Spotlight On: Finding Your Best Fit Literature Curriculum

October 30, 2018
Written by:
Guest Author
Homeschool Language Arts, Homeschooling Curriculum

One large advantage to homeschooling is that you have the ability to choose common curriculum options that best suit your students’ needs. Whether it’s math, science, history/social studies or literature, you can choose programs and supplements that accurately fit your student’s learning styles. While this is true in all subject areas, this month we’re turning our focus toward literature curriculum.

Types of Literature Curriculum

As with most homeschool subjects, you can find independent programs and you can find those that require more time from you as a teacher. In the case of literature programs, you can use a program that allows your students to be more independent or you can use one that heavily requires interaction. Some prefer their students to be more independent while others like students to follow their lead. Whatever your preference, you can create a program that suits your needs.

Creating Your Own Literature Curriculum

If you develop a curriculum specifically for your students, try to keep it broad enough that you can re-use it with future students still. Here are some tips for creating your own and things you won’t want to forget:

  1. Choose the literature you’d like to use. Before you can do anything else, you’ll need to know which piece of literature you’re going to cover. Some have blatant or inconspicuous themes you may want to avoid, so choose wisely.
  2. Do your research. You’ll not only want to research the potential books that will make your list but you will also want to see if the work’s already been done for you. Why reinvent the wheel if someone else has already turned your favorite novels into literature studies?
  3. Have clear goals.Try not to pick up a book for your students just because you remembered liking it as a teen. You’re going to be teaching from these books, so you want to choose novels that clearly lay out the literary elements and other aspects you intend to cover.       

Book Lists:

Do you feel like this all sounds wonderful but you’re unsure about where to even start? Thankfully, that part has already been done for you!

  • Homeschool Literature – For book lists containing books written for and about homeschoolers, check out the book lists at Homeschool Literature. They have books by grade, books by homeschoolers, books with a Christian worldview, and some with a secular worldview. Really, if you’re a homeschooler, you’ll benefit from this site!
  • LetsHomeschoolHighSchool.com – If you just need a simple, organized reading list made of classic titles and organized perhaps by grade, LetsHomeschoolHighSchool.com has already done the work for you. This is helpful because you aren’t trying to remember all of those classic titles you may feel you want your students reading, they’re all in one spot!

Creating a Literature Rich Homeschool

While some may find it a challenge, creating a homeschool that is rich in literature study is an opportunity to expose children to situations and personalities they might not otherwise come across.  Here are some great ways to enrich your homeschool through your literature studies: 

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