Classic 4Th, 5th, 6th, 7th Grade Small Group Novel Study: Anne of Green Gables
In this 8-week reading class and book group, boys and girls alike build greater reading comprehension and critical thinking skills while studying the classic historical fiction novel, Anne of Green Gables, set in the eastern coast of Canada.
Amy Harper, B.S., M.Ed.
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(81)
What's included
8 live meetings
6 in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students are assigned about 50-60 pages of reading each week. (It depends on what publisher/edition of the classic you purchase.) There are guided reading questions on a printed handout to answer while reading. The average student could complete the weekly assignment in about one and to two hours each week.Assessment
Parents are updated by an informal check-in/assessment at least every other week through the parent/teacher chat. Formal assessments can be given to those requesting such before the week one class.Class Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
This semester course (8 weeks) challenges readers ready for a reading class that goes beyond the study of setting, figures of speech, conflict, and theme. Students will learn new vocabulary each week and learn, identify, and apply beginning critical thinking skills. Topics are taught through teacher/student discussions, teacher lecture, guided reading handouts, power point slides, and Kahoot (free app) games. Most reading takes place outside of class, and reading assignments generally follow the schedule below: Week One: Chapters 1-6 Introduction to Course Week Two: Chapters 7-13 Idioms and Allusions Week Three: Chapters 14-18 Imagery Week Four: Chapters 19-24 Critical Thinking Skill: Summarization Skills Week Five Chapters 25-29 Critical Thinking Skill: Inferred/Implied Comprehension Week Six Chapters 30-34 Critical Thinking Skill: Textual Evidence Week Seven Chapters 35-38 Critical Thinking Skill: Identification of Explicit vs. Implicit Characterization Week Eight Chapters 39-end Review and Application of Prior Knowledge Classes usually follow the following routine: 1. Welcome/opener 2. Review of previous lesson and Q/A time with the finished assignment 3. Introduction of new literature exercise/concept 4. Introduction of new vocabulary 5. Kahoot interactive challenge 6. As time allows, in-class start of the new week's reading-assignment Although not required, this class is especially recommended for students who have already completed at least one or more of my other reading classes. It is also recommended for for 5th and 6th graders already familiar with "setting, theme, conflict, point of view." I'm an old-school, old-soul teacher that loves working with students. My greatest joy is to see students absorbed within the plot of an exciting story. I also believe that I'm teaching more than just "Who wrote Anne of Green Gables?"; I'm teaching students how to listen while in a group discussion, how to discern a message while reading, and how to empathize with characters often facing challenges unfamiliar to the student. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Due to the length of the class, three students must be enrolled. If enrollment is not met, I will reach out to you a few days before the class begins. Most likely, the class will then be rescheduled with a new start date.
Learning Goals
Academic: Students will learn new vocabulary words and discuss and analyze the following:
1. Identification of explicit and implicit characterization
2. Identifying and defining idioms and allusions in the text
3. Identifying imagery in the text
4. Practice summarization skills
5. Answer fact based and implied/inferred questions/answers
6. Support an answer with evidence from the text
7. Review and apply prior knowledge of literary elements
Life Skill: Students will build critical thinking, group collaboration, note-taking, and listening skills.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Anne of Green Gables is a novel written in 1908 and reflects cultural attitudes and opinions of the times. There is a brief reference from the two older characters preferring a Canadian farm worker to a foreign worker and numerous references to Anne's and Marilla's religious views about God. These topics are not referenced or analyzed within the literature class and are not part of the plot development of the novel. If a student asks or offers opinions about either topic, I will respond that racism is wrong and that religious beliefs are personal decisions. As part of the critical thinking emphasis of this class, I will note (dependent on students enrolled) that although the setting is historical to us today, it was current-day fiction to Lucy Maud Montgomery. Her writing reflects common opinions and customs, wrong or right, from her time. At that point, I will redirect to the lesson objective.
Supply List
The handout packet will be provided a few days ahead of class start dart. (There is no required reading before Class 1) A hard copy or digital copy of Anne of Green Gables (Please do not purchase an abridged edition.) Access to www.Kahoot.com or download free app "Kahoot" (You will not need to make an account -- Yeah!)
Language of Instruction
English
Joined June, 2020
5.0
81reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I've taught literary elements through book studies numerous times over the years, online and in-person as a teacher and librarian. I've found that students, even struggling readers, enjoy learning literary concepts more through novel reads than literature textbook chapters filled with short story selections or book excerpts.
Anne of Green Gables is a novel written in 1908 and reflects cultural attitudes and opinions of the times. There is a brief reference from the two older characters preferring a Canadian farm worker to a foreign worker and numerous references to Anne's and Marilla's religious views about God. These topics are not referenced or analyzed within the literature class and are not part of the plot development of the novel. If a student asks or offers opinions about either topic, I will respond that racism is wrong and that religious beliefs are personal decisions. As part of the critical thinking emphasis of this class, I will note (dependent on students enrolled) that although the setting is historical to us today, it was current-day fiction to Lucy Maud Montgomery. Her writing reflects common opinions and customs, wrong or right, from her time. At that point, I will redirect to the lesson objective. I have extensive experience cutting off "rabbit-trail" discussions and staying on-task.
I'm an old-school, old-soul teacher that loves working with students. My greatest joy is to see students absorbed within the plot of an exciting story. I also believe that I'm teaching more than just "Who wrote Anne of Green Gables?" in my classes; I'm teaching students how to listen while in a group discussion, how to discern a message while reading, and how to empathize with characters often facing challenges unfamiliar to the student.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$120
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
45 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-12
3-6 learners per class
