This class can be taken alone, or as part of a full year of ELA curriculum for homeschool learners in grades 7-9 (US grading system).  When combined with Contemporary Classics 2, this class forms a full semester of English Language Arts. Contemporary Classics 3 and 4 will form the second semester. Links to those sections can be found at the bottom of this description. 

During class, students will engage in deep discussions about what they read, learn poetic devices and analyze their use, and write a literary analysis essay. Each week's class will be split between analyzing poetry with discussion and walking through writing the literary analysis essay.  Main poems focused on will be "I Lost My Talk" by Rita Joe, "A Rose That Grew From Concrete," by Tupac Shakur, "Rat Ode" by Elizabeth Acevedo, "New Day's Lyric" by Amanda Gorman, and "Love, Me" by Kwame Alexander. 


The literary focus of this series of classes is "Contemporary Classics." Classic literature is generally thought of as works that have a universal appeal and transcend time and culture, remaining relevant through time. They are recognized for their artistic merit, quality and often for their groundbreaking nature. In this class we will be looking at poetry that has these qualities, but has not had the opportunity to transcend time because it has been created in our modern age.  Part of our discussions will center around this issue: what (if anything) in these works might make them be considered "classics" fifty or a hundred years from now?

Because this is a homeschool class, much of the work is done outside of class, including writing the essay.  Students will be given poems to choose from when composing their essay, but can also write about an independently chosen contemporary poem. Essays will focus on a theme chosen by the learner.  Detailed weekly assignments cover reading, writing, and reinforcement of literary concepts.  Assignments are not broken down by day so they can be adapted to each family's learning style and schedule.  Assignments have a checklist for learners to grow in their executive functioning skills and be responsible for their academic work.  Work is clearly marked so students and parents know what is required to be able to fully participate in the next class, and what is up to the parent's discretion. Parents of younger students may wish to simplify assignments, while parents of older students will be given many opportunities for enrichment each week.  This is truly a homeschool language arts class that you can customize to your family's needs. 

The breakdown for each class is as follows:

Week 1: Poetry Analysis and Discussion ("I Lost my Talk"), focus on theme, poetic devices, and annotating

Week 2: Poetry Analysis and Discussion ("Rat Ode"); Thesis Statements and Outlines

Week 3: Poetry Analysis and Discussion ("A Rose that Grew from Concrete"); Analyzing Text Evidence, "this shows that" strategy

Week 4: Poetry Analysis and Discussion ("A New Day's Lyric"); Writing Introductions and Conclusions

Week 5: Poetry Analysis and Discussion ("Love, Me" and discussion of these poems as potential classics); Revising and Editing

This is a very interactive class, but students are able to decide on their level of interaction (including none). All students have an opportunity to contribute to discussions verbally or in the chat bar. While I love when students keep their cameras on, I do not require it beyond the initial check-in at the beginning of class. I understand that learners are coming from various background both educationally and personally, and strive to create an open, welcoming, and accessible environment for all students. The content in these classes is broken down and explicitly explained, making the academic benchmarks achievable for everyone. 

Who would do well in this class? Students should have completed a minimum of grade 6 ELA curriculum (any curriculum) before taking this class, and be familiar with writing essays.  Students can have limited experience with essay writing and be successful in this class, but this class is not suited for those who have never written an essay before. If your family does not use a traditional curriculum, feel free to send me a message if you aren't sure if your learner would be successful in this class. Completing all four sections of this class meets most state / provincial standards for English 1 high school credit (grades 8 or 9). If you need to keep a portfolio, these classes will have ample assignments / projects / writing to include. I also offer (optional) grades for projects and the class as a whole. If you are using these classes for formal credits and are unsure if they will meet requirements of your area, please reach out. I am happy to help you figure out if this class will work for your needs. 

REFUND POLICY: I understand that booking in advance is appealing to guarantee a spot in the class, but I also realize that plans can change. Please know that if you need to withdraw your learner for any reason up to ten days before the start date of this class, I will be happy to issue a full refund. Please contact me if this is the case. 

Additional sections in this series are linked below:

Homeschool ELA Contemporary Classics 2 (8 weeks, literature focus)
https://outschool.com/classes/homeschool-english-language-arts-contemporary-classics-semester-1b-HD4c2Af8

Homeschool ELA Contemporary Classics 3 (8 weeks, literature focus)
https://outschool.com/classes/homeschool-english-language-arts-contemporary-classics-semester-2a-0eNYu1z9

Homeschool ELA Contemporary Classics 4 (8 weeks, literature focus)
https://outschool.com/classes/homeschool-english-language-arts-contemporary-classics-semester-2b-08ZxEdz9

If your learner needs to solidify basic essay writing skills before taking this course, please reach out. I have several self-paced and live class options that could help prepare your learner for this class.