Here’s the sixth and last FREE workbook in our Writing Lessons from Literature series; it’s based on L. M. Montgomery’s humorous and endearing novel, Anne of Green Gables.
Continue reading “Writing Lessons from Literature, Book 6: Anne of Green Gables” →
Here’s the fifth FREE workbook in our Writing Lessons from Literature series! Of course, we just had to include one of my most favorite classical novels, Little Women. It’s a marvelous novel all girls should read, as it is so rich in character development.
Continue reading “Writing Lessons from Literature Book 5: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott” →
Here’s the fourth book in our Writing Lessons from Literature series. It’s based on George MacDonald’s classic novel, The Princess and the Goblin. This is an eight-week course suitable for kids in grades 5-6 who love to read and write stories.
The main goal of this series is to teach children how to write by studying and analyzing passages from novels and by imitating writing techniques used by the authors. The secondary goal is to help children develop an appreciation for the novel by looking at the underlying themes and character development.
Continue reading “Writing Lessons from Literature, Book 4: The Princess and the Goblin” →
Just in time for a new school year, here is the third book in our FREE Writing Lessons from Literature series. And it’s based on Clara of Strawberry Fields, a story of a dreamy, imaginative girl growing up on a farm and her perpetually-growing family. It’s a historical novel that will make your daughter laugh and cry as she reads about the misadventures of this impulsive young girl living in the Patapsco Valley of Maryland right before the Civil War.
Continue reading “Writing Lessons from Literature, Book 3 – Clara of Strawberry Fields” →
Here’s the second in our series of FREE Writing Lessons from Literature, and it’s based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s heartwarming tale of friendship and generosity: A Little Princess. Like Book 1 in our Writing Lessons from Literature series, this is a nine week course suitable for children in grades four to six. If not used as a writing course, it can be used for reading comprehension or for a book club.
The main goal of this series is to teach children how to write by studying and analyzing passages from novels and by imitating writing techniques used by the authors. The secondary goal is to help children develop an appreciation for the novel by looking at the underlying themes and character development.
Continue reading “Writing Lessons from Literature, Book 2: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett” →
Do you have a daughter who loves to read and write stories? If you do, here is something I think you’ll both appreciate. It’s a resource you can use for reading comprehension, for a book club, or for writing lessons.
For years I have thought that a wonderful way to teach writing would be to help students study and analyze the actual writings of accomplished authors. It’s how musicians learn to compose music (at least back in the day when I was studying music theory and composition.) We’d study the music of the great composers by analyzing the chord progressions and melodies, taking note of the structures of the compositions, investigating the composers’ use of instrumentation, and so on. And then we’d try to imitate their style in our own compositions.
I have looked and looked for a similar approach to teaching writing. However, I have not been able to find exactly what I was searching for. So last year my college-age daughter and I wrote Writing Lessons from Literature for my youngest daughter. They include the following:
Continue reading “Writing Lessons from Literature Book 1: Heidi, by Johanna Spyri” →