5th/6th Literature & Writing Comp.: English Language Arts (2nd Semester Year 2)
During this 16-week semester-long course, students will continue their study of the basics of literary analysis through novels, short stories, and poetry while building upon the writing methods of IEW's "Structure and Style" from year one.
Melissa L. - Registered IEW Instructor
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What's included
32 live meetings
26 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
Welcome to the second semester of year two! Each week, twice a week, we will split the class into two parts. In the first half of each class, we will focus on the literary element that we are learning for that day. This may include a Socratic discussion, breakout rooms for teamwork, or even games to expand our knowledge of the reading. During the second half of each class, we will work on the day's writing work following IEW's "Structure and Style". Because this is the second year of instruction, we will be moving at a faster pace than year one. At the end of each class, learners will be given follow-up homework to reinforce new ideas and work toward mastery. This is not an introduction to IEW course nor is it a lecture-based course! While there are times when lecturing is appropriate, the success of this course depends on class participation. Yes, even in writing. *Please note this is the second semester (part II) to the full-year 7th/8th Literature & Writing Composition course.* Spring 2022 Class Schedule & Topics *Please note that the first semester covered IEW Units 1-6. Units 6-8 will be continued this semester (2nd semester). Please note that we do not cover Unit 9 and are doing and a modified version of Unit 8. *There is one week when we will not be attending class: the week of April 4th. Week of 1/10/2022 - First Week of Class Week 1/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Refresher Unit 1 - 3 + (Literature) Five Elements of Literature Review Week 1/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Refresher Unit 4 + (Literature) Plot: Exposition Week of 1/17/2022 Week 2/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Refresher Unit 5 + (Literature) Plot: Rising Action Week 2/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Refresher Unit 6 + (Literature) Plot: Conflict Week of 1/24/2022 Week 3/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Unit 6: Three Paragraphs from Multiple Resources (Brainstorm) + (Literature) Plot: Denouement Week 3/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Unit 6: Three Paragraphs from Multiple Resources (Research) + (Literature) Plot: Resolution/Conclusion Week of 1/31/2022 Week 4/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Unit 6: Three Paragraphs from Multiple Resources (Fused Outline) + (Literature) The Book of Three Chapters 1 - 3 Week 4/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Unit 6: Three Paragraphs from Multiple Resources (Write) + (Literature) The Book of Three Chapter 4 & 5 Week of 2/07/2022 Week 5/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Unit 7: Intro. to Inventive Writing + (Literature) The Book of Three Chapters 6 - 8 Week 5/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Unit 7: Intro. to Inventive Writing + (Literature) The Book of Three Chapters 9 & 10 Week of 2/14/2022 Week 6/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Unit 7: Inventive Writing: Cause & Effect Essay + (Literature) The Book of Three Chapters 11 - 13 Week 6/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Unit 7: Inventive Writing: Cause & Effect Essay + (Literature) The Book of Three Chapters 14 & 15 Week of 2/21/2022 Week 7/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Unit 7: Inventive Writing: Cause & Effect Essay + (Literature) The Book of Three Chapters Chapters 16 -18 Week 7/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Unit 7: Inventive Writing: Cause & Effect Essay + (Literature) The Book of Three Chapters 19, 20 & Review Week of 2/28/2022 Week 8/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Write like Shakespeare + (Literature) Intro. to Shakespeare Week 8/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Write like Shakespeare + (Literature) Intro. to Shakespeare Week of 3/07/2022 Week 9/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Writing like Shakespeare: Tragic Writing + (Literature) Tragic Shakespeare Week 9/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Writing like Shakespeare: Tragic Writing + (Literature) Tragic Shakespeare Week of 3/14/2022 Week 10/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Writing like Shakespeare: Comedic Writing + (Literature) Comedic Shakespeare Week 10/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Writing like Shakespeare: Comedic Writing + (Literature) Comedic Shakespeare Week of 3/21/2022 Week 11/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Writing like Shakespeare: Historical Writing + (Literature) Historical Shakespeare Week 11/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Writing like Shakespeare: Historical Writing + (Literature) Historical Shakespeare Week of 3/28/2022 Week 12/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Sonnet Writing + (Literature) Shakespeare's Sonnets Week 12/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Sonnet Writing + (Literature) Shakespeare's Sonnets Week of 4/04/2022 - Spring Break Week of 4/11/2022 Week 13/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Unit 8: Formal Essay Writing - Three-paragraph Research Essay + (Literature) Esperanza Rising Chapters 1 & 2 Week 13/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Unit 8: Formal Essay Writing - Three-paragraph Research Essay + (Literature) Esperanza Rising Chapters 3 & 4 Week of 4/18/2022 Week 14/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Unit 8: Formal Essay Writing - Three-paragraph Research Essay + (Literature) Esperanza Rising Chapters 5 & 6 Week 14/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Unit 8: Formal Essay Writing - Three-paragraph Research Essay + (Literature) Esperanza Rising Chapters 7 & 8 Week of 4/25/2022 Week 15/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Introduction to a Book Review + (Literature) Esperanza Rising Chapters 9 & 10 Week 15/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Book Review + (Literature) Esperanza Rising Chapters 11 & 12 Week of 5/02/2022 - Last week of class Week 16/Day 1: (Writing) IEW: Units 1 - 4 Review + (Literature) Esperanza Rising Chapters 13 & Review Week 16/Day 2: (Writing) IEW: Units 5 - 8 Review + (Literature) Discuss Summer Reading Options/Play Games Booklist for 7th/8th Grade (2nd Semester) Book 1: The Book of Three by Llyod Alexander Book 2: Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan *Students are expected to come to class prepared with the reading completed before the discussion. *Writing methodology taught using the Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Style and Structure Writing Method. I am a registered instructor with IEW. (Link for verification: https://iew.com/events-classes/instructors/find-accredited-instructor/330449) *Please note that there are 32 classes in total (16 weeks, 2 classes per week). Each class = $15 per meeting. *This course is not graded unless specifically requested by a parent/guardian. Weekly assignments are designated as either completion assignments or using the IEW rubric. Please note that assignments are reviewed and graded in the order they are submitted.
Learning Goals
Writing Goals:
*IEW Unit 7 - Students will take what they've learned throughout the year and apply it to writing about topics that they already know about and enjoy. This unit also provides the foundation for strong essay writing including the use of an introduction and conclusion to prepare for Unit 8.
*IEW Unit 8 - Students will learn how the proper structure for formal essays focusing on the three-paragraph persuasive essay.
Reading Goals:
*Create a love, or at least an appreciation, for reading literature.
*Students should be able to recognize, analyze, and understand the five basic elements of a story: conflict, plot, setting, character, and theme.
*Students will be able to present and communicate their ideas regarding the books they've read and share their opinions in a Socratic seminar.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
At this age, it is common for students to still need help and direction at home for writing. That's okay! In this class, I encourage parental guidance when students are working at home. Some students may struggle at the beginning with balancing the concepts of class and the physical act of writing. Please know that it is perfectly fine if your child wants to dictate to you as they learn. The goal at this age is to understand the concepts. Mastery comes with continuous practice and patience as each child moves at his/her own pace. If at any point during the class you feel that your child is falling behind or needs additional help, please feel free to reach out to me directly so we can work out a plan.
The books that we read in this course are analyzed critically using the five literary elements: conflict, plot, setting, character, and theme. Below are additional details regarding the books we will be reading in the second semester.
* The Book of Three - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-book-of-three
Review from Common Sense Media: Parents need to know that adolescents take to this swashbuckling adventure, the first in a series of well-crafted stories featuring teenage heroes.
* Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/esperanza-rising
Review from Common Sense Media: "Parents need to know that Esperanza Rising is an award-winning work of historical fiction that chronicles the life of a Mexican migrant farmworker in the 1930s. In the book's beginning, Esperanza's wealthy father is killed by bandits in Mexico; then, a scheming uncle sets fire to her house and family ranch in order to pressure her widowed mother to marry him. Fleeing in California, Esperanza tries to adjust to the cramped, exhausting life of a farmworker. Thanks to a supportive family and network of friends, she keeps hope alive and begins to work for a new future. Readers will learn a number of Spanish words and about the lives of migrant farmworkers during the 1930s as characters deal with strikes, discrimination, harsh living conditions, and more."
During our Shakespeare unit we will be reading multiple plays:
Macbeth - While it is a tragedy, I feel that this one has fewer sensitive topics than the others such as Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet. However, I understand each family’s level of comfort is different so I would like to offer some alternative readings of this story. Each one can be accessed via archive.org, which is a national library service that offers free lending online/digitally. These will be posted on the classroom page once we get to this unit.
Reading should be done regularly so that your child does not feel overwhelmed with having to read large amounts during one or two sittings. I will post the chapters to read in the classroom-based upon what I feel is a manageable amount for this age group. If your child struggles reading on his/her own or needs extra encouragement when reading, I suggest reading the books together or listening to an audiobook while following along.
This class uses Kahoot, Padlet, and Gimkit for gameplay as well as Google Suite tools such as Docs, Forms, and Slides. For gameplay, an account is not needed as learners will be given a code to play directly with the educator. Google Suite tools may require an email address, however, this information is not collected by the educator and meets Outschool's COPPA compliance requirements.
Supply List
Paper, writing utensils, and access at least one form of a writing application (Google Docs or MS Word). All worksheets, handouts, short stories, and poems, and/or links for this semester will be sent via the classroom page as needed. Now about the books... As a homeschooling mom myself, I understand the importance of finding books that won't break the bank. That's why I made it a priority to choose books that have multiple options or discounted versions (usually e-reader). Some books may even be downloaded for free online via Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org/) or via the Internet Archive, a non-profit online library (https://archive.org/). Most of the books can be found at your local library. You can also reach out to your local librarian about setting up Libby or Overdrive to read free digital books on your e-reader. Please make sure that you choose the version that is best for you and your child. With many versions and translations being made from the older works we will be covering there may be slight differences in the text but not in the overall theme or discussion. The goal isn't to create a library full of books that your child only reads once. Instead, it's more important that your child is able to ask questions, ponder new ideas, and form their own intelligent theories about the works that they read. With that said, if they do fall in love with a book be sure to get them a copy that they can read again and again.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Booklist for 7th/8th Grade (2nd Semester)
Book 1: The Book of Three by Llyod Alexander
Book 2: Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Joined January, 2020
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346reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in English from University of Tennessee - Knoxville
As a lifelong learner, I too am always striving for growth. After years of using the IEW curriculum, I decided I wanted to share what I had learned with others and became a registered instructor with IEW. (Link for verification: https://iew.com/events-classes/instructors/find-accredited-instructor/330449) I have also been a tutor (teacher) for a local classical co-op, studied through literature seminars, and attended practicums to enhance my own reading and writing knowledge.
I am also a certified TESOL/TEFL/EYL teacher, professional writer, beta reader, proofreader, editor, and homeschool mom. I have a love for the English language (I have a BA in English to prove it), the smell of new books, and transferring ideas from mind to paper. My goal is to promote a love of learning while offering a safe and fun environment. I truly have a passion for reading and writing and would love to share my knowledge and experience with your children. Reviews
Live Group Class
$480
for 32 classes2x per week, 16 weeks
50 min
Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-12
3-10 learners per class
