Eighth Grade Reading & Literature (1880)
Advanced reading with emphasis on classic literature, oratory, and moral instruction. Students memorized and recited extensively.
6
Hours/Week
8
Skills Expected
Gilded Age
Era
Reading instruction focused on moral development and cultural transmission. The Western canon was central, and memorization was considered essential for mental discipline.
Gilded Age (1880-1889)
Mental discipline through rigorous study. Memorization and recitation emphasized character formation.
- Reading classical literature with comprehension
- Memorization of poetry and prose passages
- Oral reading with proper expression and elocution
- Literary analysis: character, theme, moral lessons
- Vocabulary building from Latin and Greek roots
- Understanding of rhetorical devices
- Critical thinking about texts
- Public speaking and recitation
- McGuffey's Sixth Eclectic Reader
- Appleton's Fifth Reader
- Swinton's Fifth Reader
Free Resources (8)
McGuffey's Eclectic Readers (Complete Set)
The most widely used reading textbooks in American history (1836-1960). Teaches reading through classic literature, moral lessons, and phonics. Used by an estimated 120 million Americans.
McGuffey's Eclectic Primer (Revised Edition)
Beginning reader focusing on phonics and simple words. Perfect for teaching reading the traditional way.
Fifty Famous Stories Retold
Classic stories from history (King Alfred, William Tell, etc.) used to teach both reading and history.
AmblesideOnline (Free Charlotte Mason Curriculum)
Free online Charlotte Mason curriculum with book lists, schedules, and nature study guides.
Premium Curricula (5)
McGuffey's Readers (Mott Media Reprint)
High-quality reprints of the original McGuffey Readers with study guides and comprehension questions added.
Memoria Press Classical Curriculum
Complete classical curriculum based on the Trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric). Uses many historical texts and methods.
Classical Conversations
Classical homeschool community program using memorization, discussion, and rhetoric. Based on historical Trivium model.