Critical thinking, comprehension, literary analysis, and Christian application…what more could you want in a literature study? How about a family owned and run company that offers literature study guides in multiple formats?
That’s Progeny Press!
Michael and Rebecca Gilleland, Owners of Progeny Press
I have the utmost respect and admiration for this company, and I was beyond excited when they decided to help sponsor my attendance to the Titus 2:1 Conference! Now I get to share with you the top reasons I appreciate them and what they offer to homeschool families.
Reason #1: Purpose and Commitment
Progeny Press’ commitment is to teach good cultural literature and examine it from a Christian perspective. Their purpose, from the website:
Our purpose is not to bring you only “safe” fiction, but to teach literature that is well-written and that will help students develop and refine how they deal with man’s philosophies in relation to God’s word. Progeny Press examines literary terminology and technique in good, cultural literature to equip students for understanding the craft of writing and to enhance their joy of reading. With these things in mind, we promise to bring you good literature, provide good literary analysis, and measure it by the light of scripture.
Let me give you a personal example of why this is one of the reasons I like Progeny Press so much: my high schooler really wanted to read The Hunger Games, but I told her I would need to read it first. So I did. It is good literature, but slightly disturbing in its imagery and themes. I let her read it, and we tried to talk through some of the things that make it both excellent and difficult, but I just did not feel that I did the book justice. I was frustrated because I knew there was so much more to talk through…I just couldn’t quite get to it.
But guess what? Progeny Press is coming out with a literature study guide for The Hunger Games! It’s not quite finished yet, but when it is, you can be assured we will use it.
Reason #2: Innovative Products for Homeschool Families
Progeny Press has literature guides for Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School. All of their guides (with the exception of the Lower Elementary guides) are available in interactive CD and PDF formats. All age-level guides are available in actual booklets as well.
Do you have a student who enjoys writing with pencil and paper, or using a workbook? There’s a format for that. Do you have a student who prefers to type answers on a computer? There’s a format for that. Are you one who likes to be able to print off pages when and how you need them? There’s a format for that too. The point, obviously, is that Progeny Press has worked hard to give you as many options as possible to fit your needs and your kids’ learning styles.
Reason #3: Continuing Growth
In 1993, Progeny Press was offering 18 literature study guides. At the beginning of 2012, they had 107 available. They continue to write and publish, on average, 3-6 study guides a year. This means that it is highly likely that a book which you’ve wanted to study will currently be available, or will be available in the near future!
Want more personal examples? My youngest became interested in the Redwall series last year and had already read several of the books when I discovered that Progeny had a literature guide for the first book. It was such a natural fit to make the study part of our school “curriculum” for that year! And, the year that both my girls were so interested in the Narnia books, we were able to use the literature guide for The Magician’s Nephew.
And if you have a few extra minutes, here’s a video that does an excellent job of describing what Progeny Press is all about:
the whole world needs Progeny Press!
I am grateful for what they offer! Have you used their literature guides before?