High School English Novel Study With Mrs. Pillow: Their Eyes Were Watching God

One thing I hear from parents of teens all the time is: more. I want my kid to read more.

Our children aren't reading enough novels in their English class to make a transformational impact on their love of reading and their understanding of how great novels are constructed. If they were given 4-5 more books per year to study, that would double the amount they are reading in school and increase their "at-bats" with the components needed to successfully analyze serious literature.

This is where I come in. With over 8 years of classroom experience as a certified English teacher and an M.Ed degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education, I have the knowledge and the experience to help books come alive for your older teen. 

In this 5 week course, we will read "Their Eyes Were Watching God" together. My aim is to (1) enrich your teen's understanding of the composition of the novel, from metaphors and symbolism to broader themes, and (2) help your child flag their own original insights and "noticings" as they read. 

Each lesson will focus on a different aspect of Hurston's writing:

Lesson 1: How an author evokes a setting
Lesson 2: Unpacking figurative language
Lesson 3: Character development
Lesson 4: Building suspense
Lesson 5: Themes and Socratic discussion

Outside of each class, students will be required to read ~30 pages on their own and come prepared with reading comprehension questions we will use to unpack their thoughts from their independent reading. From there I will model how to close read key passages, make connections, and pose questions for discussion. At the end of each lesson, students will synthesize their learning with a discussion and writing prompt. 

It's my belief that everyone has the capacity to appreciate and understand great literature with the guidance of a great teacher. We will begin every class with that premise!