Have you ever considered that every time you read, you naturally learn from the literature you are reading? For example, readers learn about sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, spelling, punctuation, etc. The authors of Learning Language Arts Through Literature have discovered that reading is an opportune time to receive instruction in language arts. Through their Gold Series, they have made it possible to delve into literary criticism and world literature at the high school level. (Learning Language Arts Through Literature offers several levels of language arts instruction beginning with the Blue Book for first grade, the Purple Book for fifth grade, the Gray Book for eighth grade, etc.) I am thankful for the opportunity to review the World Literature course (consisting of three components) and the Literary Criticism course (consisting of two elements).

World Literature

Learning Language Arts Through Literature – The Gold Book – World Literature (Common Sense Press: $27.00)

The World Literature course is a year-long course designed to introduce the student to the world's classic literature through overviews rather than in their entireties. According to the course's instructions, "In this way, the student will be exposed to a greater variety of literature with the hope that he will be inspired to dig deeper when something captures his interest." The course is organized into five units: Early Literature, Epic Poetry, Medieval – Renaissance, Enlightenment – Romanticism, and 20^th Century. Students should expect to work through the material five days per week. Reading assignments are included in this book as well as in A World Literature Anthology for Learning Language Arts Through Literature. Additionally, students will need to obtain the following books:

• The Odyssey
• No Fear Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
• The Little Prince
• Cry, the Beloved Country

Specific publishers are required for each of the above books and are listed in the curriculum's instructions.

A World Literature Anthology for Learning Language Arts Through Literature (Common Sense Press: $24.00)

This anthology contains nearly three hundred pages of early literature like myths, folktales, and fairytales; epic poetry; medieval and renaissance writing; works from the Enlightenment; and short stories.

Learning Language Arts Through Literature – The Gold Book – World Literature Course Notes, Tests, Test Answer Keys (Common Sense Press: $14.00)

This slim book includes just what its title indicates. Tests are multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, and short essays. In addition, students may find the course notes especially helpful in understanding the content and preparing for tests.

Literary Criticism

Learning Language Arts Through Literature – The Gold Book – Literary Criticism (Common Sense Press: $27.00)

This large-print, 221-page long softcover book includes three pages of helpful literary terms, a bibliography, and twenty-one pages of answers. This college prep course is intended for 11^th or 12^th graders; the course expects students to work independently. This course provides instruction for thirty-six five-day weeks. Parents may very much enjoy perusing the accompanying anthology or reading any of the novels or memoirs themselves to engage in conversation with their students. In addition, the book includes answers for the teacher in the back.

Additional required items include six books and library or internet access. The books needed are:

• A Literary Criticism Anthology (Learning Language Arts Through Literature - The Gold Book)
• Tuesdays with Morrie
• Starship Troopers
• The Trial
• No Fear Shakespeare, Macbeth
• The Count of Monte Cristo

The introduction page states the goals of the course well: "During the course, the student will be introduced to different methods of literary criticism and given instructions, along with example papers on writing essays. By the end of the course, the student will have written a short memoir, a college essay, nine five-paragraph essays, three five-page essays, and one ten-page essay."

This course begins with two weeks of coverage of the five-paragraph essay, followed by two weeks covering the college essay. Then the student focuses on one literary criticism technique at a time: short story, memoir, author, nonfiction, poetry, play, and satire. Each focus will take between one and three weeks to cover. Finally, the course culminates in a ten-page essay over the final five weeks.

A Literary Criticism Anthology for Learning Language Arts Through Literature – The Gold Book – Literary Criticism (Common Sense Press: $21.00)

This thick, paperback anthology is a collection of short stories, essays, and poems needed for this Literary Criticism course. The anthology is used for ten of the thirty-six lessons. It comprises 224 pages and includes nineteen intriguing works that high school seniors should enjoy.

According to the anthology's introduction page, "The authors of these works are considered among the best and most influential writers." Authors include F. Scott Fitzgerald, Oscar Wilde, and Mark Twain. Familiar titles include The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and The Story of an Hour. The anthology is well-organized, and the print is large.

The reading material covered in the Gold Series is just plain fun. High school students are sure to enjoy the reading as it is at just a bit of a higher level of maturity than they may be used to reading. Also, many pieces are short and will not take long to read. The stories may even appeal to those who do not typically enjoy reading or who do not consider themselves readers. This course may be just the thing for a parent looking for one last class to enjoy with their high schooler. Additionally, the Literary Criticism course will prepare a student well for college writing.

I recommend Learning Language Arts Through Literature - Gold Series. I am incredibly excited about the anthologies. I could not stop reading the short stories and kept turning back to the readings at every opportunity I could find. I had not thought of using this program for high school since I am happy with our current curriculum. However, when given the opportunity to review these books, I recalled enjoying Learning Language Arts Through Literature with an elementary-aged child over a decade ago; I was eager to investigate what Learning Language Arts Through Literature has available for high school.

I remember enjoying the Orange Book with my child and expected this to be a good program as well; I was surprised at just how good. Reading through the curriculum and the anthologies made me not want to miss the opportunity to cover these wonderful stories with my son during his senior year.

I abandoned my original curriculum plan and replaced it with Learning Language Arts Through Literature. I look forward to sharing these stories with my senior this fall. Now I have the difficult decision of choosing either World Literature or Literary Criticism.

-Product review by Heidi Mosher, The Old Schoolhouse® July 2022