Charlotte Mason's View

Much of language arts in a Charlotte Mason approach is integrated seamlessly into other subjects. Language Arts includes everything you do to help the child progress in hearing, speaking, reading, and writing. Maybe it will be helpful to take a look at each of those four areas.

Hearing: An 11th grader should be having rich discussions and conversations with you about what he is reading and learning. He should also be hearing you read aloud good books and poetry and Shakespeare.

Speaking: By 11th grade the student should have lots of experience in memorizing and reciting Scripture and poetry and such. He should also be fluent in oral narrations and continue narrating some orally.

Reading: An 11th grader will be reading many of his school books independently.

Writing: By 11th grade, the student will be writing many of his narrations (from his history, geography, Bible, science readings). His written narrations serve as the basis for any fine tuning of his composition skills. Part of that fine tuning is holding him responsible for applying what he has learned about grammar in his writing. He should also continue progressing in his spelling through prepared dictation (that’s where Spelling Wisdom can come in, if desired).

So you see, most of an 11th grader’s language arts are integrated into his other subjects through Scripture memory, poetry, Shakespeare, reading good literary books, discussing them, and doing both oral and written narrations on them. About the only component that isn’t necessarily integrated is prepared dictation; that’s why Spelling Wisdom is the only thing listed separately.

I hope this somewhat long-winded explanation helps a bit. 🙂

Some of the quantity depends on how much experience he has had with narration, and the length often depends on the length of the passage read. You might find this series on Narration Q&A helpful, particularly parts 10 and up.