High School Language Arts

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 104: Shakespeare, Interview with Kat Patrick

This week on the Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 104: Shakespeare, Interview with Kat Patrick. This post is running concurrently on Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network.

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 104: Shakespeare, Interview with Kat Patrick

Many homeschooling highschool moms and teens feel intimidated (or even bored) when they think about studying Shakespeare. But take our word for it, Shakespeare can be meaningful, fun and even helpful for life preparation!

Here are some things you should know:

Shakespeare was writing for the masses. He wanted to entertain them so that he could sell tickets at his theater. Average Englishmen loved his plays and came back over and over to watch them. If we think Shakespeare in terms of the “common man”, it might feel less intimidating.
Shakespeare wrote about universal human experiences. His stories connected with his audience. If we look, we’ll still find connections.
Shakespeare’s characters and relationships were relatable to his audience. While the stories are not what we are used to, we can relate with some character or the other.
When the characters and relationships were placed in unfamiliar settings, the audiences were allowed to relate, connect and use their imaginations.

Shakespeare did not write his plays to be read. He wrote them to be performed. So try a double-pronged approach:

See a production
Read that play
Try watching an act, then reading that act together (try readers theater style for a fun approach, if you have a co-op or homeschool group class)

Our interview is with Kat Patrick. She is a homeschool mom who for many years lived and homeschooled England. She studied for her graduate degree there (and met her husband, thus raising their kids there). They lived near Oxford. Today Kat teaches English (and many subjects through her international online school Dreaming Spires Homeschool).

Kat reminds us of the benefits to studying Shakespeare:

It makes you a better reader: The better you get at Shakespeare, the better you are at reading textbooks, and real-life reading like contracts
It gives you context for other Literature studies. If you are going to read British Literature, you’ll never truly understand what you read without some knowledge of Shakespeare, because allusions to his work in embedded throughout any British writing.
Lots of our movie and books take ideas from Shakespeare:
- Comedic characters who scrozzle phrases
- Comic relief scenes in tragic drama

When you are ready to start studying Shakespeare in your homeschool highschool:

First read the play in story form to give them an idea. Leon Garfield’s Stories from Shakespeare is one of Kat’s favorite stories.
Have the teens retell the story (Charlotte Mason style), so that they truly get the gist of the story. Do some copywork to internalize favorite scenes (download Kat’s freebie to help with this).
Go see a play if you can. If you can’t watch a good film. Here are some that Vicki and Kat love:

For more resources, check out the following resources:

Follow Kat Patrick’s Dreaming Spires Facebook page.
You can order videos of Shakespeare’s plays. Kat’s favorite productions are from the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Download Kat’s Copywork Guide Introduction to Shakespeare.

Shakespeare Copywork from Kat Patrick Freebie from 7SistersHomeschool.com

Click image for more information.

Listen in to teaching Shakespeare and loving it!

And also check out this episode with Kat about homeschooling in England:

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 65: Homeschooling in UK and US

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Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 104: Shakespeare, Interview with Kat Patrick

Ideas that Teens Like for Teaching American Poetry in Homeschool Co-op

Here are some ideas that teens like for teaching American Poetry in homeschool co-op.

Ideas that Teens Like for Teaching American Poetry in Homeschool Co-op

Homeschool co-op is a wonderful place to teach poetry.

*Choose a good curriculum. For many homeschool high schoolers, they will get the most out of a curriculum that allows them to

have some fun with American Poetry
feel they can understand, be touched by or relate to the poetry selections
gain some skills for reading and writing poetry
feel they can be successful at writing basic poetry
not be overwhelmed or feel the course is overdone

That’s exactly what 7Sisters’ American Poetry: Reading and Writing is about. The lessons are short, accessible, fun and engaging. There’s an answer key to help co-op teachers grade assignments.

American Poetry: Reading and Writing 7SistersHomeschool.com

Click here for more information.

*Create a syllabus for the course. American Poetry: Reading and Writing is a quick, 5-week course. This is perfect for introducing American Poetry in a homeschool co-op setting. Click here for a simple how-to on writing a syllabus for your course.

*Start with interest-building. This is probably the most important thing you will do to win your homeschool high schoolers’ attention. Show them a video (or several videos) of famous people reading American poems. There are some links in American Poetry: Reading and Writing. Here are a few more:

S.M. Lockridge’s famous sermon-poem: Sunday’s Coming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn94B3GHcjY
A Tiny Poem to the World by Kid President: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JhwaRYOgxo
The Common Cold by Ogden Nash: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375099748602/
To My Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375100451365/
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost read by Alan Bates: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375100738422/
Hope is a Thing with Feathers by Emily Dickinson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SitTvcIusz0
21st Century Native American Poet Layli Long Soldier’s Resolution 6: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/poetry/layli-long-soldier
Wisdom of Chief Dan George: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375107515631/
The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375101015447/
Bullwinkle’s take on The Village Blacksmith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMbsw4sPhEA
The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe read by James Earl Jones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcqPQXqQXzI
Just Do Right by Maya Angelou: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375099956620/
Litany by Billy Collins recited by a 3 year old: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375099964878/
Truth Without Photoshop by Janette Ikz: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375099965071/

*Share a quote about poetry at the beginning of class each week. Here are a few from BrainyQuote.com:

Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood. -T.S. Eliot
Poetry: the best words in the best order. -Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Listen, real poetry doesn’t say anything; it just ticks off the all possibilities. Opens all the doors. You can walk through any one that suits you. -Jim Morrison
You can find poetry in your everyday life, in your memory, in what people say on the bus, in the news, or just what’s in your heart. -Carol Ann Duffy
Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash. – Leonard Cohen

*Read a poem in person each week. Choose a favorite poem to read as a group, you read or a student reads.

*Build vocabulary. Create a word wall. Have students bring an interesting word that they have found this week and write it on a group posterboard. Then have each student share their word and what it means. Over the unit they will have enriched their vocabulary in a fun way.

*Group writing each week. Introduce each topic and then write a poem of that style as a group (you lead the activity). Allow this to be fun, silly and no-fail.

*Team writing each week. Break into teams. Have them write a quick, fun version of the topic then share with the group.

*Sharing poems. Each week have students share their homework poem with the group. This can be done by passing around.

Remember to keep the attitude light-hearted. There is no way to fail with poetry if your homeschool high schoolers are having fun!

Watch Sabrina’s WONDERFUL Facebook Live about teaching poetry.

Download American Poetry: Reading and Writing and get started!

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Ideas that Teens Like for Teaching American Poetry in Homeschool Co-op

3 Reasons Why American Poetry: Reading and Writing is Good for Teens

Here are 3 reasons why American Poetry: Reading and Writing is good for teens.

3 Reasons Why American Poetry: Reading and Writing is Good for Teens

Some homeschool high schoolers are born loving to read and write poetry.

Some homeschool high schoolers (and their moms) feel intimidated by the very idea of poetry. They would like to avoid it if possible!

The truth is, your homeschool high schoolers could graduate without experiencing any poetry reading or writing. But they will be poorer for it. Here are 3 reasons why poetry is good for teens:

Poetry helps teens develop academic skills

thinking skills
creativity
vocabulary
writing skills

Poetry helps teens develop personally

skills that allow teens to know that learning completely new things can be fun
skills that allow them to experience the diversity of the American *melting pot* culture

Poetry helps teens develop artistically

because poetry is verbal art
poetry develops skills for *noticing* (as opposed to *answering things ONE right way*)

Click here for more information.

That’s why 7Sisters is providing our guide: American Poetry: Reading and Writing.

American Poetry: Reading and Writing is a teen-friendly guide to poetry that eases teens into the poetry experience. Also, because of the rich *melting pot* heritage of the United States, students who are learning a little about American poetry are tasting a bit of various cultures and experiences of the many kinds of Americans.

American Poetry: Reading and Writing includes:

non-intensive study (it is only 5 weeks long)
material is fun and success-oriented
short lessons (can usually be completed in about 15 minutes)
genuine exposure to meaningful poetry and word usage

Teens who love poetry will naturally enjoy this study guide.

Teens who are intimidated by poetry have told me that they not only like poetry a little but feel much better about their own writing skills and abilities when they finish these lessons.

Download American Poetry: Reading and Writing for a delightful unit study for your homeschool high schoolers (at $4.99 you can’t go wrong)!

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3 Reasons Why American Poetry: Reading and Writing is Good for Teens

Teach Teens to LIKE Poetry with American Poetry: Reading and Writing

Your high schoolers not sure they want to do poetry? Teach teens to LIKE poetry with American Poetry: Reading and Writing.

Teach Teens to LIKE Poetry with American Poetry: Reading and Writing

Would you like to help your homeschool high schoolers appreciate their varied American heritage and at the same time learn to love reading and writing poetry? Download American Poetry: Reading and Writing for your teens.

American Poetry: Reading and Writing captures the essence of American culture through our history BUT not in a stuffy, boring format.

Click here for more information.

During this five-week tour of American poetry, homeschool high schoolers will get a taste of

fun poetry
serious poetry
poetry from Americans of various ethnic backgrounds

Teens will read short selections of poetry and try their hands at writing some fun and some inspirational poetry.

“Don’t kill the topic by busywork” is the motto of this course. In this 26 page, 5-week course, young people will complete one quick lesson each day, 4 days per week. Here are the topics (with reading and writing in each area) they will cover:

Week 1: Fun Poetry
- This unit eases teens into the FUN of writing poetry with no-fail exercises such as
  - 6-Word Memoir
  - Word Clouds (using a free online generator)
  - Humorous Poems (with Ogden Nash)
Week 2: Native American Poetry
- This unit introduces teens to the poetry of our countries first inhabitants with samples of well-known spoken poems by
  - The Cherokee
  - The Lakota
  - and from the 20th Century Chief Dan George
Week 3: Early American Poetry
- This unit gives teens a glimpse of the beautiful poetry of a Pilgrim and an educated slave
  - Anne Bradstreet
  - Phillis Wheatley
Week 4: Poetry That Tells a Story
- This unit looks at the narrative poetry of
  - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  - Emily Dickinson
Week 5: African-American Poetry
- This unit looks at some favorite African-American poets
  - The Christian spoken-word poetry of MisTerious Janette…ikz
  - The street poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks
  - The thought-provoking poetry of Langston Hughes

In each unit, students will try their hands at writing a poem. The goal is not to create the next internationally famous poet, but to give teens a pleasant experience using their words in a fun, powerful and creative manner.

This downloadable workbook includes a 7-page answer key to help parents with grading.

Click here for a free excerpt of American Poetry: Reading and Writing.

Your homeschool high schoolers will enjoy American Poetry: Reading and Writing. Download a copy today.

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Teach Teens to LIKE Poetry with American Poetry: Reading and Writing

10 Meaningful High School Reading Materials for Reluctant Readers

Teens don’t need to stick to long classics that bore them. Here are 10 meaningful high school reading materials for reluctant readers.

10 Meaningful High School Reading Materials for Reluctant Readers

Believe it or not, some homeschool high schoolers hate reading!

There are all kinds of homeschool high schoolers. Some can’t get enough books in their lives. Others would rather being doing hands-on learning, playing music or creating great artworks.

Some homeschool high schoolers struggle with reading.

Be encouraged if your have a reluctant reader! There are lots of ways to get the exposure to good reading material. Here are 10 meaningful high school reading materials for reluctant readers:

1. Audiobooks. Even reluctant readers will often enjoy a book if it is an audio version. Audiobooks are great to use while driving- the whole family can enjoy it together! You might try an audiobook of something fun to get them started. How about Right Ho, Jeeves by PG Wodehouse. It is one of the Jeeves and Wooster series: hilarious stories about a British gentleman in the 1920’s and his valet. You can download 7Sisters’ study guide to help with context, vocabulary, comprehension and inference skills.

Right Ho, Jeeves Literature Study Guide 7SistersHomeschool.com

Click here for more information.

2. Family Read-alouds. Some books are terrific for family read-alouds. If you get a high school level study guide that doesn’t kill the joy of the book, your teen can get some extra punch from these read alouds. Try the Chronicles of Narnia or The Hobbit and download 7Sisters’ no-busywork study guides.

The Chronicles of Narnia Literature Guides for High School-Complete Set from 7 Sisters Homeschool

Click here for more information.

3. Books of the Bible. Our umbrella school allows homeschool to count books of the Bible. Does yours? (They may count 5 of them each year.) Teens need to read the Bible anyway, so they get some boost to their spirits and their booklist.

The Hobbit Literature Study Guide from 7SistersHomeschool.com

Click here for more information.

4. Magazines/journals. For teens with special interests, this can work as reading material. (We’re talking magazines about auto repair, computer programming, birdwatching, etc…magazines that go in-depth at at professional level.) Ask your supervising organization how much magazine reading would equal a book.

5. Poetry. A book of poetry is a book. Count it. Some more artsy teens will read poetry anytime. Some teens need the poems read to them or with them. If you want a user-friendly introduction to British poetry, download 7Sisters’ guide.

British Literature - One Year of Reading and Thinking

Click here for more information.

6. Whatever is popular. Sometimes teens will read a book just because their friends or co-op classmates have read it and talked about it. I know many teens who hated reading but read Harry Potter, Ender’s Game and more just so they could keep up with the crowd.

7. Abridged classics. Teens do need to read a certain number of classics. Many classics, though, are much to difficult for a struggling reader or too cumbersome for a reluctant reader. Try a couple of abridged versions.

8. Biographies. An inspirational or action-packed biography will often do the trick for reluctant readers. You might try God’s Smuggler (the story of Brother Andrew who smuggled Bibles behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War). Download 7Sisters’ study guide to enhance the learning process.

God's Smuggler Literature Study Guide from 7SistersHomeschool.com

Click image for more information.

9. For teens who have learning disabilities or other issues: Try Bring the Classics to Life workbooks by EdCon. (We aren’t affiliates; we’ve been pleased with the progress we’ve seen struggling readers make with EdCon.

10. One year in high school, a reluctant reader might benefit from learning the concepts of good literature by a solid course in cinema such as 7Sisters: Cinema Studies for Literature Learning.

Literature Analysis, Literal Thinkers and Movies

Click here for more information.

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10 Meaningful High School Reading Materials for Reluctant Readers

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 92: Helping Literal Thinkers with Literature Analysis

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 92: Helping Literal Thinkers with Literature Analysis. This post is running concurrently on Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network.

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 92: Helping Literal Thinkers with Literature Analysis

Many teens haven’t reached the developmental stage where they can think symbolically. Those non-symbolic teens are called “literal thinkers”.

There’s nothing wrong with being a literal thinker…except that it can be a BIG challenge where it comes to literature analysis. Literature analysis tends to lean heavily on inferential thinking (reading between the lines) and symbolically (metaphors, similes, analogies). This is difficult for literal thinkers.

Most teens will hit the developmental stage where they are thinking symbolically and inferentially. (In Human Development classes we call these types of thinking part of a process called *metacognition*.)

When they reach this developmental stage, they will also be able to see differing perspectives on a character or plot. But until then, Sabrina, Vicki and Kym share some thoughts about helping teens think in more mature levels.

In HSHSP Ep 92, we discuss:

The benefits of study guides in helping ease literal thinkers into symbolic and inferential thinking
Ways to use quality movies as literature for analysis
The benefits of discussion of analysis with family and/or peers
Cinema Studies post with literary devices

Got a teen who thinks concretely? Literature Analysis can be a challenge. Join us for some tips to help. In the meantime, here are some links with more good information.

How about a freebie to find out how helpful study guides can be:

Anne of Green Gables Study Guide FREE!

Here are some other helpful posts:

Literature Analysis, Literal Thinkers and Movies in High School

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-op

10 Great Discussion Questions for Homeschool Literature Co-op

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 92: Helping Literal Thinkers with Literature Analysis

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 89: A NOVEL Approach with Highschool Literature

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 89: A NOVEL Approach with Highschool Literature! This post is running concurrently on Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network.

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 89: A NOVEL Approach with Highschool Literature

Moldy, ancient novels: that’s what highschool Literature is, right?

Boring, meaningless lessons based on the old novel is highschool Literature, right?

Wrong on both counts!

Why read just because they are required to? Why not look at *novel* ideas for types of Literature? Teens can:

Read for connection (to the author, to life, to culture, etc)
Read to understand the author’s why?
Read to find their own why?

AND Literature is more than dusty novels. Lots of things can count as Literature!

Sabrina, Vicki and Kym have some NOVEL ideas for some lively, meaningful and fun ideas for homeschool highschool Literature. They share the thought provoking questions:

What can count as literature? Can it be something other than old novels? Here are some types of Literature that they have covered with their homeschool highschoolers:

Poetry (reading, interacting with it, memorizing it, writing it)
Short stories
Biographies
Autobiographies
Plays (try some Readers Theatre)
Movies

Listen and find out the answer to the BURNING question: Why did Shakespeare write in iambic pentameter.

In the meantime, check out these useful links for new ways to look at highschool Literature.

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-op

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 14: Readers Theater Party- It’s COOL!

God is a Poet – Introducing Poetry to High School Homeschool Students

Vicki’s Pinterest Poetry Board (lots of famous people reading poetry…so cool!)

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 89: A NOVEL Approach with Highschool Literature

Literature Analysis, Literal Thinkers and Movies in High School

Why is literature analysis easy for some teens and SOOO difficult for others? If you are homeschooling high school students, you may have observed that analyzing, discussing and writing about literature comes very naturally to some kids and is a source of great frustration to others. Understanding why it’s hard for some opens the door to helping them succeed. In particular, concrete thinkers (those who like to memorize the right answer and describe things in black and white imagery) are often the ones who will benefit the most from a teacher who understands the way they think. Some kids need a teacher who is willing to help them grasp the deeper layers of literature using a totally different vehicle — something like a movie — to get the discussion started. Are you willing to explore the potential connections between literature analysis, literal thinkers and movies in high school? It just might open up a new arena of success for your “concrete kid”!

Literature Analysis, Literal Thinkers and Movies in High School

Literature analysis is more than just comprehension. We spend years in the younger grades helping our students learn to really comprehend what they are reading, to notice cause and effect, to track the plot arc through a story, to recognize which character is the protagonist, to understand the ways in which descriptive passages and narrative passages are different, and these things are all important. But by the time students enter high school they need to be adding another layer of understanding to their study of literature. Comprehension is no longer enough, and we introduce the concepts of literature analysis and build our teens’ skill with analyzing, discussing and writing about the deeper layers of a book.

Some teens are thrilled with literature analysis! They find comprehension questions boring and feel insulted by the busywork found in comprehension-based literature study guides. (BTW, if you are looking for NO-BUSYWORK, NO-OVERKILL literature study guides, the 7Sisters Ebookstore has dozens to choose from. Click here to see what your literature-loving teen might enjoy!) But other teens find the leap from comprehension to analysis to be a serious challenge.

Literal thinkers are those folks who like things with clear right and wrong answers. They like black and white choices. They observe what is front of them and draw a conclusion quickly based on the evidence. They often excel in science or math. They MAY have been strong readers all along, mastering reading comprehension with ease only to find that the ANALYSIS of what they are reading sounds like vague nonsense. A teen who is a literal thinker with a strong vocabulary may have no trouble at all reading Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities and keeping the characters and settings straight, but being asked, “WHY do you think Dr. Manette kept talking about his imprisonment that night?” frustrates him tremendously.

Literature Analysis, Literal Thinkers and Movies in High School

This is where MOVIES can come in to the picture as a tool for success! Because well-written movies are only a couple of hours in length but tell a complete story, they provide a limited vehicle for literary analysis that is much less likely to overwhelm and frustrate literal thinkers. Additionally, the visual medium offers clues for analysis that are not present on the printed page — facial expressions, tones of voice, the music playing in the background, the type of camera work employed — these visual elements all point to a deeper understanding of what is happening in the story the movie is telling.

Are ALL movies good for literary analysis? The obvious answer is no, but neither are all books good for literary analysis. Choose movies that were adapted effectively from great books, or choose movies that are original stories but are respected for their well-crafted storytelling style. Use a study guide like those you can find here at 7Sisters in our Cinema Studies for Literature Learning collection to point your literal thinker’s attention in a particular direction and then ask her questions that help her notice the clues in the story that lead to deeper thinking about themes, symbols, motivation, relationship, social commentary, irony and more.

Success with Language Arts for your teen just may be right around the corner if you take a shot at combining literature analysis, literal thinkers and movies in high school homeschool!

Literature Analysis, Literal Thinkers and Movies in High School

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-op

What makes for a great co-op class for teens? Great class discussions, for one thing! And using Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your high school homeschool co-op guarantees great class discussions. Here are some of the things I’ve done in the last two years as I’ve used these guides in our local homeschool co-op classes.

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-Op

LET THE GUIDES DO THE “WORK” FOR YOU.

Each guide is set up with information and questions that help teens take note of literary elements in the films they are assigned to watch. Even if a literary device is new to them, you don’t need to teach the concept first. Let the first viewing of the movie be the students’ introduction to ideas like allusion, dramatic foils, or irony. Many students find it much easier to make sense of the definition or explanation of literary devices after seeing them used well. The movie chosen for each guide was chosen because it makes really good use of a particular literary device, so let the material do the initial piece of teaching for you.

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-Op

AGREE UPON A JUDGEMENT-FREE ZONE FOR YOUR GROUP DISCUSSIONS.

Tell students at your first class meeting (and remind them every time you meet) that no one will be judged or criticized for comments made during the discussion as long as comments show thought and not disrespectful of anyone else’s opinions. People have very different reactions to the same movie, and it is important for students to learn to respect those differences and discuss the movies regardless of variations in perception. What is “hard to believe” for one person is “heart-wrenching” for another; what is hilarious to one student will not be particularly amusing to another. Good discussion requires a conscious effort to avoid criticizing someone else’s experience; there are no RIGHT or WRONG responses to a movie!

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-Op

GET USED TO ASKING, “WHY?” OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

While students should be encouraged to share their opinions freely and without fear of being dismissed, they should also be encouraged to articulate WHY they formed the opinion they have. This is a vital piece of building critical thinking skills. If they found a character distasteful, they should ask themselves why. If they are not sure why, then it is important to consider the character more closely, to think beyond the obvious (e.g. words or actions) and examine attitudes, physical appearance, worldviews, relationships with other characters, apparent arrogance or callousness of heart or selfish thoughtlessness. As the facilitator for the group discussion, your consistency in asking the question, “WHY?” is a powerful motivator to spur teens on to deeper thinking.

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-Op

FOLLOW THE GUIDE QUESTIONS, BUT DON’T BE BOUND BY THEM.

Your group discussion may address all of the questions in the study guide in order, or you may find that some questions simply don’t grab your attention enough to spend time on them in discussion. You may find one or two questions that take on a life of their own and ignite a wonderful conversation that is not precisely what the guide was pointing toward…that’s wonderful! The ultimate goal is to encourage and equip the students to examine ideas, articulate what they are thinking, and share respectfully so that they can learn from one another in the group. Don’t let the discussion turn into a free-for-all that is just meaningless chatter, but if the conversation has meat to it, don’t worry too much about making the students stay strictly on topic.

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-Op

REQUIRE THE STUDENTS TO WATCH THE MOVIE A SECOND TIME.

The second viewing of the films is an important part of the learning process. In particular, if the literary element in focus is a new idea to your students, they will need more than one exposure to it in the story for it to really become meaningful. The guide helps them notice the literary device on first viewing. The group discussion brings further attention to it and helps students learn from the experience of others in the class who may have noticed the device more clearly than they did. The second viewing of the movie cements the idea in their brains and helps them recognize the same literary element in the future.

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-Op

RESPECT THE WRITING ABILITY OF EACH STUDENT.

Students needs to write in response to the second viewing of the film. Students also benefit from having their writing graded, from having corrections recommended or required, and from being challenged to work hard to improve their essays or personal response papers. But different students have different levels of proficiency in writing when they arrive in your co-op class for the year, and the most important thing about using Cinema Studies for Literature Learning guides is to encourage the THINKING that goes along with the movies. Being able to articulate those thoughts in writing is a separate skill. Take a close look at each student’s first writing assignment and try to get a feel for what writing skills are an area of strength and what parts of the writing process are a struggle. Grade with grace; if a student’s poor mechanics skills cause him to receive a low grade on every Cinema Studies paper, he will quickly become discouraged with the class in general and be less willing to think hard about the literary devices he is studying. Encourage continued improvement, but remember that Cinema Studies is first and foremost a LITERATURE study, and writing may be a significant challenge for some of your students, particularly those who are strongly visual learners. (If students are really inexperienced with essay writing, consider using Marilyn Groop’s Introductory Guide to High School Essay Writing in a separate class in your co-op.)

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-Op

HAVE FUN, AND ENCOURAGE THE STUDENTS TO HAVE FUN AS WELL.

Some of the movies are really funny; don’t let the fun get squashed as you learn. Some of the movies will spark strong disagreement among students; don’t forget that respectful debate over differing experiences is FUN and good for teens as long as they are not permitted to speak unkindly to one another. Some of the movies will be a huge hit, and some will be a total miss with your group; laugh about it if you find that one title is just a “thumbs-down” for everyone in your class.

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-Op

BEGIN EACH DISCUSSION WITH, “Show of hands…who liked this movie? Who didn’t? Who felt mixed about it?”

Then follow up with, “Ok. Why?” That begins each discussion with a question to which there is no wrong answer; even students who are shy or nervous about answering questions from the study guide and getting something “wrong” will feel safe to answer whether or not they liked the movie. This opening question also reminds everyone in the room that there will be differing responses to the film, to the questions in the study guide, and to the ideas about to be discussed.

I have had some simply fabulous group discussions in our local homeschool community using Cinema Studies guides. If your group has experiences to share, leave a comment! We all do well when we learn from one another!

Cinema Studies for Literature Learning in your High School Homeschool Co-Op

Why is Language Arts Such a HUGE Credit?

In my years as a homeschool high school academic advisor, I was often asked why Language Arts was such a huge credit. I admit, compared to Social Studies, Science, Math or World Languages (the other core courses on the high school transcript) it seems a more complex credit.

Homeschool high schoolers need 4 Language Arts credits for graduation. Let’s take a look at what a good English/Language Arts credit needs to include:

Literature: a variety of genres and topics over the 4 years
- While the reading material may be largely on one topic (British Literature, American Literature, World Literature, or other specific topics) or a mixture of topics, there should be several genres each year
- Some literature should be read for pleasure
- Some literature should be assigned and include interaction with the text (study guides, projects, discussions or assignments)
Writing: a variety of types of writing each year. Many students do best with (and colleges like to see) a mix such as:
- Essays
- Research papers
- Short stories
- Poetry
Vocabulary each year
Grammar/Editing each year
Public Speaking: at least one experience each year appropriate to the teen’s ability and circumstances

(You may have noticed that 7Sisters’ Literature, Writing and Public Speaking guides help your teens cover all these components in a no-busywork, level-able, interesting and affordable way!)

Each of these credits should be completed at a level of rigor appropriate to each homeschool high schooler’s interest, ability and goals. For a comprehensive look at how to cover Language Arts at the different levels, here is our homeschool umbrella school’s guidelines.

Why is Language Arts such a huge credit? Here’s what I tell parents:

The complexity is embedded in the definition: English/Language Arts is the study from elementary through secondary grades of reading, composition, grammar, vocabulary, spelling and dramatics. (At high school level, spelling is part of vocabulary and drama or public speaking is part of reading/literature.)
When we have spoken to college admissions officers over the years, these are the components of English/Language Arts for which they are looking.

Sabrina shares more on why and what of Language Arts HUGE credit:

What about college courses?

Homeschool high schoolers sometimes take a Freshman Literature or Freshman Composition course while still in high school. These courses rarely contain the richness of a high school course. It is up to the parent, umbrella school or advisory organization to decide how to translate college English courses to the high school transcript. (Here’s a post on the pros and cons of earning college credit during high school.)

For more on how to homeschool high school, take our online, self-paced course for homeschool moms: Homeschool High School: You CAN Do It!

Homeschool High School: You CAN Do It! 7SistersHomeschool.com

Click here for more information!

In all my years of advising homeschool high schoolers, I’ve never had one come back to me after graduation and say they wish they hadn’t worked so hard on Language Arts over the years. In fact, many of them have thanked me.

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