Drawn into the Heart of Reading
Level 6/7/8
Drawn into the Heart of Reading Level 6/7/8 is written for proficient readers, who can work independently, and have experience in formal literature study. Level 6/7/8 provides you with complete plans, enriching student sheets, creative activities, and compelling literature from 9 different genres – everything you need to raise a lifelong reader! With engaging books and Godly character lessons at its core, this program is crafted to grow insightful readers who find the deeper meaning in books and read with moral discernment.
Overview
Equipped with our multi-level Teacher’s Guide, our graphic organizer-style Student Book, and a variety of great literature, you’re ready for an exciting year of reading. Let’s have a look at what you can expect from this level!
Level 6/7/8...
- Deepens literature study skills
- Guides students in grades 6-9
- Focuses on 9 different types of literature
- Uses prereading activities to encourage purposeful reading
- Analyzes classic story elements
- Evaluates characters and issues in light of Scripture
- Instills Godly character while examining biblical traits
- Encourages reading with moral discernment
- Inspires literary understanding and appreciation
- Solidifies reading and writing skills
- Teaches vocabulary strategies
- Prompts higher order thinking and meaningful discussion
- Extends learning through creative projects
- Features a variety of book selections
- Allows you to customize your book choices
(Note: You can see our book choices for this level in the provided picture.)
Level 6/7/8...
- Deepens literature study skills
- Guides students in grades 6-9
- Focuses on 9 different types of literature
- Uses prereading activities to encourage purposeful reading
- Analyzes classic story elements
- Evaluates characters and issues in light of Scripture
- Instills Godly character while examining biblical traits
- Encourages reading with moral discernment
- Inspires literary understanding and appreciation
- Solidifies reading and writing skills
- Teaches vocabulary strategies
- Prompts higher order thinking and meaningful discussion
- Extends learning through creative projects
- Features a variety of book selections
- Allows you to customize your book choices
(Note: You can see our book choices for this level in the provided picture.)
Features
Level 6/7/8 includes 9 units with complete plans organized around 9 different genres of literature. The nine units, totaling 180 days, can be flexibly paced to suit your needs. Each of the nine units contains 20 days of instruction, beginning with a “genre kickoff,” followed by 15 days of readings paired with activities, and ending with 5 days of project work. Each unit focuses on one literary genre, one story element, and one major Godly character trait. To learn more about each feature, have a look below!
What's Included in
My Guide and Student Book?
Genre Studies
In the “genre kickoff” part of the program, your child will be introduced to each new genre in an entertaining way. If you have more than one student, students in all levels join together for the “genre kickoff.” A list of inventive kickoffs is provided at the beginning of each unit, so you can pick the one you like best!
Here is a sampling of kickoff ideas for the “adventure” genre. You can choose to play a board game that involves action, suspense, and risk. Or, maybe you have an artistic child, so you’ll choose the kickoff that has your child draw an adventure map with a task to accomplish in a fictitious place. Your child can draw the map on a rumpled paper bag using symbols, arrows, and landmarks. Or, perhaps you’ve got a child who loves to move, so you’ll choose the kickoff that involves a scavenger hunt for adventure-related objects. Whatever kickoff you choose, your child is sure to enjoy it and find out more about the upcoming genre at the same time!
As part of the genre studies in Drawn into the Heart of Reading, your child will read from every type of literature, creatively learn needed skills for each genre, respond using various learning styles, and discover new kinds of books to love! This level of our program is designed to help your maturing reader explore, analyze, and appreciate different types of literature.
The nine types of literature included in our program are as follows:
- Biography
- Adventure
- Historical Fiction
- Fantasy
- Mystery
- Folk Tales
- Nonfiction
- Humor
- Realistic Fiction
Story Elements
In the “story element” part of the program, students are taught to identify and analyze a different story element for each genre. Lessons connect story elements with the genres they’d most naturally match. So in the “biography” genre, “character” is studied, in the “adventure” genre, “problem/conflict” is studied, in the “mystery” genre, “prediction/inference” is studied and so on. Story element instruction taught in this natural and meaningful way, paves the way for success with future, in-depth literature studies.
Likewise, higher-level discussion questions inspire the conversational feeling of taking part in a book club. As students discuss what they are reading and share connections they’ve made, their comprehension and understanding improves as well.
The story elements emphasized in the nine units include the following:
- Character
- Problem/Conflict
- Setting
- Mood
- Prediction and Inference
- Compare and Contrast
- Main Idea or Theme
- Cause and Effect
- Perspective and Point of View
Godly Character Traits
In the “Godly character traits” part of the program, your children will learn important character traits with each genre. Each trait is paired with a matching definition and a key Scripture verse. Children use their Bibles to read about a biblical character who showed the trait, listen to you as you share a time in your life when you’ve shown that trait, search for characters in their books who are – or are not – showing the trait, and finally search their own hearts for evidence of that trait.
As students search their hearts for traits they need to work on, they set personal goals to do just that. This soul-searching part of the program not only helps children want to develop Godly character, it also helps you as a parent have a biblical method in place for discussing book characters and their behavior. Through this process children are taught to weigh the actions and attitudes of book characters and themselves in light of the Bible.
The Godly character traits emphasized in Level 6/7/8 include the following:
- Responsibility (Subqualities: Diligence, Initiative, Cautiousness)
- Fear of the Lord (Subqualities: Respect for Authority, Standing Against Peer Pressure, Deliberation)
- Faith (Subqualities: Perseverance, Courage, Optimism)
- Brotherly Love (Subqualities: Compassion, Tolerance, Patience)
- Loyalty (Subqualities: Fairness, Discretion, Discernment)
- Virtue (Subqualities: Truthfulness, Kindness, Self-Control)
- Obedience (Subqualities: Attentiveness, Cooperativeness, Meekness)
- Joy (Subqualities: Thankfulness, Enthusiasm, Creativity)
- Integrity (Subqualities: Dependability, Self-Acceptance, Leadership)
Creative Projects
The “creative projects” part of the program will have your child ending each genre unit study with one of three project options. These options ensure your child can find a project to get excited about! Each project is designed to reinforce the genre while also celebrating completion of the unit. One of the options is always Godly character trait-based, another option is book-based (using Book Projects to Send Home), and the final option is a group project.
For example, when completing the genre “adventure,” your child might keep a “Watch It” log to watch for positive and negative traits studied in the unit, or create a travel brochure to a place from the book, or work with you or other family members to make a pictorial, bar graph showing the level of suspense for five major events from the adventure.
Five days of plans at the end of each unit are set aside for the creative project that is chosen, which gives more than enough time for completion. Each of these projects also has clear, detailed directions and a reflection form to do at the end, making this creative project time truly doable and enjoyable for both the child and the parent!
Can I Tailor This to
Fit My Child?
Yes! This program is built to work with every learning style. You can customize the books your child will read, and also choose the amount to be read each day. Or, if you would like our help, you can use our hand-picked books for a selection of excellent literature that covers all nine genres and fits seamlessly into the plans. With our carefully chosen classics, you’ll receive time-tested gems that will leave both you and your child smiling!
What Do Other
People Have to Say?
"Drawn into the Heart of Reading really challenged my girls this year and was definitely a highlight."
Andrea in Howard, OH
Look Inside
The Teacher’s Guide and Student Book combination in Level 6/7/8 provides everything you need to have an inspiring year of literature study. Let’s have a better look inside, so you can see what using Drawn into the Heart of Reading is like.
Daily Format
Genre studies, story elements, and character training are all brought together in our simple and effective daily format. Our clear, multi-level plans draw students of different ages together for genre kickoffs and prereading activities. The plans also provide individual instruction through unique book selections and daily lessons. Take a look at the creative format that ties our program together!
Reading Calendar
Our “Assigned Reading Calendar” is used to organize your child’s reading schedule. Each genre-based unit is 15 days long. Depending on how fast your child likes to read, he/she can read up to 3 books for each genre. At the beginning of each unit, simply write the page numbers to read each day in the calendar, and you’ll be set for success! To see how this works, take a look at our “Assigned Reading Calendar.”
Teacher's Guide
The Teacher’s Guide shows you the plan for every day of reading and specifies whether the lesson is teacher directed or independent. Each day of plans is divided into three levels of instruction: Level 2/3, Level 4/5, and Level 6/7/8. As the final level in Drawn into the Heart of Reading, Level 6/7/8 is the most independent. Students complete most of their work on their own, meeting briefly with the teacher 2-3 times a week to discuss, evaluate, and explain what they are reading.
Level 6/7/8 Student Book
Our Level 6/7/8 Student Book is a wonderful tool to help maturing minds think deeply about what they read. Graphic organizer style pages prompt students to sift and sort information, thoughts, and ideas to get to the heart of their books. This visual organization allows students to identify key points and concepts before, during, and after reading.
In Level 6/7/8, lessons are addressed to the student to be completed independently. Students should have experience with formal literature study and literary terminology to complete written activities. The Student Book includes all necessary activity sheets for each assignment. Have a look at the “Sample Pages” to see our graphic organizer style pages for this level.
Shop
Now that you’ve seen a little bit about this level, are you ready to shop? We can’t wait for you to see what’s in store!
Not sure you’re in the right place? If your child is too young or too old for Level 6/7/8, we’ve got you covered.
Need something younger?
Visit Level 4/5 of Drawn into the Heart of Reading. It might be just right for your child.
Need something older?
See our engaging literature study in our “Hearts for Him Through High School” series.
Need something younger?
Visit Level 4/5 of Drawn into the Heart of Reading. It might be just right for your child.
Need something older?
See our engaging literature study in our “Hearts for Him Through High School” series.
Dig Deeper
Still want to know more about Drawn into the Heart of Reading? Have no fear – there’s more here! See the following excellent resources for more in-depth information about this program.
