7th & 8th Grade ELA: Fiction & Nonfiction; Reading Comprehension + Literary Response
Literature & English Language Arts; Fall & Spring Semesters. Weekly short stories & real world passages; this academic reading analysis class builds confidence during middle school and preps for high school; I'll present a valuable blend of genres, critical thinking skills, test-taking strategies, discussion, and a touch of response writing (short answer).
Marisa Hammond Olivares; (GT, ELA, ESL, ELL, SPED)
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(303)
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What's included
2 live meetings
1 hrs 40 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
Students may have some light reading and writing outside of the classroom.Assessment
My small group teaching style allows me to gauge my students' learning during each session. However, on occasion, I will give some formalized assessments through Google Forms and other platforms.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 8
Small-Group Instruction This allows me to work closely with each student to evaluate students' learning strengths, locate gaps in their reading development, and tailor lessons focused on specific learning objectives. LEARNING SESSIONS Students will experience a combination of direct instruction, note-taking, discussion, Socratic seminars, reading, writing, vocabulary, and the application of skills. In addition, students can expect independent and group interactions with the teacher and classmates. Please note that the writing in this course is in the form of a content-based literary response. These are paragraph-length responses, not essays. 2024/2025 Week of September 9th: Fiction/Short Story The Golden Touch by Nathaniel Hawthorne Literary Devices & Analysis; theme, imagery, text evidence, inference, and foreshadow Week of September 16th: Poetry IF by Rudyard Kipling Desiderata by unknown (possible extension activity) Literary Devices & Analysis: symbolism, theme, repetition, interpretation, tone, speaker's point of view/perspective Week of September 23rd: Poetry and Short Story Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson Literary Devices & Analysis: theme, rhyme scheme, speaker's point of view, speaker's actions, and tone. The Stolen Party (possible extension activity) Week of September 30th: Poetry Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Literary Devices & Analysis: symbolism, theme, repetition, interpretation, tone, speaker's point of view/perspective Week of October 7th: Fiction / Irony The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant ******************************** Mid-Fall Break No Classes the Week of October 14th ****************************** Week of October 21st: Fiction; Horror & Suspense The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe Week of October 28th: Fiction; Horror & Suspense The Monkey's Paw Week of November 4th: Fiction; The Landlady Week of November 11th: Fiction; Short Story The Most Dangerous Game Week of November 18th: Fiction; Short Story How Santa Found the Poor House ******************************** Holiday Break: Thanksgiving No Classes the Week of November 25th ******************************** Week of December 2nd: Fiction; Short Story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry Possible Extension Activity: Fish Cheeks Week of December 9th: Fiction; Novel Excerpt Excerpt from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens ~ from Chapter One; meet Ebenezer Scrooge Week of December 16th: Fiction; Novel Excerpt Excerpt from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens ~ from Chapter Three, Scrooge meets the second of three spirits: The Ghost of Christmas Present. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ END OF FALL ~ no classes until the week of January 6th, 2025 BEGINNING OF SPRING 2025 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Week of January 6th: Nonfiction; Biography & Speeches ~ The Bet by Anton Chekhov Week of January 13th: Nonfiction; Historical Events ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. ~ Excerpts of the I Have a Dream Speech; Imagery and Metaphors Week of January 20th: Fiction; Short Story ~ Ida B. Wells Week of January 27th ~ Classical fiction Week of February 3rd ~ Setting and Sensory Details Week of February 10th ~ Conflict and Conflict Resolution ~~~~~~~~~~ Spring Break #1 No classes the week of February 17th ~~~~~~~~~~ Week of February 24th The Last Leaf by O. Henry ~ Irony and Inferencing Week of March 3rd After Twenty Years by O. Henry ~ Character relationships and motivation Week of March 10th A Retrieved Reformation by O. Henry ~ Points of view and character perspective Week of March 17th ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Character relationships, motivation, and irony. Week of March 24th ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Irony and inferencing. Week of March 31st ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Character perspective and irony. Week of April 7th ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. Week of April 14th ~ Nonfiction: WWII & WASP (women pilots during WWII) ~~~~~~~~~~ Spring Break #2 No classes the week of April 21st ~~~~~~~~~~ Week of April 28th ~ Nonfiction: WWII & Holocaust Week of May 5th; Biographies & Memoirs ~ Nonfiction: Anne Frank & Miep Gies Week of May 12th; Synthesis Introduction to D-Day (brief summary) Ronald Reagan's 40th Anniversary of D-Day speech (excerpt) Anne Frank's June 6, 1944 diary entry (excerpt) ************************************ END of Spring Semester: Two-week break I am in the process of editing and revising my list of short stories. However, you can expect at least one short story or nonfiction article per week (classic literature and informative text). Week of June 2: Short Story ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. Week of June 9: Short Story ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. Week of June 16: Short Story ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. Week of June 23: Short Story ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. ************************************* Summer Break ~ No classes the week of July 1st ************************************* Week of July 7th: Short Story ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. Week of July 14th: Short Story ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. Week of July 21st: Short Story ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. Week of July 28th: Short Story ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. Week of August 4th: Short Story ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. Week of August 11th Short Story ~ Fiction: Theme, characterization, and conflict resolution. Figurative language, sensory details, and setting. End of Summer Classes These passages, authors and topics are pending: Civil War; Historical Fiction & Nonfiction Nonfiction: Understanding the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War Poetry: O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman Historical Speeches and Memoirs: Sojourner Truth/ Frederick Douglass
Learning Goals
My goal is to create a connection between prior knowledge, new knowledge, literary text, and the real world. Aside from improving reading comprehension, developing analytical skills, and encouraging higher-order thinking, I want my students to be confident with their interpretations and responses.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Some texts may contain biblical allusions. These lessons will focus on text evidence and how allusions are used by authors to make a point. Therefore, I may need to reference and explain the main idea that the author is alluding to; the focus will be on literary analysis.
Supply List
Keep handy for any occasional notes. ~ Pencil and paper. ~ A traditional composition book. ~ Digital docs are fine too. *Gel pens, skinny markers, highlighters, and sticky notes are a great option for the more creative note taker.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined July, 2020
4.9
303reviews
Star Educator
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
Texas Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Bachelor's Degree from Texas Woman's University
My English courses are centered around thought-provoking critical reading skills, effective writing, and verbalizing one's interpretation of a literary text. I believe in living, laughing, and learning. My learning goals are for my students to gain a greater depth of understanding far beyond the text.
My professional background:
~ I have taught English Language Arts (ELA) in the middle school setting for 16 years (Texas public schools).
~ I understand the Common Core Standards for my content area.
~ I have been an ELA Curriculum Writer in my district for over ten years.
~ I am ELA certified in the State of Texas for grades 4th through 8th.
~ I am certified as a generalist in Early Childhood - 4th Grade.
~ I am certified in ESL for grades Early Childhood - 12th Grade.
~ I am certified in Special Education for grades Early Childhood - 12th Grade.
~ In addition to education, I am an online writer for various websites. I have a background in Corporate Management, International Sales, Grant Writing, and I have worked as a Project Director for a non-profit organization.
~ I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance with a minor in English from Texas Woman's University.
My philosophy of teaching:
I believe strongly in developing independent thought, voice, and empathy. I enjoy enlightening students in the skills necessary for analyzing multiple viewpoints, building evidence-based opinions, and creating awareness toward opposing arguments. Civility and kindness are essential to me, and I encourage my students to be respectful as they develop their own opinions and counterarguments. Importantly, promoting metacognition in my students is a common approach in my teaching style. Yes, I LOVE teaching!
My family:
My daughter, Briana Olivares, is a teacher here at Outschool. She has had the gift of music since her earliest years, and she enjoys sharing this beautiful art form with her students. My son keeps us entertained and laughing. He is heartwarming, sweet, and has autism; he has taught me so much as a teacher and mother. My rock and supportive husband has been in Corporate Restaurant Management for over 32 years. Yum!
Requests for courses are welcomed!
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Communication:
Outschool is my primary occupation, and I prioritize live classes during teaching days (Monday through Saturday). While I may not respond promptly during these days, I aim to reply within 24 hours (usually sooner).
Offline Hours:
I am offline on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, although I do periodically check messages and aim to respond promptly.
Materials:
In alignment with my teaching approach, all of the related materials and optional homework lessons will be provided in a PDF at the END of each respective lesson (NOT before). My lessons are interactive, guided experiences where all necessary materials are presented and annotated during class. Additionally, all classes are recorded for students' reference.
Assignments & Feedback:
Students are responsible for completing any unfinished assignments from class. I encourage all students to send their responses for feedback through private message.Reviews
Live Group Class
$30
weekly ($15 per class)2x per week
50 min
Completed by 108 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-15
3-8 learners per class
