Glen Draeger loves books, especially great books. His passion for literature is exceeded only by a desire to share exceptional writing with his students--homeschoolers in San Diego and around the country. Now well into its first month, Draeger's Great Books Literature and Reading Program for high school students is gaining momentum with every page turn.

Great Books is a five year program introducing students to many of the world's greatest novels, poems, essays, short stories and plays from ancient times to the present. Armed with select modern works from Western and Eastern cultures, the program provides students with a basic knowledge and understanding of the classics.

In the first semester, students are introduced to such literary greats as Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott, Animal Farm by George Orwell, The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift, "Bartleby" by Herman Melville, A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare, Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus, and selected poems from Emily Dickinson and William Wordsworth.

It's a heady list for students of any age. Draeger offers his students a trial month in which to decide whether to continue with the program. Most of the students have signed on to continue with the 16-week class.

"The reading we are doing would qualify as an honors class," explains Draeger. "Since I am not giving vocabulary tests, quizzes and other work that a class meeting every day can afford, I would consider it a college prep class."

June Dodge, whose son attends the weekly classes, said, "I am very pleased to have Alex reading the variety of books that Glen has picked out."

Students meet at the Draeger home in La Mesa for ninety minutes to discuss the weekly readings. For each work studied, Draeger emails students a vocabulary list, pertinent biographical and historical information, and preparatory questions for class. Students write reaction papers and research papers based upon the readings.

Kristi Davis, who lives in La Mesa and attends Draeger's classes said, "I am learning to be a more critical reader and to interpret what the authors mean. I enjoy the mix of reading the books and then meeting with Mr. Draeger and the other students to discuss what we read."

In addition to offering classes at his home, Draeger also conducts his program remotely by email.

"I love books. My wife and I have a personal library of over two thousand books."

"I have groups in Pennsylvania and Florida that meet and use my emails for discussion along with individual students scattered all over the country," says Draeger. "This is essentially a self-directed class. They are on the same reading schedule as my La Mesa class and receive the same emails. Beyond that, they're on their own."

There's no shortage of material for future classes. "I love books. My wife and I have a personal library of over two thousand books."

Next year, Draeger is planning three new classes designed for readers of various ages.

"The name of the class is going to change to Great Literature because I think it better describes what I'm doing. I'm going to offer Great Lit I & II and a Junior Lit I for five-year-olds."

Draeger's son will be among the students in the one-hour weekly Junior Lit class.

"I'll read classic children's literature to them, ask them about what we've read, we'll recite and memorize poems together and I'll involve them in activities to help them improve their verbal skills in preparation for writing: describing objects, people and feelings."

To learn more about Glen Draeger's teaching background and classes, visit his website at www.tcfb.com/draeger.