9th - 10th Grade Literature: Includes Fiction, Nonfiction & Literary Response
Homeschool-friendly curriculum! Meets 2 times per week. Advanced 8th-graders are welcome to attend! This is a high school level reading class built to enhance critical thinking and plot analysis skills across diverse literary genres.
Marisa Hammond Olivares; (GT, ELA, ESL, ELL, SPED)
Average rating:
4.9
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What's included
2 live meetings
1 hrs 40 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1 hour per week. Students may have some light reading and writing outside of the 50-minute class period. Any assignments would be suggested at the end of a class section.Assessment
Informal / Formative Assessments: My natural teaching style allows me to gauge my students' learning during each session. Formal Assessments: I will offer in-class opportunities for the completion of reading comprehension questions (multiople-choice)Grading
By request: A Certificate of CompletionClass Experience
Intermediate Level
Primary Focus: In-depth reading comprehension, analysis, and interpretation. Ongoing Format: Each session is independent of any previously held classes. Students may drop in and out as their schedule and availability will permit. Refunds are not given for missed classes or anyone wishing to "hold" a seat. I will follow the standard refund policy set forth by Outschool. LEARNING SESSIONS Students will experience a combination of direct instruction, note-taking, discussion, 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 this course's writing is in the form of short, guided literary responses. *** Mature and sensitive topics are identified in the Parent Guidance section. *************** Fall Semester 2024 *************** Week of September 9th: ~ A Dead Woman's Secret by Guy de Maupassant ~ Theme: People are not what they seem ~ Literary skills: plot, characterization, surprise, and perspective. ~ Extension activity; Motif in literature Week of September 16th: ~ Dr. Heidegger's Experiment by Nathaniel Hawthorne ~ Theme: Repeating mistakes, irony, and immortality. ~ Literary skills: Inferencing, interpretation, and analysis. ~ Extension activity; Nonfiction article about youth and never growing old Week of September 23rd : ~ The Open Window by Saki ~ Theme: Persuasion and humor. ~ Literary skills: purpose, storytelling, suspense, and perspective. ~ Extension activity; How do authors create humor? Week of September 30th: ~ The Fly by Katherine Mansfield ~ Themes: Grieving, power, and control. ~ Literary skills: Figurative language, diction, characterization, and sentence structure. ~ Extension activity; Home Burial by Robert Frost (Poem) Week of October 7th: ~ The Story of the Bad Little Boy by Mark Twain ~ Theme: Irony, morals, and humor. ~ Literary skills: Summary, character analysis, irony, and context clues. ~ Extension activity; The Storyteller by Saki (Short Story: Fiction) ******************************** Mid-Fall Break No Classes the Week of October 14th ******************************** Week of October 21st: ~ Excerpt From Frankenstein: The Creature's Request by Mary Shelley ~ Literary skills: tone, interactions, context clues, and interpretation. ~ Extension activity; At a Window by Carl Sanburg (Poem). Week of October 28th: ~ The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe (poem) ~ Loss and grief. ~ Literary skills: the relationship between the speaker and the character, text evidence, characterization of the raven, allusion (Athena & Hades), repetition, and internal rhyme. Week of November 4th ~ The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain ~ Theme: Deception. ~ Literary skills: Contrasting diction, perception, and multiple narrators. ~ Extension activity; Mark Twain and humor. Week of November 11th ~ Story of An Hour by Kate Chopin ~ Theme: Newfound independence and happiness. ~ Literary skills: characterization, character perspective, conclusion, and author's craft Week of November 18th ~ Winged Blackmail by Jack London ~ Theme: Fear and Power ~ Literary skills: Plot, suspense, irony, characterization, and resolution. ******************************** Thanksgiving Holiday Break No Classes the Week of November 25th ******************************** Week of December 2nd ~ Because I could not stop for death by Emily Dickinson (poem) ~ Literary skills: Personification, tone, perspective, structure, and theme. Week of December 16th ~ Literary analysis: Plot, theme, conflict, and resolution. WINTER BREAK Week of January 6th The Cone by H.G. Wells Week of January 13th The Interlopers by Saki Week of January 20th Yesterday was Beautiful by Roald Dahl Week of January 27th The Cask of Amontillado Week of February 3rd Federigo's Falcon Week of February 10th The Lady or the Tiger SPRING BREAK #1 Week of February 24th The Man in the Well Week of March 3rd Dystopian Week of March 10th An Obstacle (Poetry) Week of March 17th The Pit and the Pendulum Week of March 24th Nonfiction: Psychology Week of March 31st Ovid: Echo and Narcissus Week of April 7th Ovid: Orpheus and Eurydice Week of April 14th Ovid: Pygmalion SPRING BREAK #2 Week of April 28th Nonfiction: Love Week of May 5th Fiction: The Open Boat (excerpt) Week of May 12th Fiction: Becky Day END OF THE SPRING SEMESTER
Learning Goals
In addition to college readiness, 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
*** High School literature can have direct and indirect themes that may be mature and sensitive for some learners. Note, some literature may contain biblical references and allusions. My goal here will be to describe the reference and how it is used in literature.
Classroom discussions are vital and will be facilitated with great care, maturity, and professionalism. Any sensitive issues that may arise through inferencing, personal connections, interpretation, and writing must be relevant to the text. The students will be redirected as needed.
I have identified any potential concerns below. Feel free to message me with any questions.
~ Echo and Narcissus by Ovid (Myth)
This myth is traditionally taught in 9th and 10th grade. Nymphs are in the vocabulary section, and there is a character that is a nymph; nymphs populate the world of mythology. This passage creates inferences of seduction and desire through the use of figurative language.
~ Excerpt from The Odyssey: The Sirens by Homer (Poem)
This poem is traditionally taught in 9th grade. I am using this poem to connect the nymphs in the previous passage and the sirens in the poem. The word RAPTURE is in the vocabulary section and is about the siren's song. Rapture is defined as a feeling of intense pleasure or joy.
~ A Dead Woman's Secret by Guy de Maupassant (Short Story)
Reference to God, Christ, crucifix, and religion. The dead woman's daughter, Sister Eulalie, is a nun. The passage contains the following quotes; "She, the daughter, quite penetrated with virtue that had bathed her in this austere family had become the spouse of God through disgust with men." and "The nun passionately kissed one hand of her dead mother, which hung down, a hand of ivory-like that of Christ in the large crucifix which lay on the bed." In addition, the ending does contain an ironic twist; it alludes to infidelity.
~ Excerpt From Frankenstein: The Creature's Request (novel excerpt) Mary Shelley, Author
Includes biblical references; devil, Adam, and the fallen angel. Contains references to scourge, blood, and murder.
~ The Open Window by Saki
Contains references to a rectory, a residence of priests.
~ The Fly by Katherine Mansfield
References the death of a child and a gravesite. Contains the drinking of whiskey and a descriptive killing of a fly.
~ Home Burial by Robert Frost (Poem)
References the death of a young child and the in-depth analysis of how both parents grieve.
~ The Story of the Bad Little Boy by Mark Twain
References sin, prayers, and a "Sunday-school book."
~ The Storyteller by Saki (Short Story: Fiction)
References the catching and eating of a fat little pig for supper. A character tells the story of a wolf eating a "horribly good girl."
~ Dr. Heidegger's Experiment by Nathaniel Hawthorne
References the Church of England, Puritans, and the Fountain of Youth. Includes the mention of young, burning passion and coquetry.
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
298reviews
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Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
Texas Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Bachelor's Degree from Texas Woman's University
About me -
~ I'm certified to teach from Pre-K - 12th Grade
~ I have taught Literature and English Language Arts for over 18+ years.
~ I am certified in ESL for grades Early Childhood - 12th Grade.
~ I am certified in Special Education for grades Early Childhood - 12th Grade.Reviews
Live Group Class
$30
weekly ($15 per class)2x per week
50 min
Completed by 35 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-16
4-10 learners per class
