During the year I piloted my writing program in Minnesota, I noticed that the literature students in the class after mine were studying a great deal of adult literature in a single year. Though the novels were classics, I couldn't help but wonder how much they were getting out of these novels when they were so young and their teachers moved so fast. I also wondered how many of these young teens had fully experienced the rich and enchanting realm of children's literature before confronting these great classics. For several years this bothered me, especially since I continued to observe this trend in other literature programs.
Finally, I decided it was time to write a book for homeschool parents to help them guide their students through the creme de la creme of children's literature before introducing them to the great adult classics. I worked on this book for a couple of years (title to be announced at publication) and was excited when it seemed nearly finished. However, in 2017 it occurred to me that parents might appreciate a live class in which students were taught the same literary skills that I present in my book, so that they are better-prepared for formal literature classes. To that end, I turned the book into a live class that I taught for a Colorado homeschool academy and now offer as the live, online course Before Great Books Comes Groundwork: A Preparatory Literature Course.
Finally, I decided it was time to write a book for homeschool parents to help them guide their students through the creme de la creme of children's literature before introducing them to the great adult classics. I worked on this book for a couple of years (title to be announced at publication) and was excited when it seemed nearly finished. However, in 2017 it occurred to me that parents might appreciate a live class in which students were taught the same literary skills that I present in my book, so that they are better-prepared for formal literature classes. To that end, I turned the book into a live class that I taught for a Colorado homeschool academy and now offer as the live, online course Before Great Books Comes Groundwork: A Preparatory Literature Course.