What to do if you've read aloud all the Literature Selections for a Grade?

[elisacm92]

I"m planning to use most of Grade 3 this year, but feel conflicted about the literature. Of the 5 possible 3rd grade chapter books, I've read three of them aloud, and my daughter has listened to them over and over on Audible (and a couple, she's read large portions of herself). I am not sure its the right place to jump into the literature curriculum. She's not ready for the Grade 4 books. She may be able to back up and do some of the Grade 2 literature to have the experience of comprehension guides with a story she doesn't already know. I'm concerned that she'll be bored with a year-long focus on books she already knows very well. I'm wondering if just for 3rd grade I should do something else and come back to MP in 4th. Anyone else had this dilemma?

[enbateau]

Doing a literature guide is very different from hearing a book over and over. She will be reading these books independently (silently at the head of the week) and again aloud TO you before parsing out the vocabulary, coming up with synonyms for words within the context of a passage, attributing quotes, answering comprehension questions in complete sentences, and having engaging discussion about the whys and hows of character choices. These are key literary analysis techniques that would be heartily missed if you went back to second grade lit. You may be surprised that she finds it easier and more enjoyable knowing the story inside and out. Maybe not.

There are also a few alternative books for grade 3. Moffat's? My Side of the Mountain?

[MBentley]

enbateau I second here. These guides are deceptively simply starting out in 2nd, and by the end (I'm on the last 2 Beatrix Potter books for the year), they really are asking a lot more. What's funny, and this relates directly to what you are talking about, is that even if the story is known, or seemingly simple or easy compared to other books, it is offset by the requirements in the literature guide. The writing requirement matures with each book. Just looking at the Farmer Boy book for Grade 3, I see how the "Enrichment" paragraph is going to really take up a lot of time.

Add to that, I don't know which writing program you picked (Intro to Comp or IEW), these books are directly used in the Intro to Composition writing program. That program will require that the kiddo start summarizing several pages of a book. Some kids are great with that - my rising 3rd grader will struggle so I'm going a different route with IEW's Student Writing Intensive because I need a piece by piece, step by step, word by word, approach to teaching writing or summarizing.

Since she has already read some of the stories, some of the "struggle" for comprehension won't be there (which I would call a gift!). This could leave you more time for really investing in the literature guides and the writing components for 3rd. Also, the Moffat's book is cute and I would call it a great addition. I don't know if we will get to it, but I have the set anyways, just in case. My mother in law read it and loved it.

Good luck Mama!

[elisacm92]

Thanks, those are very helpful replies!

[momgineer]

I agree with the others. Having a book read to you is MUCH different than reading it yourself AND studying it. Since you are new to MP and don’t have the benefit of being gently guided into studying a book from 1st and 2nd grade, i think you will probably find that learning HOW to study a book will be easier and smoother doing it with a book you are already familiar with. Remember, literature study is not just “reading.” It’s not just having read a good book. There are so many skills taught in the guides. Learning how to grasp new vocabulary by reading in context. Learning how to think of an answer and actually write a good sentence or two. Thinking about the language (quotes from the book) and how the words the author chose help develop the feeling of the story. It also forces you to talk about the book a chapter at a time on a daily basis. It gives the opportunity to really think and reflect rather than just reading ahead to see what happens.
Also consider the idea of how to read a book. Read it to get the story. Read it again and again and again going deeper each time. The mark of a classic book is the ability for that book to be read over and over and the reader get new insights out of it with each reading. Since she is quite familiar with these stories, she just might start making some beautiful connections that she would have missed otherwise.

[Colomama]

Also, when you think about younger siblings...some of them will have heard these stories a lot. Even heard deep discussions of them as their older siblings worked through the guides. Even read them early because they wanted to be "big" like their big brother or sister. And yet...reading through the books for school and answering the guide questions is enough.

Not every subject needs to be at your students challenge level. There are so many new things in 3rd. I say let literature be easy for a year.

[howiecram]

If you have not read this article, I would encourage you to! https://www.memoriapress.com/article...-study-guides/

[elisacm92]

Thanks, Christine! I read that article back in the spring but completely forgot about it somehow. Good reminders.