How Many Classics Should Students Read in a Year?

Posted on September 16, 2008 
Filed Under Homeschool, Teaching Literature

I got the following question about high school literature from a reader, and after answering it, asked her if I could share it. I think this is something that many people wonder, so this seems a good time to answer it! Both the question and answer have been edited to eliminate personal details.

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Q- Do you have any recommendations as to how many books a student should read per year - is there a set amount?  I like them to read for comprehension, not just speed - no point reading 100 books, if you don’t take them in - but I wondered if there is an average?  Is your literature course geared to an age or grade, or just any high school student?

A- …As for how many books to read– it’s a very individual thing, and a lot depends on the books. For example, I could sit down and read several Jane Austen books in a row. She’s light and funny, and her books go quickly for me. On the other hand, Dickens, Cooper, Cervantes, or Hugo are much longer, and in many cases, much slower moving. I probably wouldn’t read more than two of them in a month, but I’d be reading a lot of other lighter stuff at the same time (I always have multiple books going at any one time).

My suggestion would be to have plenty of good literature available, and a designated time every day for reading classics, and then let them go at their own pace, choosing books that appeal to them. As long as time is built into the day, and an array of good books are available, they will be able to explore and learn in a way that allows them to fall in love with some authors, and become distantly acquainted with others.

My Excellence in Literature courses were originally developed as online classes for students from grades 8-12. They’re geared toward getting students ready for college thinking and writing, so many people start at the first level, no matter what age or grade level their student is. I’ve had students take the upper levels, then finish up by going through the first two levels.

Everything is written directly to the student, so that he or she can learn to study independently, but it’s adaptable to a more hands-on approach for parents who want to use it in that way. [The cover design you see in the illustration to the left is not the final cover-- just the beta version. It's still a nice bridge in Paris!]

The first two levels build skills in context-oriented literary analysis and writing, and the American, British, and World literature levels use, and continue to build, those skills while doing a college-style survey course in each type of literature. The literature chosen for each level increases gradually in difficulty, especially in the early semesters of the British and World Literature (the older it is, the more challenging the vocabulary and ideas, in many cases). Many of my students who have followed the honors track have ended up taking CLEP exams at the end, and earning college credits for their knowledge.

[As an addendum, I no longer teach the online classes, but with the curriculum, plus a good writing evaluator if you feel you need one, you can get much the same effect on your own.]

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Announcements

SAT Deadline extended: The late registration deadline for the October SAT has been extended to 11:59 p.m. EDT, Friday, September 19, 2008, for registrations made online or by phone. You can read more about this at CollegeBoard.com.

Internet Service Malfunction=Brief Sale Extension: My internet service has gone on and off today (more off than on, actually– I hope I can get this post up before it disappears again!), so I haven’t finished several things on my list, such as updating my web pages to remove the introductory sale price on the Conquer the Test SAT prep workshop. I will get it down as soon as possible, but until I can do so, it’s fair game as I still have a few copies of the original printing left;-).

Hurricane Help: Thinking of the inconvenience of having my internet service down, I am reminded once again of all those who are living through the aftermath of hurricanes. My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with them.

HSLDA Essay Contest for 2008: In this year’s essay contest, homeschooled students must “evaluate the worldly wisdom contained in two international folk proverbs. Students may choose which they want to argue and whether they are for or against.” Entries must be received between October 1 and November 1, 2008. You can get more information at the HSLDA site.

Constitution Day is September 17. Visit USConstitution.net for a wealth of interesting information and links. (Thanks to Kathleen, the editor of the HEAV Update!)

The Carnival of Homeschooling should be up later today at the Nerd Family blog. Perhaps they’re having trouble with their internet service too!

Comments

One Response to “How Many Classics Should Students Read in a Year?”

  1. Henry Cate on September 19th, 2008 6:24 pm

    I like the line about it isn’t important how many books you get through, but how many books get through you.

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