The Christian Language Arts Curriculum We’re Using in 9th Grade

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Finding a quality Christian language arts curriculum that actually works for high school can feel overwhelming & exhausting! There are so many options out there, right? How do you know which one to pick? Between grammar, writing, literature, and critical thinking, it’s easy to end up juggling multiple resources – piecemealing a custom language arts education that just ends up leaving you, and your child, frustrated.

You know what, though? If it feels like you’re headed down the path of language overwhelm, I’m going to ask you right now to…stop. Take a minute. Breathe. Yes, your efforts are noble and full of meaning, but absolutely not necessary. Especially when the Language Lessons for a Living Education curriculum from Master Books exists.

And, before you question, yes…it includes all of the language arts content & features you’re looking for and then some.

This will be our second year using this language arts curriculum, and that alone says a lot. With so many options available, we didn’t stick to this Master Books curriculum by accident.

What is Language Lessons for a Living Education Level 9?

Language Lessons for a Living Education Level 9 is an all-in-one book-based language arts curriculum designed for 9th grade students. Through two consumable books, students follow a 5-day-a-week/180-day lesson plan to learn:

• grammar & punctuation
• writing
• communication
• literature
• worldview & literary analysis
• vocabulary, & more

Designed using The GENTLE Approach™, this curriculum is especially wonderful for students that may typically experience frustration or anxiety while learning language arts. After using both the 6th & 8th grade Language Lessons for Living Education curriculum for my boys this past year, I can personally attest to the fact that this Master Books curriculum is amazingly designed to provide a quality language arts education while protecting the joy and confidence of kids.

Each week, students work through daily activities that follow a consistent content schedule:

• Exercise 1 (Day 1): a special feature, weekly vocabulary & spelling words are introduced, scripture memory
• Exercise 2 (Day 2): grammar & punctuation
• Exercise 3 (Day 3): communication development in the form of written, verbal, nonverbal, and/or technological
• Exercise 4 (Day 4): worldview & literary analysis
• Exercise 5 (Day 5): review

Following a schedule like this helps to alleviate any stress related to “what to expect” for the week, schedules, and expectations. High school can be overwhelming enough what with hormones and such, you know? There’s absolutely no need for a language arts lesson to add to the stress. Instead, the Master Books lessons are developmentally appropriate, allowing kids to feel empowered when it comes to their education.

Additionally, as a parent, I love that the Language Lessons for a Living Education Level 9 curriculum is open-and-go, requiring little to no daily preparation on my end, and was developed to allow kids to work independently & confidently.

When this curriculum is complete, students will have earned 1 high school-level English credit. To take a deeper look at this 9th grade language arts curriculum you can check out samples of the 9th grade student text and the accompanying journey journal of The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Christian Language Arts Curriculum

Just in case you’re new to Master Books, it’s also worth noting that they are a Christian curriculum company. As someone somewhat new to including faith in our homeschool lessons let alone our day to day lives (it’s a long story), I find that the inclusion of religious education feels natural in this curriculum.

I’ve looked through a variety of Christian curriculum options and there seems to be a wide spectrum of faith inclusion. Some curriculum contain an often-overwhelming amount of faith-based content & activities while others only mention faith a few times…here and there. In the Language Lessons for a Living Education series, there seems to be a nice balance of language arts instruction with faith seamlessly intertwined.

Why We Love This Master Books Language Arts Curriculum

It is no secret that I am not a fan of learning or teaching language arts. I’m not really surprised that my kids share the same feelings toward this core subject. While I grew up learning language arts content through the most boring of boring educational activities, that doesn’t mean my kids need to do the same, though!

In case you’re not already convinced that Language Lessons for a Living Education is worth looking into for your 9th grader, here are some of the reasons my 14-year-old thinks you should (paired with my extended experience & elaboration):

• “it doesn’t take all day” – No siree, we aren’t spending hours upon hours completing language arts lessons. Ew. Why would anyone want to do that? One of the reasons we homeschool is so we don’t have to spend 8:30-3:30 sitting down at desks. Master Books says a typical daily lesson takes about 50 minutes but, in our experience, that time is really closer to 25-35 minutes.
• “it’s not boring” – Language Arts isn’t the most exciting subject out there, I’ll fully admit to that, but Master Books does a wonderful job at keeping the lessons interesting, engaging, and easy to follow for students.
• “I don’t need help” – I swear, I’m not going to take this statement personally. Because Master Books uses The GENTLE Approach™, students are able to take ownership over their education by completing developmentally aligned, open-and-go lessons with confidence and success. We are parenting with the goal of raising independent kids that don’t need us there every step of the way. Yes, it can be saddening, but it’s also pretty amazing to have watched my son grow through his homeschooling lessons.
• “I get to learn about being a Christian” – My kids are growing in their faith just as I am. We both appreciate that faith education is woven into his daily language arts lessons in just the right amount…not too overwhelming & just enough to grow.

It isn’t always easy to get a 14-year-old boy interested in language arts, but Master Books seems to be pretty successful!

Include this Christian Language Arts Curriculum in your Homeschool!

While this article did focus on the 9th grade language arts curriculum, Master Books does offer the Language Lessons for a Living Education series for grades 1 through 12 (almost…Level 12 will be released this summer!), making it an excellent “pick once” curriculum for a duration of the homeschool experience. I wish I had found out about this curriculum years ago!

While you’re at it, you might as well enter the Master Books giveaway! One lucky winner will receive their choice of one level of the Language Lessons for a Living Education curriculum!

Language Arts we Love!

If you’re looking for a 9th grade Christian language arts curriculum that’s simple to use, comprehensive without being overwhelming, focused on real learning, and suitable for independent learners, you should definitely consider including Language Lessons for a Living Education Level 9 in your homeschool plans. We love this series and I have a feeling you will a well.

Speaking of which, since my oldest is now technically in high school, we’re making some changes to our curriculum and *spoiler alert* our days will be including more Master Books lessons than ever before. We’re so excited! I hope you’ll check back for more of our Master Books adventures!

Until next time, stay safe, & enjoy quality time with your family,