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Hello all,

I'm just lingering over Carrie''s post on SMarr's literature and thinking about 10th grade.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11002&p=80568&hilit ... 27s#p8000

After using DITHOR for 7th and 8th grades my 9th grade son has took Ancient Literature and composition this year through a tutorial program, but he would like to come back home for this area next year. He's tired of cramming. so, I'm trying to discern which Smarr's he should do? And will this include composition or does that need to be separate? We will be using the Rev to Rev guide.

My 11th grader did Smarr British Lit this year and has liked it. We also did the writing program, but it is a separate piece so you could leave it out. Each novel has essay ideas. I think those come with the Lit program and not the writing. It just doesn't have instruction with it. The writing program has quite a bit of grammar in it and has been challenging. I do tend to like more step by step instruction than what is offered. As for which one to do I think American Literature would fit in well with Rev to Rev. or you could go with the modern chronological guide. If you think you will use Smarr other years though you probably want to decide if you want conventional or chronological because the books overlap some.

We are doing Smarrs Introduction to Literature for our 10th grader and loving it! I think I was looking for the American, but for some reason ended up purchasing this one? I do not remember the other options though?

Another Smarr question -

how many days a week do you have lessons with this curriculum and how long are they?

They are scheduled 4 days a week and each lesson takes about 45 minutes for my dd, but I think it depends on how fast of a reader the dc is and how much you discuss the questions. When she has a writing assignment or a grammar assignment on the same day it can take longer, but usually I have her write the paper on a separate day and then she edits and adds to it over the next week or so. They take the books at a nice pace. For example "Pride and Prejudice" takes 4 weeks to get through, same for "Tale of Two Cities".

LynnH wrote:They are scheduled 4 days a week and each lesson takes about 45 minutes for my dd, but I think it depends on how fast of a reader the dc is and how much you discuss the questions. When she has a writing assignment or a grammar assignment on the same day it can take longer, but usually I have her write the paper on a separate day and then she edits and adds to it over the next week or so. They take the books at a nice pace. For example "Pride and Prejudice" takes 4 weeks to get through, same for "Tale of Two Cities".

so the 45 minutes includes using the writing program piece? Am I correct in understanding that the Smarr's writing program piece is additional, not a foundational component?

The writing component is additional. There are essay suggestions though for each book and also there are Critical Thinking questions that can either be discussed or he also says you can have them keep a journal and journal the answer to a critical thinking topic 1 x a week. Here is how it looks for us with the writing program added in. She reads the book say for 4 weeks. Each day there are comprehension questions which she answers and we discuss and we discuss the critical thinking question, most days. This takes 45 minutes - 55 minutes. There are also Vocab quizzes every 5 lessons. I noticed today that Pride and Prejudice took about 55 minutes. She is a fairly fast reader though and we don't spend too much time in discussion. After she finished the book she takes a day to write her essay and also usually has a Vocabulary quiz to take and that takes up one day. Then she starts reading the the next book and works through a writing/grammar lesson each day for about 5 days. These help her to edit her paper. On these days it takes at least an hour. I haven't had her write a paper after each book though. She has read 12 books and written 7 or 8 essays.

Lynn, This is such helpful information. Thank you.

Could someone help me here? I can't quite distinguish at the Smarr's website where the writing program is?

Florence it is included in the Lit course. If you look at say Medieval Lit and you see what is included you will see a link for a free download called "A Guide to Critical Writing, Grammar and Style". That is the writing program. The essay suggestions come with the Lit. guides when you buy them. I hope that helps.

LynnH wrote:Florence it is included in the Lit course. If you look at say Medieval Lit and you see what is included you will see a link for a free download called "A Guide to Critical Writing, Grammar and Style". That is the writing program. The essay suggestions come with the Lit. guides when you buy them. I hope that helps.

Lynn - Thank you! That does help.