Review: Progeny Press

I'd heard a lot of good things about Progeny Press but wasn't well acquainted with their products until we got the opportunity to review two of their Literature Study Guides, one for middle school and one for high school. (More about that in a minute.)


Progeny Press publishes over 100 literature guides for students in elementary through high school, in a variety of genres and historical periods, for classic and award winning books that may well already be on your reading list. But this is not just a case of reading a book, answering comprehension questions, and studying a few vocabulary words. From the Progeny Press online catalog, the publisher's own words about their mission:


At Progeny Press we are committed to teaching good cultural literature, examined from a Christian perspective. We believe in the equation “Biblical Truth + Cultural Relevancy = Effective Christians.” Take away biblical truth and Christians become no more than a religious subculture—salt without saltiness. Take away cultural relevancy and Christians become isolationists with no impact on the world—lights hidden under bushels. We believe in looking at the world clearly and openly with the Bible firmly in hand.
 
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 also examines literary terminology and technique in good, cultural literature to equip students to understand the craft of writing and to enhance their joy of reading.

We are committed to examining literature from a strong, biblical perspective. We promise to bring you good literature, provide good literary analysis, and measure it by the light of scripture.


The literature guides are available in three formats: printed, PDF on CD, and downloadable PDF file. Interactive PDF format is available, which allows you to save paper -- your student can enter responses right on the computer. (This also helps with students who think better with a keyboard than with a pen in hand -- I have two of these.)


We received PDF downloads of Pride and Prejudice (high school level) and The Bronze Bow (middle school level) literature study guides, plus the related answer keys for each.




The Bronze Bow is a story set in Jesus' time, a book we'd read aloud together with our eldest, before the younger two came along, and a book that we really enjoyed reading, with good character lessons, so I enjoyed being reacquainted with the book through this study. The study guide begins with a note to the instructor, with suggestions how to use the guide, followed by a synopsis of the book (helpful for the parent who hasn't read the book ahead of time). Information about the author, background information about the book, and suggestions for pre-reading activities are next. The guide suggests using the first week to read the book, while working at one or more of the pre-reading activities. In the following weeks, the student might work through one section of the study guide a week (several chapters in the book), for a total of 8-10 weeks.

A lesson includes vocabulary work, which is prevented in several formats (crossword, fill in the blank, dictionary work, matching, multiple choice). Students will explore concepts found in literary analysis, including characterization, setting, theme, foreshadowing, and more. Questions include simple comprehension questions followed by more involved prompts to stimulate the student's thoughts about themes and characters. Every lesson has a "Dig Deeper" section, which often involves looking up scripture verses and relating what the Bible has to say about topics related to the book. Optional exercises suggest longer writing projects, or perhaps drafting a speech. A final lesson provides an overview of the entire book, with a summary to put everything read and discussed previously into perspective.


The helpful answer key gives answers to the pre-reading questions, vocabulary exercises and discussion questions.


The literature study guide for Pride and Prejudice follows pretty much the same format, though (as you'd expect from a high school study) it is longer (more lessons), the vocabulary is more advanced, and there are more opportunities for research and more involved writing projects. Completing one of Progeny Press' high school study guides, according to the publisher, counts towards 1/4 high school credit.


Our take on these:


This kind of thing is bread-and-butter to Middlest. Not only does she enjoy reading, but she likes to think and discuss and write her thoughts. For Youngest, not so much. (She dislikes reading anything she perceives as academic, she detests workbook exercises like vocabulary drills and comprehensions questions, and this kind of thing is like pulling teeth. The best I can do is to assign her chapters to read, or read a book aloud together, and do the exercises orally. To paraphrase John Wayne, sometimes you gotta do what you've gotta do.)


I could easily see using these guides in a co-op class. Permission is granted to the purchaser to print materials for your own family, or for one classroom.


Pricing and availability

You can order Progeny Press literature guides through the online catalog. Pricing information for The Bronze Bow and Pride and Prejudice:

The Bronze Bow

Grade level: 6–8
Setting: Palestine, 30 AD

Study Guide
Booklet . . . . . . .$18.99
CD . . . . . . . . . .$16.99
E-mail .pdf . . . . $16.99
Set . . . . . . . . . . $23.99
Book . . . . . . . . . .$6.95

Pride and Prejudice

Grade level: 9–12
Setting: England, 18th–19th Century
Category: British Literature
Study Guide
Booklet . . . .  .$21.99
CD . . . . . . . . .$18.99
E-mail .pdf . . . $18.99
Set . . . . . . .. . .$27.99
Book . . . . . . . .$10.00


Read more TOS Crew reviews of Progeny Press literature guides at this link.

Disclaimer: Our family received two guides for review purposes. No additional compensation was involved.