English Lessons Through Literature (ELTL) is a gentle
yet thorough Charlotte Mason-inspired language arts curriculum for grades 1–8.
This literature-rich program uses high-quality living books, poetry, and
picture studies as the foundation for teaching language arts while
incorporating systematic grammar, classical writing methods, and narration.
Instead of worksheets and busywork, ELTL focuses on short,
meaningful lessons that help students appreciate great literature, develop
observation skills, express thoughts clearly, and master English grammar and
mechanics. Lessons are designed for teacher-student interaction and require
minimal prep time, making the program very homeschool-friendly.
How the Program Works
Each level contains 108 lessons (3 lessons per week over 36
weeks). A typical lesson includes:
- A
read-aloud from a quality book, fable, poem, or short story
- Discussion
and narration
- Copywork
(replaced by commonplace book entries in upper levels)
- A
focused grammar or mechanics “nugget”
- Picture
study to develop observation and descriptive writing skills
Curriculum Highlights:
- Living
books and timeless literature selections used as the heart of the
curriculum
- Systematic
grammar instruction that begins gently and grows more advanced each year,
including sentence diagramming starting in Level C (Cultivating)
- Classical
writing using the Progymnasmata sequence, starting with fables and
narratives and progressing to chreia and maxim in the upper levels
- Picture
studies that build observation skills and provide excellent practice in
putting thoughts into words
- Memory
work for important grammar rules and definitions
- Optional
student workbooks that significantly reduce teacher preparation time
Eight Levels (Grades 1–8)
English Language Through Literature offers eight levels, A-H,
named with words that begin with each letter. These levels include Aspiring,
Blossoming, Cultivating, Discerning, Enlightening, Flourishing,
Growing, and Harvesting. Levels loosely correspond to grades 1
through 8. The author recommends starting with Aspiring in 2nd grade,
though many families successfully use it in 1st grade as well.
Program Components:
- Teacher
Volumes: The heart of the program containing all lesson plans, grammar
instruction, discussion prompts, picture studies, and helpful appendices
(including memory work, diagramming guides, and writing protocols)
- Optional
Student Workbooks: Highly recommended for Aspiring through Flourishing.
They contain all copywork, exercises, and writing pages (available in
multiple handwriting styles: Manuscript, Slant Cursive, Vertical Cursive,
Basic Italic, and Cursive Italic)
- Read-Aloud
Literature Books: Many are classic public domain titles, though some
will need to be purchased or borrowed from the library
English Lessons Through Literature curriculum strikes
an excellent balance between the gentle, literature-rich Charlotte Mason
philosophy and the need for solid, systematic grammar and writing instruction.
It is considered secular but inclusive, drawing from a wide variety of cultural
and religious traditions presented as literature rather than doctrine.
Many families pair ELTL with the author’s Reading Lessons
Through Literature to create a complete language arts program covering
phonics, reading, spelling, grammar, and writing.
