English
Grade 8 Literature - Semester 1 - Esperanza Rising, When You Reach Me, more FLEX
In this 16 week course, we will be reading four wonderful novels: Esperanza Rising, When You Reach Me, Chasing Secrets, and The Giver. Great for ages 11-13!
No live meetings
Over 16 weeks
11-13
year olds
1-10
learners per class
per learner - per week
How does a "Flex" course work?
No scheduled live video chats
Discussions via classroom forum and private messages with the teacher
Great if your learner prefers independent pacing or is uncomfortable with live video chat
Available Times
Pacific
Available Times
Pacific
Description
Class Experience
Students will learn about character traits, plot, and themes. Students will learn new vocabulary. Students will learn to summarize what they have read. Students will work on interpersonal skills as they discuss the novel with their peers.
I have been teaching these books and others that tackle hard topics for many years. I also teach US History and have a lot of experience teaching prejudice and racism, as well as the historical themes in several of these books.
Reading is assigned each week. Students will complete several worksheets and/or assignments each week.
Students will need to have a physical, digital, or audio copy of the following novels: Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko The Giver by Lois Lowry I will provide a pdf of the study guide.
No live meetings, and an estimated 1 - 2 hours per week outside of class.
Esperanza Rising discusses the racism that Mexican farm workers faced in 1930s United States and also includes the death of the main character's father. When You Reach Me includes the death of a character when he is hit by a vehicle. There is also brief racism, prejudice, and there is a scene in which a character is punched in the stomach. Chasing Secrets includes racism towards the Chinese-American population of San Francisco in 1900. There are also scenes dealing with the plague that is devastating the community. The Giver is a dystopian novel and takes on issues like death and genocide in a way that, at first glance, looks very casual but by the end of the novel works to convince the reader that a future like the one in the book would be inhumane and wrong. There are scenes involving the death of babies and the elderly, as well as the mention of "stirrings" which are feelings associated with the onset of puberty and the character take pills to subdue those feelings.
Teacher
About Me
Hi everyone! I'm Nicole Trusky, a homeschooling mom of three and lover of all things history and pop culture! I have a Master in Humanities with a concentration in American Studies and have been studying history for as long as I can remember (my...
