Eighth Grade Reading & Literature (1900)
Literary appreciation combined with practical reading skills. Strong emphasis on American and British classics with continued oral reading traditions.
5
Hours/Week
8
Skills Expected
Progressive Era
Era
Progressive Era brought some modernization but classics remained central. Reading was seen as key to cultural literacy and citizenship.
Progressive Era (1900-1909)
Progressive education emerging. Emphasis on learning by doing alongside traditional methods.
- Silent and oral reading fluency
- Analysis of poetry and prose
- Understanding of literary periods and movements
- Vocabulary from context and word study
- Appreciation of different literary genres
- Interpretation and critical response
- Research reading skills
- Memorization and recitation
- Elson Grammar School Reader Book Eight
- Baldwin's School Readers
- Heart of Oak Books
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.