Lightning Literature and Composition by Hewitt Learning is a comprehensive, literature-based language arts curriculum that spans elementary (Grade 1) through high school (Grade 12). The primary goal of the program is to instill a love of great literature, expand students' ability to read deeply and intelligently, and prepare them for advanced language arts concepts. The curriculum uses real books—from classic children's stories at the elementary level to unabridged novels and plays at the high school level—as the core of every lesson, moving away from isolated drills and basal readers.
The curriculum provides integrated instruction in three key components: Literature, Grammar and Mechanics, and Composition. For the elementary and middle school grades, the curriculum combines daily reading assignments with comprehension questions, structured grammar exercises in the student workbook, and weekly composition assignments. The high school courses, titled Lightning Lit & Comp, focus more intensely on literary analysis, critical thinking, and advanced composition skills, often divided into genre or time-period specific courses like American Lit, British Lit, and Shakespeare studies.
Hewitt Learning's methodology is highly structured and teacher-friendly, with each level designed for a 36-week school year. The reusable Teacher's Guide is essential, providing detailed daily instructions, discussion questions, grading checklists, and answer keys. Students utilize consumable workbooks for exercises and writing assignments. While the curriculum is largely self-contained, high school courses generally require an external resource for dedicated grammar instruction, but overall, the program offers a solid, systematic approach to language arts built on a rich literary foundation.
