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Need Help Leading a Class Discussion?

Use our teacher guides to help you apply the Teaching the Classics approach in your classroom.

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look here The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

 

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The Trumpet of the Swan

by E.B. White

When Louis, the mute swan, receives a stolen trumpet from his father, he uses it to communicate with the other swans. The ignominy of the theft haunts his conscience, however, and Louis determines to repay the music store owner in live performances. E.B. White's whimsical tale of remuneration and personal responsibility continues to delight elementary readers as it has since its publication in 1970. Our Teacher Guide helps parents and teachers lead a crisp discussion by covering all the major elements of fiction as they appear in the story. As always, a completed story chart and suggestions for writing assignments round out the Guide.   18 pages

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Misty of Chincoteague
by Marguerite Henry

Marguerite Henry's beloved classic was a Newbery Honor book in 1948. Full of warmth and humor, Misty of Chincoteague tells the story of Paul and Maureen Beebe and their quest to capture and own a wild pony - the mysterious Phantom. In order to achieve their goal, Paul and Maureen must learn to persevere against a variety of circumstantial and emotional obstacles -- and they learn important truths about love, ownership, freedom and responsibility along the way. Our 20-page guide walks you through a delightful discussion of Setting, Characters and Plot before delving into several profound Conflicts which drive this story forward. Will Paul and Maureen capture the Phantom and achieve their goals? More importantly, will their goals change as they mature into young adults? A completed Story Chart and suggested essay assignments help the teacher drive home the important Themes of the story, and a thorough discussion of literary devices provides plenty of opportunities for developing writing skills. Misty should be on every booklist for kids in grades 4-6, and our guide will help you get the most from it!

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Two Eggs, Please!
by Sarah Weeks

Sarah Weeks' thoughtful story will engross even the youngest readers with its gentle reminder of the brotherhood of all men. Set in a midnight diner among a colorful mix of animal customers, Two Eggs Please prods readers to think about the things that make us different and the things that make us the same. As our 15-page guide makes clear, Betsy Lewin's charming illustrations help drive home the story's themes and provide lots of opportunities for discussions with very young readers. This title makes a great first book for parents and teachers just starting out in the Teaching the Classics program.   Our guide contains questions from the Socratic List on all major elements of fiction (Conflict, Plot, Character, Setting, Theme, Context and Style). As always, each question is answered in full with quotations and references to the text.  A complete story chart and suggestions for essay assignments are also included.

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The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R.Tolkien’s engrossing tale of Bilbo Baggins and his quest through Middle Earth is a rare literary phenomenon:  a book that has achieved true classic status less than a century after its publication.  But classic it is, by any definition of the term.  Bilbo’s journey from the safety of the Shire to unknown terrors under the Lonely Mountain captivates young readers while  exploring dozens of universal themes.   Fear and courage, greed and selflessness, pride and humility – all these ideas and more find eloquent treatment in Tolkien’s lyrical prose.  In the grand tradition of the Iliad, Hamlet, Great Expectations and Huckleberry Finn, The Hobbit presents a hero with whom all readers can identify.  Our guide contains questions from the Socratic List on all major elements of fiction (Conflict, Plot, Character, Setting, Theme, Context and Style) with a special emphasis on characterization.  Each question is answered in full with quotations and references to the text.  A complete story chart and suggestions for essay assignments are included.  27 pages.

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Miracles on Maple Hill
by Virginia Sorensen

 This delightful tale of hope and healing won the Newbery medal in 1957.  It tells the story of 10 year old Marly, whose family moves to the country in search of a new start.  Marly's father, an ex-POW, has suffered deep emotional wounds at the hands of a heartless society and she hopes the new surroundings will provide a balm for his soul.  What she finds in the society  of Maple Hill is an answer to her prayers in more ways than one. This story provides a great opportunity to address themes like loss and redemption, mortality and resurrection and the healing power of relationships.  Our teacher guide includes questions from the Socratic List to cover setting, characters, conflict, plot, theme, imagery, symbolism and more.  Story charts and suggestions for essay assignments are also included.  18 pages.

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The Great Divorce
by C.S. Lewis

 Perhaps the most powerful devotional work by the most beloved Christian writer of the twentieth century, The Great Divorce is C.S Lewis' meditation on the nature of heaven, hell, sin and divine redemption. Join Lewis himself on a fanciful journey from the Grey Town to the Solid Land and listen in on his interviews with various "ghosts" -- fellow souls taking a special trip for an advance look at heaven.  Each interview is an incisive commentary on human nature that is sure to surprise, amuse, convict and inspire you. This 145-page novel is not only appropriate for junior high and high school students but also a must read for grownups - even if your kids are small! Our teacher guide includes questions about all the major elements of fiction with answers keyed to the text.  Six separate story charts are also included.

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Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson

The original pirate story, and still the best!  Stevenson's classic tale of swashbuckling adventure set the standard for everything that followed, and your students will never regret joining Jim Hawkins and his mates in the search for Skeleton Island. Stevenson's clear themes of loyalty, deception and growing up make for a discussion that's accessible for younger students and teachers alike. Our teacher guide includes questions about all the major elements of fiction with answers keyed to the text.  Suggested essay assignments and class projects are also included, as well as a "pirate ship" story chart suitable for duplication.

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A Tale of Two Cities
by Charles Dickens

One of Dickens' most acclaimed works, A Tale of Two Cities is a moving story of love and self-sacrifice set amidst the violent upheaval of the French Revolution and its Reign of Terror.  Utilizing a brilliant cast of characters, from the half-mad Dr. Manette and his angelic daughter Lucie to the cynical Sydney Carton and the cruel Defarges, Dickens explores the extremes of human nature.  Through foreshadowing, irony, metaphor and allusion, he expounds the themes of faith, redemption, loyalty, bitterness and more.  Our guide includes three complete story charts and questions from the Socratic List on Character, Setting, Conflict, Plot, Theme, Context and Literary Devices.  Junior High or High School.  28 pages.

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The Story of Ferdinand

by Munro Leaf

Since its publication in 1936, this classic tale of a gentle giant has been the subject of worldwide attention.  Praised by Gandhi, banned by Hitler, and loved by children everywhere, The Story of Ferdinand has been translated into more than 60 languages. Will Ferdinand, the great bull who loves to sit and smell the flowers, rise to his destiny as a bullfighting star?  What does it matter, when all he really wants is peace and quiet?  Illustrated by Robert Lawson.  12 pages

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The Cricket in Times Square

by George Selden

This classic tale of friendship and loyalty was a Newbery Honor book in 1970, and has been delighting children ever since.  Follow the adventures of Chester Cricket as he finds a home away from home in the Times Square subway station, and grows to learn the true meaning of friendship, and of freedom.  Includes a complete story chart and 45 questions from the Socratic List, each with an answer drawn from the text.  Appropriate for fourth and fifth graders, as well as older students who need practice with the basics of plot, conflict and theme. 11 pages

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At the Back of the North Wind

by George MacDonald

A classic of juvenile literature from the author that inspired CS Lewis, At the Back of the North Wind is a fairy tale of the best kind.  Here myth and mystery conspire to deepen our understanding of reality, to animate it again with imagination. Though it remains as approachable and engaging as the purest fairy tale, this story is rich with insight into the most enduring human questions.  MacDonald leads the reader effortlessly into contemplation of the nature of God, the problem of evil, and the reality of the spiritual world.  MacDonald’s generous use of a host of literary devices (including allegory, metaphor, personification, assonance, alliteration, simile and others) will bountifully reward the Lit teacher looking for object lessons and examples. We have read this story with students as young as ten years old, though its most stirring themes (Childlike Faith, The Goodness of Providence) are probably best handled by students in junior high or above.  Perfectly appropriate for high school or adult reading groups as well. 20 pages.

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Julius Caesar

by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s immortal classic of political and psychological intrigue belongs on every junior high or high school reading list. Astute readers will encounter ambition and sacrifice, tyranny and patriotism, jealousy and love in abundance as Shakespeare plumbs the glories and the depths of human nature. The characters in Julius Caesar are unforgettable, and their challenge to the reader to examine his own heart rings as true as ever. Noble Brutus, crafty Cassius, loyal Antony, ambitious Caesar – every reader is sure to identify with one of them. 19 pages.

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