FLEX - Roald Dahl Semester Long Novel Reading Book Club - Part 1
In this 16 week FLEX course, we will read and learn more about these four Roald Dahl novels: Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. #academic
Tayler Morrell, Licensed History and ELA Teacher
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(200)
What's included
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be expected to read approximately half of each novel each week. Students should also finish each assignment (especially if the parent wants the class graded).Assessment
Each week, I will check for comprehension. This will be based off participation, answers, and completion of each activity. If you would like me to grade a student's work and progress and provide a letter of achievement after the course finishes, please let me know as soon as possible. As a certified teacher, I know many parents appreciate this for their state homeschool/charter school requirements.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
Use coupon code MORRELLFLEXRDPART15 for $5 off. **This is a FLEX class and we will *not* be meeting live. All work will be done on your own schedule.** Little girls who can move things with their minds, chocolate factories that create amazing candy, an elevator that can go any which way, and a giant peach with giant talking bugs...that's the kind of world famed Roald Dahl creates in his children's novels. Roald Dahl is one of my favorite childhood authors and I own almost all of his books. I have loved reading through all of them with my own two elementary-aged children and I am excited to share that wondrous world with your children! Every two weeks, we will focus on a different children's novel of Roald Dahl's. Students will answer comprehension and opinion-based questions, analyze the characters and themes of the novel, then either complete an activity or writing prompt that connects to the story. As a certified literature teacher, I will also discuss character growth, figurative language, themes and motifs, the use of songs and poems within the novels, plot development, and much more. Roald Dahl's books can easily be found at local libraries, or can easily be found at any local bookstore. Students will be required to read the books each week before completing the assignments. Again, this is a *FLEX* class, which means there are no live group meetings. Students should be able to read and have at least a 2nd or 3rd grade reading level. Exact pages numbers and chapters will be assigned each week on the classroom page. Weeks 1-4: Matilda Weeks 5-8: James and the Giant Peach Weeks 7-12: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Weeks 13-16: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator Each week on Monday morning, I will post not only the reading assignment, but all other assignments and necessary materials for the week as well. Students do not need any prior knowledge or experience for this class. We will be utilizing NearPod - students do *not* need an account to use NearPod, they will join with a code that I will share. At the end of each novel, I will also show a preview for a movie version of each book. Watching the movie is *not* part of the class nor a homework requirement. But, it can be a fun activity after reading the book. This class will not be graded. **HOWEVER**, if you would like me to grade a student's work and progress and provide a letter of achievement after the course finishes, please let me know as soon as possible. As a certified teacher, I know many parents appreciate this for their state homeschool/charter school requirements.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to summarize the novels of Roald Dahl.
Students will be able to analyze characters, plot development, themes, and more.
Students will be able to made text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
We will be utilizing NearPod, however, students do *NOT* need an account to participate.
Roald Dahl is a notable and world-famous children's author. His works are all complete fiction. But, he does tend to use hyperbole and exaggerations a lot. Usually this tends to be in the form of adults insulting kids or "punishments" happening, such as the Trunchbull throwing a girl out the window by her pigtails, or Veronica possibly being incinerated in the garbage shoot. If your learner is sensitive about more tense aspects in the novel, please let me know ahead of time. However, these books were specifically created for children in this age range, and I have read the books numerous times. I've read all of these novels out loud to my own two children (currently 8 & 5) and they both have seen the movie interpretations.
As a word of warning, during Chapter 4 in Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Roald Dahl uses some racist stereotyping of the pronunciation of Chinese names and how some in China might pronounce English words during a scene between the President of the USA and the Chinese Premier. This is incorrect and racist profiling. If you want to skip the discussion between the President and the Chinese Premier, feel free to. It is about 2 pages of dialogue and is not a necessary part of the plot. We will not be bringing attention to it during class. If you have any major issues or concerns with this short scene, please let me know. I have also updated the class description under the section of "Parental Guidance" to include a warning about this scene.
Supply List
Students will need their own copies of the following Roald Dahl books (these can be found at local libraries or local bookstores, or even online): Matilda by Roald Dahl James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl Students may need to print out a worksheet before class - specific materials for each class will be posted a few days before class begins.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Students will need their own copies of the Roald Dahl books (these can be found at local libraries or local bookstores, or even online).
Joined June, 2020
5.0
200reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Utah Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Brigham Young University
I am a certified ELA teacher in the United States and taught 7th-9th graders at a public charter school for 2 years. I have also taught an ongoing class on Roald Dahl's shorter children's stories since the beginning of summer 2022.
I also have two children of my own (ages 8 and 5) whom I have read all these novels to them.Reviews
Live Group Class
$3
weekly16 weeks
Completed by 1 learner
No live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
