Hewitt Homeschooling- Lightning Literature {Schoolhouse Review Crew}

Lightning Literature and Composition
British Early-Mid 19th Century Student Guide- $29.95

Lightning Literature and Composition
British Early-Mid 19th Century TG- $2.95

Literature- it can be fun (and relaxing) to read but it’s another thing to understand it. I personally did not take many classes that dealt with literature in high school and only one class in college that pertained to literature. To say that I am lacking in this area would be an understatement.

Recently I was given the privilege to choose from the many Lightning Literature offerings at Hewitt Homeschool. I chose to go with British Early-Mid 19th Century because my ds (who is going into 8th grade) will be reading Ivanhoe this year and I’d finished reading Jane Eyre in May. Both of these books are in this study! But it is geared toward 10-12 grades. I really didn’t think my ds would be ready to tackle this one. Well, it’s a good thing I just happen to have a dd who is going into 10th grade *wink*. Honestly, I wanted this for myself as much as for her them. When we teach, we learn.

This study covers four larger books:

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

as well as shorter works:

• poems by William Blake
• Essay on Scott by Thomas Carlyle
• Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron and Shelley
• Rebecca and Rowena by William Thackeray

The shorter works are all included in the SG and the larger works were very easy to find in the public domain. We actually already had Ivanhoe (in physical form) and Jane Eyre (on my Kindle).

From this page you can see the Table of Contents, Intro and Grading Tips, and Schedules that are in the TG. Here you can find the Table of Contents and Sample Chapter for the SG.

The SG has eight lessons that are broke up like this:

• Introduction
• Comprehension Questions
• Literary Lesson
• Writing Exercises

From the website:

Lessons cover description, point of view, persuasive writing, setting, humor, character, and imagery and tone in poetry. The Student's Guide includes information about the authors, comprehension questions, writing exercises, discussion questions, reading lists appropriate to the period or subject, semester and full-year schedules, and a bibliography. The answers to comprehension questions are in the Teacher's Guide. Book-length works are sold separately and in a pack with the guides.

Recommendations:  This course is especially recommended for the students who have already taken at least one previous high-school level Lightning Literature course, who are studying world history, and who are interested in British literature. These should not be viewed as restrictions; this course can profitably be used by high-school students of any grade regardless of which previous Lightning Literature courses they have completed. Generally speaking, this course is more difficult than the two American Literature courses and Speech but easier than the Shakespeare courses, British Christian Literature, or British Medieval Literature. Much depends on student interest in the material, however. (emphasis mine)

From the two schedules included in the TG, we’ve gone mostly by the second…but have spread it out even more. They have a one semester (18 weeks) schedule and a full-year (36 weeks) schedule to choose from. I do understand now why they suggest taking a previous Lightning Lit course first. This was challenging. Totally doable, but still a challenge. We couldn’t do it at the pace put forth in the guides and I’m glad that we don’t have to!

I appreciate that it includes an introduction to the lesson being studied –it includes information about the author as well as suggestions of things to be thinking about and looking for while reading. Also I like the ability to choose between different writing assignments and I felt they were diverse enough to keep interest. Just a snapshot of two different Writing Exercises (these are for the first two units):

     
Some are only on one page; others take two!

My dd wasn’t thrilled about this item at first but I do feel that is because it is ‘summer’ and she didn’t want to focus. I did find her reading through it on her own, randomly, and commenting about the interesting things she learned from it. She loves to read and would like to be an editor when she finishes high school. *If* she continues on with college, an English degree is at the top of her list. This, I think, will help her along that path.

I felt that it covered the topics well and liked the way that it is organized. We will continue to use this and perhaps I can re-use it with my ds in a couple of years. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to other homeschoolers who are looking for a literature program that makes the student think and helps them to achieve ‘college-level composition’. Please stop by the other Schoolhouse Review Crew blogs to see what they had to say about this and other Hewitt Homeschool items (follow that link or click the compass graphic at the very bottom of this post!).

The entire pack can be purchased from Hewitt Homeschool (check website for current price):

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See other Lightning Literature offerings from Hewitt Homeschooling. Hewitt Homeschooling also offers a High School Program.

Contact Information:
FAX: 360-835-8697
Phone: 800-348-1750  /  360-835-8708
Website: https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Home/hMain.aspx
Email: sales@hewitthomeschooling.com
Office Location:
2103 Main Street
Washougal, WA 98671

***Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed curriculum free from Hewitt Homeschooling via the Schoolhouse Review Crew. No compensation was given and all opinions stated are my own and/or those of my family members. I only recommend products that I truly feel would be beneficial to others based solely on my experiences. See Disclosure/Policies.***