Merry wrote:Trying to get a handle on this--I've heard that the "book baskets" that are included in the programs for grades 2-8 tell you what week a book could be used, so you know how it fits in. Are the optional reading books for highschool also organized this way? And someone told me that the high school optional books are not exactly like the "book basket" concept--but I'm not sure how they differ. One last question--how much time in the schedule is built in for optional reading--none, some each week, some weeks but not others...? Just trying to get a feel for how the schedule is structured. Thanks! Merry

I can speak to AHL.
Free Reading in high school is not "book basket" because of the goals of book basket.
Book basket is a time that you can set down a book and not have to finish it. It is a time to develop love of reading in a wide variety of genres on topics you are studying. It's like a buffet -- you get lots of on topic options and don't have to finish everything or try it all either. It's flexible and you don't gotta have to must a finish any particular book.
Free Reading Time in high school programs: when possible, you select historical fiction that matches what you are learning. Yes, the intro of the lesson plans gives general time frames to try to read specific titles. It is not a fixed schedule to start this book today and finish by next week. That kind of reading is part of MFW high school-- but is with the package books.
You don't have to make them read historical fiction during "free reading time." It can be any classic, or anything appropriate. The idea is to have them reading during English class during times where other novels are not scheduled right then.
I'm way over complicating it. Let me quote/paraphrase from the AHL book:
- Reading is one component of English credit. A selection of classics is included in the program already. In addition, plan to read one or more books each month from the list provided in the lesson plans or from a list of general classics. The books in the lesson plans have been chosen because they are excellent books set in the ancient historical period.
Some of the books listed will be "easier" for some students. There are also some "harder" books. Categories are shared in the plans to enjoy certain books on Creation/Fall of Man; Egypt; Time of Judges; Greece,; times of King Hezekiah,. Nehemiah, Archimedes. also, we use the Stobaugh SAT prep book with its list for classics. And then, my daughter reads longer novels and titles from Progeny Press.
how much time in scheduled: depends on the week. Most all of the weeks do have "package book schedule" and then "free reading" on the grid. There are some weeks, where there is a shift around to let the student work more on writing an essay.
go to page 12 of the ahl sample.
http://www.mfwbooks.com/downloads/pdfs/ ... sample.pdf
and see how the English section has package book, then, dotted line and "reading"? that's what that is. I don't see it like that on WHL, so I look forward to others answers to help with that part.
-crystal