Grade 7 & 8 English Language Arts (ELA) Literature Semester 1 of 3

***Get $20 off with coupon code ARDENELA20 until Aug 19, 2023.***

This 12-week course will cover the first part of the 7th and 8th Grade English Languages Arts Common Core Standards in a multi-age setting. 

Homeschooled students can benefit from a full and complete curriculum whereas students who are already taking ELA at school can enroll for additional support, practice, or enrichment. 

Literacy development is a lifelong journey that is composed of many complex concepts and understandings that are not limited to the written Western page. In 2021, reading and writing has taken on new lengths. Importantly, we are now exposed to a much wider variety of literature in the form of film, documentary, theatre, podcast, blogs, songs, webpages, magazine articles, and so much more. Literacy includes the capacity to learn to communicate, read, write, think, explore, and solve problems. Literacy skills are used in paper, digital, and live interactions where people: 

    * analyze critically and solve problems 

    * understand and communicate meaning 

    * create a variety of creative and analytic content

    * read, view, and listen for fun

    * make connections both personally and intertextually 
    * engage in personal summaries and analyses

    * and more!
   
With examples, support, and practice, students will have the opportunity to deepen their critical skills as they work with fun, poignant, age-appropriate, and engaging content… all the while participating in focused conversations and completing core standards.



Because I encounter students with all reading and comprehension levels, I provide a diverse instruction to meet their needs. For example, larger print texts will also be presented in audio form (mp3 file) that the students may download at their leisure. Physical movement may be recommended at the beginning of each class to assist in concepts’ retention, and graphic/illustrated PDF and PNG files will be provided to assist those who grasp concepts more visually.


1. August 28/29: Introductions & Icebreakers
2. August 30/31: Developing Your True Writer's Voice

September 4/5: NO CLASS: Labour Day

3. September 6/7: Establishing an Authentic Audience Before Writing
4. September 11/12: Posted: Part 1
5. September 13/14: Using Persuasive Language & Empathetic Writing
6. September 18/19: Posted: Part 2
7. September 20/21: Organizing & Structuring Your Writing: Part 1
8. September 25/26: Posted: Part 3
9. September 27/28: Organizing & Structuring Your Writing: Part 2

10. October 2/3: Song Unit
11. October 4/5: Creative Writing Unit: Part 1
12. October 9/10: Poetry: Here’s an Ocean Tale by Kwoya Fagin Maples & Dirty Face by Shel Silverstein
13. October 11/12: Creative Writing Unit: Part 2
14. October 16/17: Short Story Unit
15. October 18/19: Creative Writing Unit: Part 3

October 23/24: NO CLASS: Midterm break
October 25/26: NO CLASS: Midterm break
October 30/31: NO CLASS: Hallowe'en
November 1/2: NO CLASS: Hallowe'en

16. November 6/7: TedTalk Unit: Part 1
17. November 8/9: The 5-Point Essay: Part 1
18. November 13/14: TedTalk Unit: Part 2
19. November 15/16: The 5-Point Essay: Part 2

November 20/21: NO CLASS or assignment, American Thanksgiving
November 22/23: NO CLASS or assignment, American Thanksgiving

20. November 27/28: Who Has Seen the Wind: Chapters 1-11
21. November 29/30: Engaging With Your True Writer's Voice
22. December 4/5: Who Has Seen the Wind: Chapters 12-20
23. December 6/7: Writer's Workshop
24. December 11/12: Who Has Seen the Wind: Chapters 21-32
25. December 13/14: ***makeup class: if needed***

Weekly schedule:

Mondays/Tuesdays: Live lesson with exposure and instruction of the assigned literature. Students are asked to come to class up-to-date with the assigned reading, listening, or viewing material and come ready to engage in critical thinking and discussion with their peers. They will leave with a literary assignment (written, video, audio, or graphic) at the end of each lesson to be handed in each Thursday, by 7pm ET, if they would like feedback on them.

Wednesdays/Thursdays: Live lesson where students will complete in-class grammar and writing assignments that will fine-tune their writing skills. Making grammatical mistakes when we speak or write is a natural part of language learning. As we seek to communicate effectively and tighten our production skills, good grammar is an essential toolbox to allow us to communicate more effectively.

I provide written feedback on all submitted assignments and can grade assignments upon request.

Students should be prepared to engage with the material and their fellow peers at Grade level. However, due to the interruption of learning these past years, I will make sure that all students feel safe and welcome in my class and leave with a positive view of literacy!

Please note that upon registration for this class, you agree that I do not share recordings of group classes for the privacy and safety of all learners.

Get $40 off my class "Grade 7 & 8 English Language Arts (ELA) Literature Semester 1 of 3" with coupon code ARDENELA40 until Aug 30, 2023.