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Total Language Plus (Study Guides for Novels)

Total Language Plus

See the complete review in 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.

Total Language Plus guides for studying novels are more comprehensive than many others. The include the normal reading comprehension activities, but in addition provide work in composition, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, listening skills plus analysis and critical thinking from a Christian perpsective. Composition activities are particularly good in this series, so much so that this might be your primary resource for composition at junior or senior high levels.

Guides are available for grade level "groups" from fifth grade through high school. Each guide is mostly self-contained aside from the novel itself. (Total Language Plus also sells the novels for your convenience.) Students will need access to a dictionary, a thesaurus, and a Bible for many lessons. A brief explanation in each guide explains how to use it. Answer keys--many answers are just suggestions--are at the back of each guide. Parents really should read the novels themselves to be able to evaluate student responses and participate in discussions. Each guide should take about 9 to 10 weeks to complete, so you are likely to get through no more than 4 in one school year.

The publisher's website includes very helpful information on each novel and study guide: reading level, genre/category, theme, book length, difficulty level of spelling and vocabulary words, difficulty of comprehension and critical questions, Biblical focus, and a few additional notes.