Progeny Press Study Guides & Books

Description

Among the many companies that offer a literature guide or study guide to use with a novel, Progeny Press does a beautiful job incorporating scripture into their literary analysis. I like how their guides begin with more basic comprehension questions and evolve into more challenging questions that encourage deeper thinking. Think of it as moving from who, what and where into the how and why's. With Progeny Press, students are asked to draw comparisons between the literature they are reading and the Bible. Your student will use their own Bible in their preferred version.

New to literature study guides? They are an independent and flexible option for adding a literature component to your language arts. As your student reads a novel, the guide provides a framework, something like a workbook. The guide might suggest each learner read chapters 1 and 2, then answer some questions. Students answer directly in the guide. From a parent's viewpoint, this is a time saver! You can set a schedule if you like, or just open their guide and ask them a question! Students love talking about what they are reading, whether they like it or not. Parent educators get a sense of the investment in the book each child has based on their remarks. In addition, parents could easily develop and add some deeper questions into an essay too.

Progeny Press has many titles to choose from. The age groups overlap in places because, well, that is not an exact science, is it? One student may read a book at age 10 and another at age 14. The age groups help a parent determine if the novel's content is likely appropriate for a child's age. Reading comprehension and literary analysis are an important component of any ELA year. A typical number of novels with guides is 4-6 a year, or 2-3 per semester. Some novels may take only a couple weeks to complete, while others take up to 8 weeks. Guides are currently available as softcover books, PDF format on CD-ROM, or PDF downloads available directly from the publisher at (progenypress.com). The guides are reproducible within one classroom or family.

Each guide includes:

  • a concise synopsis of the book
  • information about the book's author
  • background information pertinent to the story
  • suggestions for activities relating to the subject matter
  • introduction of literary terms
  • vocabulary exercises for each section of reading
  • comprehension, analysis, and application questions for each section of reading with discussion of related Biblical themes
  • a complete answer key and suggestions for further reading


Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.