Homeschool 101 – Building a Portfolio (Part 3)
Today is all about Reading Lists.
Every high school portfolio should include a compiled, substantial reading list of non-fiction, fiction with literary merit, and a smaller list of popular works (although I plan on including their entire general, on-their-own reading list as well. I’m not sure if John and Jarrods’ reading list could be considered substantial - yet, but by the time they complete high school they’ll have compiled quite a lengthy, but more important, quality list of works of literature.
2012 – 2013 Reading list for the Sons of Thunder Academy
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Last of the Mohicans by James F. Cooper
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
White Fang by Jack London
The God Smuggler by Brother Andrew
The Outsiders by S.F. Hutton
The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins
Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
Heroes of Olympus: Sons of Neptune by Rick Riordan
Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Betsy and the Emperor by Staton Rabin
The Broken Blade by William Durbin
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise McGraw
Mary Slessor: Forward into Calabar by Geoff Benge
Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone by Martin Dugard
Except for the Riordan books, the Three Muskateers, Mara, the Great Gatsby, and the Prince and the Pauper I've read them a loud to the boys. It is our most favorite time of homeschool. Reading time. When we all get comfortable, usually curled up on the couch or chair, snuggled into a blanket.
I read a loud. And they listen. Often times I stop in the middle so we can discuss something, some truth, have them explain what's going on - if they understand. This time of reading has been a blessing.
I know there are more books the boys have read on their own because they always have a book opened reading bits here and there. I recently started them on the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan and they were quickly enthralled with the story. I'm sure we'll be securing the Brotherband Chronicles series by the same author and a continuation of the Ranger's series.
I have already compiled our 10th Grade list of primary literay reads which we will delve into for their American Literature course. But, within their American History I have begun obtaining via purchase, or have indicated I'll need to check them out from the library, or know someone I can borrow them from, a lengthy list of historical fiction type. Most will continue to be read aloud but some I'll just make sure John and Jarrod read on their own.
With those, and their own reading we'll have added to their 9th grade reading list, substantially. And, I love seeing the list compiled; mostly, because of what they've accomplished.