Free Sixth Grade Readers
Are you looking for quality readers for sixth grade? These vintage school readers, published in the late 1800s and early 1900s, are now in the public domain and free online. You’ll find well-known classics like McGuffey, Elson, and Treadwell, as well as many other lesser-known series. You may download the books for your child to read on a computer or tablet or print the books.
Why Choose Vintage Readers
Vintage readers offer beautiful classic literature, rich vocabulary, and charming illustrations. The stories are age-appropriate and typically encourage strong moral values. There’s also something special about reading a book that’s been used in schoolhouses and homes for over a hundred years. Perhaps your child’s grandparents or great-grandparents enjoyed some of these same readers when they were in school.
Free Sixth Grade Readers
The grade levels some of these vintage readers were intended for may not line up exactly with current grade-level expectations or your child’s reading level. So, in addition to the sixth grade readers listed below, I’d recommend taking a look at other grade levels, too. Our Vintage Graded Readers page includes free readers for primer level through eighth grade.
Readers Published in the 1900s
These 6th grade readers were published between 1900 and 1924.
The Aldine Readers by Grade: Sixth Grade Reader
The Carrol and Brooks Readers: A Reader for the Sixth Grade
Child Classics: The Sixth Reader
Everyday Classics Sixth Reader
The Golden Rule Series: The Golden Key Book
Graded Literature Readers: Sixth Book
The Heath Readers: Sixth Reader
Holton-Curry Readers: The Sixth Reader
The Jones Readers by Grades: Book Six
The New Barnes Readers: Book Six
The New Century Readers by Grades: Number Six
Reading With Expression: Sixth Reader
Treadwell’s Reading-Literature Series: The Sixth Reader
Wheeler’s Graded Literary Readers: A Sixth Reader
The New Barnes Readers: Book Six (1924)
Readers Published in the 1800s
Most of these 6th grade readers were published in the late 1800s, though a couple are from the mid 1800s.
Baldwin’s School Reading by Grades: Sixth Year
Chambers’s Narrative Series of Standard Reading Books: Book VI
Chambers’s National Reading Books: Book VI
McGuffey’s New Sixth Eclectic Reader
Swinton’s Sixth or Classic English Reader
The Purpose of a Reading Book
The following excerpt from the introduction of Monroe’s Sixth Reader (1872), written by Lewis Monroe, sums up the important purpose of reading books.
It is assumed at the outset that the primary purpose of a reading book is to teach the art of reading. It is not intended to be a cyclopædia of facts, a book of history or of science, nor even a perfect compendium of literature. Its selections must be such as are adapted for school drill. And, as every good teacher knows, it is but a small proportion of scientific or even purely literary works which afford anything suitable for this purpose. There must be a certain vitality in the selections themselves to make them enjoyable and therefore profitable to the learner.
But more, it must not be forgotten that the reading book does for the student what no other school book can do in so great a degree. It teaches him the art of written and oral expression; it furnishes him with models of style; it gives him gems of thought and sentiment as they have crystallized in the most gifted minds; it holds up for his admiration and imitation examples of virtue, moral heroism, and self-sacrifice; it instills a love for the good, the pure, and the beautiful, in the natural and moral worlds, and has thus more influence in forming his character than perhaps all other school-books united.
Not a Typical Literature Textbook
Vintage readers aren’t just another literature textbook. Using classic literature, they teach skills like oral reading, reading comprehension, and vocabulary development while instilling positive values. But what makes them truly special is their long history. Families have loved them for generations. So, while browsing the internet for free homeschool resources, don’t overlook these gems. Whether it’s the familiar stories and poems or the charming illustrations accompanying them, these vintage readers are a treasure trove waiting to be rediscovered.
More Resources for 6th Grade
- 6th Grade Reading List with free novel studies for each book
- Free 6th Grade Christian Homeschool Curriculum
- Free Language Arts Curriculum
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