Paper, writing utensils, and access at least one form of a writing application (Google Docs or MS Word).

All worksheets, handouts, short stories, 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.

In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Gimkit
Kahoot
Google Docs
Google Slides
Blooket

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.

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 on 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.

Please note that this class does incorporate games (Kahoot, Gimkit, Blooket) on external links as well as documents sent via Google Docs/Slides. Learners do not need accounts to access these items. Also, slides for this course will be shown on the screen in presentation mode.


Book Reviews:

1. "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/899492.The_Tell_Tale_Heart
2. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens- https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/great-expectations
3. Short Story - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/747746.The_Curious_Case_of_Benjamin_Button?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_23
4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/to-kill-a-mockingbird