many talents. I often say that there is nothing he can't do. He seized the opportunities he came across and has been successful in many ways. He used those brains in his head and decided where to go. And he chose wisely.

Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? is my book. It describes example after example of someone whose life is worse than the next. Be thankful that you don't have to work on the Bunglebung Bridge or that you didn't take your Throm-dim-bu-lator apart or that you're not like Mr. Bix who has every day his Borfin to fix. Be glad that you haven't spent 32 years trying to teach Irish ducks to read Jivvanese  or that you can produce a shadow because nothing is wrong with your Gizz and that you don't live in France by the pants-eating-plants. Each situation is crazy and impossible and depressing (though humorously told).

When you think things are bad, when you feel sour and blue, when you start to get mad . . . you should do what I do! . . . Don't grumble! Don't stew! Some critters are much-much, oh, ever so much-much, so muchly much-much more unlucky than you! 

Did I ever tell you how lucky I am? I truly have nothing to complain about. God has blessed my life abundantly. And when situations happen that don't align with my personal plan, God is still good. He loves and provides and protects. He's given me so much. And to top it all off, I know I'll never have to worry about having a tail that is filled with unsolvable knots like the Crumple-horn, Web-footed, Green-bearded Schlottz!

And that's our family through Dr. Seuss!

Do you love Dr. Seuss like we do? What is your favorite book?

* Some of the links in the content above are affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I recommend products or services that I have used personally and all the text and opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225.

Library and Educational Services LLC

It is no secret that our family reads--a lot--so it's not surprising that our favorite reviews are often book reviews. This time though, we're not talking about a single book, but a whole pile of interesting and educational materials.

Imagine my excitement when we were able to choose our own books from Library and Educational Services LLC. We were given the choice of one book from the best-selling Who Was . . . ? series, one CD from the dynamic Lifehouse Theater CD series, and a selection of the Reinforced Hardcover Library Binding Nonfiction books.

      

Library and Educational Services is a small, family-owned company right here in Michigan. They've been in business as a whole-sale distributor for over 40 years, selling to libraries, schools, re-sellers, specialty stores, churches, missionaries, daycare centers, and ministry leaders. The merchandise is carefully selected to ensure they represent Christian morals and values. They specialize in materials for children, though they do offer many products for the adult crowd, as well. From Bibles to biographies to DVDs to marriage helps to coloring books and everything in between, there is something to appeal to everyone. 

On top of their great selection are their great prices. All of their materials are between 30% to 70% off publisher's list prices every day. I personally have ordered from them multiple times and have been very pleased with both the products and the prices. And my kids are always thrilled when they get a big box of new books!

We've been big fans of the Who Was . . . ? books for a while. In fact, we own over 50 titles from the series. I require my kids to spend a certain portion every week reading a biography. While we have many different types in our personal library, the Who Was . . . ? books are a favorite. They are perfect for the middle grades with a slightly larger font size and vocabulary usage. Each book is right around 100 pages and is filled with sketch drawings on nearly every page. There are also timelines in the back and additional bibliography suggestions. Along with the Who Was? books which focus on people of the past, there are What Was? (events), Where Is? (places), and Who Is? (people of the present) titles.  

We were given 1 book, but I ordered an additional 4 to add to our collection. Occasionally, a single title might drop lower in price from another retailer, but in general, this is the cheapest place to purchase these books. In fact, they have dropped even lower than the every day price during a current sale. All the titles in the series are only $2.89. I already placed another order of 10 of these books! The ones I got for this review though are Who Was William Shakespeare?, Who Were The Brothers Grimm?, What Was the Great Chicago Fire?, What Was Pearl Harbor?, and Where Is the Tower of London?.

Another great aspect that I never noticed before is that the What Was? books each have an additional 16 pages of historical photographs and the Where Is books have a full-color, fold-out map with pictures on the back. These bonus pages help the places and events comes to life and give the reader a more vivid understanding. I've enjoyed looking through these pictures of the past.

The Lifehouse Theater CD series is also something we were familiar with as we already owned a couple productions. These On-The-Air audio dramas are adaptations of classic stories from literature, history, and the Bible. The stories come to life through powerful performances, beautiful music, and rich sound effects, making a "theater of the imaginations."

We chose "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi." The story is based on a short account within Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. In it, a pet mongoose bravely protects his human family from a pair of deadly cobras. This version begins and ends with a side story as a missionary relates the courage of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi to calm a young boy who had been bitten by a snake and wins over the boy's aloof father in the process. The story encourages bravery, faith, and love. This production is well done and was enjoyed by the whole family. This particular story is right around a half hour, but others in the series are more than twice that length.

Choosing our Reinforced Hardcover Library Binding Nonfiction books was a more more difficult task than deciding the other materials. There are just so many options! Since my kids range in age from 4 years to 13 years and naturally have different interests, I picked books that would not only be educational, but intriguing, as well. Here is our loot:

• The Black Death 1347-1350
• Bloodiest Battles (set of 4)
• Ye Yucky Middle Ages (set of 4)
• Real Life Science Projects (set of 2)
• Extreme Survival (set of 2)

I admit, I am a book nerd, but I have to say that these books are beautiful! There is just something special about a brand new pile of books, especially ones that are as well-made as these. All but the survival books are hardcover with sturdy binding. The books are full of color with eye-catching pictures and pleasing formats. The books are designed to teach kids all sorts of important and fascinating facts, but even I have been reading my way through them and learning new things.

My daughter did find a single defect in one of our books. She was reading Who Was William Shakespeare? when she came across a page that was flipped and torn. The page wasn't cut properly so it was substantially larger than the others, causing it damage.

I headed to the site, clicked the contact us button, and then filled out the form through the email link. I gave my information and explained the situation. The next day I received a personalized email from customer service. She was friendly, apologized for the defect, and shipped me a new book. Mistakes happen; how you handle them is important. The customer service at Library and Educational Services LLC is fantastic.

I have always been pleased with my experiences with Library and Educational Services LLC. They have a vast selection of quality books at amazing prices. Here is a sampling of materials we own that they sell: the Rush Revere books, set of 26 Profiles of the Presidents books, Adventures in Odyssey CDs, Drive Thru History DVDs, pack of Cartoon Nation books, Go Science DVDs, and, of course, dozens of Who Was . . . ? books. They truly offer something for everyone.

Head over to Library and Educational Services LLC today and don't forget to take advantage of their sale on the Who Was . . . ? series!

You can connect with Library and Educational Services LLC on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Pinterest 

YouTube

Instagram

Since members of the Crew were able to choose their own titles for this review, there are so many more books and CDs that have been used by homeschooling families this summer. You can read those reviews on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Learning Dynamics Review

One of my favorite things about homeschooling is seeing something "click" in the brains of my kids. That first realization of understanding is so exciting to witness! And being the one to help them to that point is extra special.

At the top of my list of favorite things to teach is reading. Knowing letters and their sounds, learning to blend, making words, and then reading full sentences--it's a thrilling experience for both student and teacher. The road to get there is not always an easy journey though. The path can be filled with frustrations--for everyone involved. That's why Learning Dynamics has created a kit to hinder those aggravations and make the learning process simple and enjoyable. The Learning Dynamics Reading Program is designed to help both student and teacher during this exciting milestone.

The Learning Dynamics program was written to help children develop language and comprehension skills in a way that is great for little ones. It is appropriate for all learning styles as it combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities for a multi-sensory approach. This phonics-based program has been used in classrooms for over 15 years for preschool through second grade students. It has been thoroughly researched by the University of Oregon and was proven to improve literacy.

The full program comes with everything you need to teach your child to read. All the components come in a study, cardboard box which makes it perfect for storing and organizing.

• Lesson Manual -- gives a brief synopsis of each lesson along with the step-by-step details; also lists optional activities and tips
• Alphabet Music CD -- 34 original songs teaching letter sounds, vowels, and the alphabet; MP3 download is also included
• Flashcards -- 3 sets of cards for teaching: letter cards with both capital and lowercase, lowercase letters with characters, and letter blends or "special sounds"
• Student Activity Workbook -- a simple one-page activity is included with each lesson; coloring, drawing, and writing skills are covered  
• Letter Rewards -- character punch-outs to reward the student for each letter learned
• Books -- over 50 full-color, mini books; divided into 4 reading levels and color-coded  

The program is designed to be taught in 15 minutes a day 3 days a week. Each simple lesson follows the same format: introduction of the letter using a flashcard, short story highlighting the letter and introducing the character, letter song from the CD, worksheet in the student workbook, letter song again, final check using the flashcard, optional activity to reinforce the letter sound and have fun, and blending letters starting in lesson 5.

Most phonics programs teach letter sounds out of order, and this one is no different. Learning Dynamics starts with the letter M since that is one of the first sounds children make (think mama and variations of it in other languages). From there, you introduce vowels and consonants that work together. The goal is to get the child to blend the sounds and make words in the early stages of learning.

I'm in a bittersweet phase of homeschooling as I am teaching my last child to read. Part of me wants to keep him a baby forever, but the other part gets excited every time he masters a new skill. When I first opened the box, my boy was ecstatic. Books and cards and lots of fun! The lessons are short and keep his attention. His favorite part of lesson 1 was earning an M&M for every word beginning with the letter M that he found around the house (my older kids loved giving him hints!) Even though the curriculum suggests completing a lesson every other day, I was thrilled when he wanted to learn his letters every day for a week.

Then he hit a wall. He started getting confused by all the sounds and in turn frustrated when I wanted him to review instead of continuing with the next letter. (That shows you how much he loves the lessons though!) His stubborn streak shined through and he would not cooperate.

He is only 4-years-old and has over a year before he begins kindergarten, so I'm following his lead using this program. I've had an excited reader at 3 and a reluctant reader at 6 along with everything in between with my other kids. I've learned it's easiest to teach when the child is interested.

I decided to take some time off of lessons. I would gently review by pointing out letters we saw in books or signs and reiterate their sounds. After a week or so, he was eager to learn more. We are taking it slower now, but still having fun. His favorite part of the lessons is the songs. We listen to the alphabet song (different version which says the sounds along with the letters) at the beginning of each lesson and then a specific letter song twice during the lesson. The songs have sweet, children's melodies. I've heard other children's music use popular tunes to make it more appealing to the adults, but I much prefer this style. My little guy loves music and is often heard singing while playing. Now, I hear him singing phrases like "twist, and twirl, and tumble" and "d, d, d, d, Let's sing words that start with D." My favorite though is when he shouts out, "Go sweat!" because the end of the alphabet song is "No sweat!" and he doesn't realize he's singing it wrong. The handful of melodies are reused for multiple letters which makes it familiar and easier for the child to sing along. I even find myself humming the catchy tunes throughout the day!

The flashcards come in 2 sizes and can be used in a variety of ways. The letter cards have the capital on one side and the lowercase on the back. The blend cards or special sounds cards have the blend on the front and multiple words that contain it on the back. The larger cards have a lowercase letter with the character which match the smaller reward cards with the pronunciation and character name on the back. My boy loves to pull out the letter rewards that he's earned and play with the characters. He also likes to use them to help him look for that letter around the house. We keep his in a little plastic container so he can easily grab them to review and to make it special.

The books (along with the lesson manual and student workbook) are approximately 7x7 inches. The first few books have only 4 pages and only a word or two on each one. After that, there are a few more pages per book and complete sentences. Level one which covers short vowel sounds has 23 books; the other levels each have 10 books.

This curriculum is extremely easy to use. There is practically no set up work involved for the parent. The activities vary slightly as they suggest things like taking a walk with an umbrella for letter U, playing with a yo-yo for letter Y, slithering like a snake to S words, find D words with a dinosaur detector, and more.

There are a few typos throughout the lesson manual, but nothing that would hinder you from understanding the meaning. However, in lessons 34-38, the second time the letter song is played, it instructs to sing the M song (first lesson) instead of the current letter and point to the pictures on the back of the page instead of the opposing page. It's not a big deal, but something to note.

Learning Dynamics is a full reading program. By the end of the curriculum, a student will have learned not only letters and sounds and reading short vowel words, but also long vowels and many pesky special sounds that are found in the English language, like sh, ch, scr, soft c, and more. For now though, we're still trying not to get confused by p, b, and d.

One thing that I would love to see added to the kit is an alphabet sheet. We listen to the song with each lesson, but there is no visual to look at, which makes it difficult for someone just learning the letters to follow along. I printed off two sheets--one uppercase and one lowercase--and alternate which one we use. This way, my son can not only follow along, but also associate both versions of each letter with the sound. Pointing to the letters as we sing them helps to cement them in his mind.

My little guy is loving using the Learning Dynamics Reading Program. He's not quite reading yet, but he likes sounding out the words in his books with me and thoroughly enjoys completing his lessons.

I'm excited to see how his literacy skills improve as we continue through the program.

You can connect with Learning Dynamics on the following social media sites:

Facebook

YouTube

Instagram

Be sure to read more reviews of this reading program on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

Middle School Lightning Literature

I am excited every time we get to review things that focus on reading. The foundation of our schooling is literature based, so the kids spend a large portion of their school day lost in a book. While I do appreciate the need for some fluff in their reading, we rely on quality writings most of the time. That's why when the Homeschool Review Crew had the opportunity to choose one of many products offered by Hewitt Homeschooling Resources, I was immediately drawn to the Gr 8 Lightning Lit Set. Not only does their Lightning Literature & Composition series focus on whole books and classical literature, but it also teaches deep reading and writing skills.

Hewitt Homeschooling offers a balanced, flexible, and complete approach to home education. They believe that the best option is home school, not school at home, by providing hands-on activities and great literature. Their goals are to combine excellent academics with character development, to instill a strong work ethic, and to cultivate a spirit of community service.

There is a Lightning Literature & Composition level for every student from grades 1-12. For the elementary and junior high years, the curriculum is grade-specific; for the high school years, it is based on a time, place, topic, or author per semester. The early levels focus on a variety of books to instill a love of reading and gently incorporate grammar skills. By the advanced levels, the students will be introduced to exciting authors, strengthen their comprehension skills, and concentrate on strong writing exercises. 

I chose the Gr 8 Lightning Lit Set by Elizabeth Kamath for our oldest child. Even though he will be starting high school classes in the fall, this is his first experience with the Lightning Lit courses. I knew this would be a good challenge for him, because while he reads a lot, we haven't spent too much time on his writing abilities. 

The course utilizes 6 classic books with an additional collection of short stories and poems.

• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
• A Day of Pleasure by Isaac Bashevis Singer
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children (various authors) by Harold Bloom 

The books, written between the early 1800s through the mid 1900s, cover both fiction and nonfiction and take the reader on a journey from a Greek Island to Middle Earth to the high seas to a home in Poland to a small town in Alabama and more. The stories were chosen to combine both fun and enlightening works as they introduce the student to a world beyond his immediate experience. 

The complete set includes the curriculum and all necessary reading materials, but for the purpose of this review, we received only the following curriculum books:

• Student's Guide
• Workbook
• Teacher's Guide

The Student's Guide is the textbook of the course. It contains all the teaching materials as the lessons are written directly to the student. The chapters of the Student's Guide alternate between a classic book from the list and a portion of the Stories and Poems book. Each chapter follows the same format:

• Introduction -- a brief biography of the author(s) in the lesson; an explanation of the lesson
• While You Read -- questions or aspects to consider while reading 
• Vocabulary List -- various words from the story divided by chapters and a brief definition of each
• Comprehension Questions -- questions to help discern the student's attention to and understand of the reading material 
• Literary Lesson -- "the heart and soul" of the curriculum; teaches concepts such as figurative language, character, symbolism, imagery, and more
• Mini-Lesson -- one per chapter; can relate to the reading or introduce a composition skill; most chapters involve writing a research report
• Writing Exercises -- may pertain to the literary lesson, research paper, or essay; students should complete one or more of the suggestions listed

The Workbook is a 277-page, consumable book that complements the Student's Guide. The pages should be completed after the reading has been done but before the writing assignments. There are 7 types of exercises: relating to the literary lessons, relating to the mini-lessons, thinking skills, grammar and mechanics, literary analysis, puzzles, and extra-challenge. There can be more than one type in a chapter or none of one type at all. The first ones are required, but the last two exercises (puzzles and extra-challenge) are optional. The elective exercises include word searches, crossword puzzles, and various language arts topics. The number of exercises varies per chapter, but there is a total of over 100 exercises throughout the course. 

The Teacher's Guide is a must-have addition to the curriculum. Not only does it contain all of the answers to the workbook pages, but has additional teaching helps and valuable tips to aid struggling students.

The format is identical to the Student's Guide, making it simple to follow along. The beginning of the book gives and explanation of the course and its components, explains the importance of both reading and writing, and lists a weekly schedule for the curriculum with check boxes.

In the 6 weeks that my son has been using this curriculum, he has read "A Crazy Tale" from Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children and Treasure Island. He has learned about an author's purpose in writing, taking notes, setting, and rewriting in his own words. He has practiced capitalization and apostrophes; described sights, sound, touch, smell, and taste for various settings in the house; identified bias, analyzed literature; determined fact or opinion; and more. In the coming weeks, he will learn about free verse and ballad, sharing culture through nonfiction, citing sources, character development, narration, figurative language, sentence structure, and much more.

There is a great variety of exercises throughout the book that include short answer, multiple choice, underlining, and markings along with the longer assignments. It's a good combination that teaches the concepts without making my son feel overwhelmed. I've already seen an improvement in not only his writing abilities but his confidence, as well. I'm excited about the possibilities as we progress through the materials.

I have been thoroughly impressed with the Gr 8 Lightning Lit Set. I appreciate the combination of strong, classical literature with a thorough teaching of composition and writing. I feel confident that Hewitt Homeschooling Resources will benefit my son as he enters his high school years.


You can connect with Hewitt Homeschooling Resources on the following social media sites:
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
YouTube
Instagram

My crewmates and I had many options to review including other levels of Lightning Lit, a few My First Reports, and various high school courses. You can read those reviews on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls Continues

* This post may contain affiliate links. 

My kids loved the first two books in the The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls series and couldn't wait to read more of the adventures. Imagine their surprise when the next two books arrived from WorthyKids, an imprint of Hachette Book Group for us to review!   

WorthyKids of the Hachette Book group is a Christian publishing company in Tennessee. They partner with authors whose content are characterized by talent, creativity, and compelling ideas. They create colorful, interactive books for children, but their other imprints include products for adults too, like journals, devotionals, inspirational books, and much more.

The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls was written by Mike (M. J.) Thomas. When he couldn't find any books to teach his son about the Bible in a fun and imaginative way, he decided to create his own series. The books combine biblical accuracy with adventure and imagination. The main characters are named after his son, his niece, and his dog.

Though these are stand-alone stories, they all take place while Peter and Mary are staying with their great-uncle for a month. There is a prologue in each book that explains that Great-Uncle Solomon was an archaeologist who collected treasures from around the world. He even introduced them to his greatest discovery of all--the Legend of the Hidden Scrolls. These ancient scrolls sent the siblings back in time to events in the Bible to decode secret messages and learn truths found in God's Word.

In The Great Escape (Book #3) Peter and Mary found a room filled with Ancient Egyptian artifacts--including a real sarcophagus!--in Great-Uncle Solomon's house. After grabbing supplies like a dagger, map, binoculars, and a flashlight, they answered the lion's roar. They chose a scroll, broke the wax seal, and found themselves in the middle of an Egyptian dessert.

The kids and their dog found a pyramid to explore. Golden doors, elaborate paintings, and lighted torches filled the long hallways. Just as they found the treasure room and opened the sarcophagus, a panther chased them away and into the river. The trio followed the Nile's current and were saved by Pharaoh's young daughter. They were with the princess when Moses came to tell Pharaoh to let God's people, the Israelite slaves, go free. They watched as the rods turned to snakes and experienced the plagues. They were wading in the water when it turned to blood, were surrounded by frogs, attacked by lice, and surrounded by flies. They watched as the animals became diseased and the people covered in boils. Eventually, Peter and Mary had to flee the palace and found themselves in Goshen with God's people. As the Israelites escaped the Death Angel and fled Egypt, the kids followed and saw how God protected them. As they were struggling with the Great Magician in the middle of the parted Red Sea, they solved the scroll and returned home to the library.     

Peter and Mary learned a new secret about Great-Uncle Solomon in Journey to Jericho (Book #4). Before he became an archaeologist, he was an international spy. He taught them some important skills and filled their adventure bag with spy gear before they were whisked away to their next adventure.

Little did the siblings know but their brief spy training would be put to the test when they found themselves in the middle of the Israelite camp just before the people conquered the Promised Land. The met Joshua in the Tabernacle and convinced him they were friends because they knew God's secret "code name." When they saw some men in robes sneak out of the camp under the cover of darkness, they followed them, across the raging river and into the city of Jericho. There, they evaded an enemy, stopped some bullies, befriended a family, met the spies, and made a daring escape. The next few days were spent hiding in a cave in the mountains before it was safe to return to the camp. Once they got back, they learned that God told Joshua it was time to claim the Promised Land. Peter and Mary witnessed amazing miracles including the parting of the Jordan River and the crumbling of Jericho before they solved the mystery of the scroll and found themselves back in the library with Great-Uncle Solomon.

These are cute little stories, right around 120 pages each, perfect for ages 6-9, and a quick read. They are fiction books, for sure, but filled with much biblical truth. Not everything is accurate though. I am all for poetic justice, except when the author changes definite details in the Bible. For instance, in both books, the people crossed over dry ground (Red Sea and Jordan River). While the author himself does say that in the story, the pictures show puddles. "A picture is worth a thousand words" and people, especially kids, are going to remember those images more than a single, fleeting word. Not only do those puddles undermine the Bible, they take away from the miracles.

Other than that issue, we really liked these books. The characters are likable and funny. We all laughed when Peter explained how the shofar got its name. The kids have already started rereading the first two books and are eyeing the newest book about David and Goliath. I have a feeling that as this series grows, so will our collection of it.   

I used these as family read-alouds. Here's what the kids had to say:

I like that they're about the Bible.

I like the adventures!

I like how they travel back in time to the Bible stories.

If you're looking for adventure-filled stories that teach your little ones about the Bible, The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls is a great series to have.

You can connect with WorthyKids on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Be sure to read more reviews of these books on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.


* Some of the links in the content above are affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I recommend products or services that I have used personally and all the text and opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225.