Modeling the Classics

Integrated Language Arts Lesson Plans from Literature. Great for the Homeschool Family!

What do integrated Language Arts Lesson Plans look like? How will it work in a homeschool family?

............Are you sick of ...............

One workbook for grammar?

One workbook for handwriting?

One workbook for spelling?

One workbook for Literature Study?

One workbook for creative writing?

And..... then each workbook multiplied over for each year level!

Is there a better, simpler approach?

Yes, I believe so!

Buy Now for US$9.95

 

Or Buy

Modeling the Classics

PLUS

The Hobbit Illustrated Printable Ebook

for US $14.95

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View a Sample of The Hobbit Printables Ebook

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Modeling the Classics is a simple, integrated approach to use literature as the basis of language arts lesson Plans - one book for multi-ages covering all the language arts! One E-book with 200+ pages!

It is not a fill-in-the-blanks workbook or a time-filler. It is designed to enrich the child's literary appreciation of an excellent author, by studying the author's techniques and using them as a model for their own wriitng.

Preview the Hobbit Ebook here.

Modeling the Classics is based around a variety of classic children's books such as "The Hobbit" by J.R.R.Tolkien, "The Wind in the Willows" by Kennethe Graeme, "Tales from Shakespeare" by Charles and Mary Lamb and others. Since they are classics, they are a model of excellent literature; they model for us what good writing should look like; they model depth of character; they model exciting plots and they use a range of interesting literary devices.For this reason, the classic books are an excellent starting point for any and every author. (At this stage, only Modeling the Classics - The Hobbit is available.)

Modeling the Classics aims to encourage children to model their own writing, on styles of authors which they already love. Before any writing begins, the whole book should be read aloud to the children. All of these books are loved by children because of their characters, warmth, descriptions, creative plots and the beauty of the literary style. Through each lesson, the children are to be keen observers of the classic author, explore the techniques which the author uses and then use the passage as a model for their own writing.

Learning in the company of the great authors will inspire your children to imitate the techniques that these masters have used. What techniques did Mr Tolkien use to make that description so powerful? - Let's do that too!

Why reinvent the wheel? To learn to paint well, we view and study the great Masters of the Renaissance; To write well, we view and study and imitate the great authors. This is the basis of these language arts lesson plans.

How does it work?

There are five lessons in Modeling the Classics, Language Arts Lessons from The Hobbit. This ebook contains The Hobbit Lesson Plans covering all language arts for ages 7-15.

Each lesson progresses through a ten day pattern. We begin with copying, then focus on the spelling and grammar of the passage, followed by dictation; next we turn our attention to the the writing techniques used by the author, then outline the model, work creatively with our own words, re-write and lastly, present the final copy. There is enough material in each lesson to be done over a 2 week period. However, there is no hurry. If your child needs more time take it; the program is very flexible.

Story Map of The Hobbit

Overview of Modeling the Classics;
Language Arts Lesson Plans from The Hobbit.

	Style Focus
Lesson 1	Descriptive writing of a scene;
Lesson 2	Descriptive writing of a character
Lesson 3	Structure of a plot summary
Lesson 4	Writing the narrative using different sentence beginnings.
Lesson 5	Adding a poem to your narrative.

 

	Grammar/ Punctuation Focus
Lesson 1	Using interesting Nouns to describe a scene; Use of commas in a list; Adjectives add interest; Prepositional phrases beginning "with"
Lesson 2	The use of Nouns, Adjectives to make a picture of your character, Use of commas in a list
Lesson 3	Capital letters in Headings Making headings exciting without giving too much away.
Lesson 4	Identify the different parts of speech which Tolkien used to make the passage exciting and interesting. To model these sentence openings. Use sentences of differing lengths.
Lesson 5	Understanding poetry : Rhyme pattern Meter of Poetry Poetic Techniques - alliteration, internal rhyme

 

	Spelling Focus
	List 1	List 2	List 3	List 4
Lesson 1	Short vowel sounds – a,e, i,o,u used with consonants	Long vowels sounds  o-e words (hole) ar ou/ow	oo as in door	tch / ch dge / ge
Lesson 2	Short vowels – a, e , i, o	Long vowel sounds – a-e, i-e,  o-e or / aw ai/ ay	ar oa ea (meat/ breakfast)	Prefixes ending with consonants
Lesson 3	Short vowels -e, i double letters	Long vowel sounds a-e; sh er –water ur - burst	Half- halves ie – piece of pie; fly- flies Revise oa,	Prefixes ending with vowels Revise dge
Lesson 4	Short vowels a -y (second sound) -ll words	ow/ou words, ay words; ey words	Adding -ed	ti, ci, si words
Lesson 5	Rhyming words  - finding the rhyming words in the poem, Choosing your own rhyming words for your poem.

Is it written for the student to do on his/her own?

No. It is written in a way that you as a teacher would have it on your lap and teach directly from it, as you and your students enjoy, examine, learn from the passage together and model your writing on it.

Is it a new approach?

No. Copying, Dictation, learning spelling and grammar in context are techniques you will read about in the Charlotte Mason approach to learning. Also, I have gleaned wisdom from Ruth Beechick's wonderful writings. It's not a new approach; it is an approach that works because it is a natural way to learn.

What ages does it cover?

It is written across a wide age range from 7-15. There are 4 levels of spelling included. As a teacher, you would choose which level(s) the child would need to learn. The spelling is taken out of the passage being studied and the levels focus on different word families, phonograms and rules. The series covers a number of books, and so the vocabulary level differs accordingly.

The Grammar being studied in context also covers a wide age range. The Grammar lesson is a progressive lesson which begins with easier concepts at first (such as nouns) and then becomes more difficult adding on other parts of speech. It is fine if your younger children join in the first part of the grammar lesson, and leave the rest for the older children. Be discerning and be happy to say, "This bit is too hard right now."

When it was too hard for my seven year old, she happily cut out some hobbit's clothes and added to her Writing Treasure!

Does it work?

The best creative writing my children have ever done has always come from the integrated language arts lessons by modeling. By doing this, they examine a wide range of writing styles, learn and apply various writing techniques such as descriptive writing, writing poetry, adding dialogue, examining a plot and creating their own story line. They are not burdened with a lack of writing ideas because their inspiration is in the story they have just loved listening to. They are bursting to use some of the techniques that one of their favourite authors also used.

My reluctant writer jumps excitedly when I say it is time for them to write their story - it started out as a story and now they are writing a book!

What about the child who hates to hold a pen?

Remember.... where do all the ideas begin? In our minds and hearts. Do they love listening to a great book? Do they snuggle up and crave for more to be read? Do they shout out, "Don't stop now! You just can't stop now!"?

If the mechanics are difficult right now for your child, step in and ask them to dictate their writing to you. Type it out for them, or work in partnership with them.- they write, then you write and so on.

I'd urge you not to make the mechanics the stumbling block for writing. It will come....in time...

What does it come with?

Five Language Arts Lesson Plans on The Hobbit - covering at least ten week's work;

Handwriting templates with copywork to trace - both printed and cursive in different sizes; Handwriting lined pages for variable handwriitng styles and sizes;

Word Family Charts; Spelling Study Spirals and more. All this - a complete ebook for US$9.95

NEW!! The Hobbit Illustrated Ebook

What else do I need to buy?

The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien

The novel MUST be read before you work though these language arts lesson plans.

The Hobbit on audio CD is an optional extra - great to listen to!

A good Grammar Text

A Dictionary and Thesaurus

 

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So, get rid of your pile of workbooks - and enter the world of literature! Curl up on the couch, read a great story to your children, enjoy the wonderful world of reading. Then, examine what made that book so wonderful, and use what you've learned in the model, to create your own models of literature.

Need help downloading and activating the e-book? Click here for more instructions.

 

Enjoy learning from the best and modeling the classic authors and their styles.

Looking for some homeschool freebies?

You have the opportunity of being the recipient of the Modeling the Classics - The Hobbit if you earn Writing Credits.

Read more at the homeschool freebies page.

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