Language Lessons for a Living Education 7

Language arts programs listed in this section cover most areas of language arts (reading/literature, writing, grammar, spelling and handwriting) in one curriculum, although some skill areas may be covered with less intensity than a focused, stand-alone course.

This Charlotte Mason-flavored curriculum weaves together composition, handwriting practice, memorization, picture studies, narration, and other writing skills alongside labeling-style grammar, mechanics, vocabulary, and more. The elementary levels target skills by levels rather than grade, gradually guiding students in all ELA skills. So, you have the freedom to select a level based on your student’s skills. Writing assignments begin in Level 1 with observation skills, and end with descriptive writing in Level 6. Quarterly, brief assessments are provided. High school levels target skills by grade, intensifying the demands while maintaining the same techniques. Master Books also allows additional free PDF resources for each level. Some reading suggestions are included; you’ll add your own reading books at every level. Students study, memorize, and apply Scripture in lessons (NASB in 1-6, ESV in 9). Each level except for Level 2 requires an additional Biblically-oriented text. Level 1 uses 4 additional texts. Levels 3-5 use 101 Favorite Stories from the Bible; Level 6 adds The 10-Minute Bible; and Level 7 requires God’s Story. This last book presents God’s redemptive story through 120 Bible narratives. Masterbooks.com provides free digital lessons so students in Levels 3-5 can participate in this Bible study, replacing the Day 4 lessons in their student texts. Choose from complete packages or student consumables.

  Each consumable 3-hole punched Course Book is a student/teacher combo. Short teacher helps are written in the text and a hefty Teacher’s Aid section provides plentiful reproducible resources like optional games, spelling words, copywork practice, grammar study sheets, answer keys, and more, based on the level. Each level is a one-year course. The new Grade 9 is the first high school course available and uses the full text of The Pilgrim’s Progress as a core text (a specific edition is required). ~ Ruth

"Through literature" is the operative phrase in this series. It is what you would expect, after all, of a series incorporating a Charlotte Mason approach to language arts skills. Together the teacher and student travel through literature - poetry, well-loved books, fables, and stories. You pause along the way, of course, taking time to appreciate the story and learn the grammatical structure of the English language, giving the student opportunity through copywork (a Commonplace book replaces this in Levels F and up), some narration, and working slowly through the Progymnasmata methods to become immersed in quality writing models. Picture studies complement the literature and provide the means for students to put their thoughts into words and develop their observation skills. Just for good measure, the author has included some memory work grammatical lists and definitions. Taken altogether, the result is an easy-to-use, holistic approach to English that is thoroughly consistent with Charlotte Mason, and yet meatier than some programs with a similar bent. Compared to some, it also has a more updated "feel" even though many of the literature selections are "timeless" (i.e. a little old-fashioned). Workbooks are available at specific levels as a convenience factor.  

The author considers English Lessons Through Literature secular but inclusive, pulling readings from Christian, Buddhist, Taoist, and Jewish writings as well as ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Since these are included as literature and not as religious instruction, we at Rainbow consider this curriculum Neutral. See each level’s description for specifics on the specific reading selections. ~ Janice/Ruth