Homeschool English Language Arts, Contemporary Classics Section 4
Homeschool English / ELA students grow in their ability to read, think, write, and communicate. Literature selections include modern novels, graphic novels, short stories, poetry. Discussion and project based. Option for high school credit.
What's included
8 live meetings
6 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursHomework
2-4 hours per week. Detailed weekly assignments will be given. Students will complete work individually at home and can be adapted by families depending on student's learning style and family's homeschool philosophies. Student work will include about 75-100 pages of reading (maximum) per week and will also include several different optional activities (including free-writing prompts). If families are using this as part of a complete homeschool curriculum, students should expect to spend 2-3 hours of work outside of class, however it will be possible to complete the work in as little as one to two hours per week for most students. Because student's abilities vary greatly, the amount of time it takes students to complete assigned work will vary greatly.Assessment
Students will be informally assessed through class discussion to ensure student understanding and so I, as the teacher, can adapt the class to student's needs. Homework can be adapted by each family. Students will need to keep up with the reading to be able to participate in class discussions, other work is considered optional based on how families are using this class. Please see homework description for further explanation and reach out with any questions.Grading
The Passion Project will have a grading rubric provided and parents have the option of using the rubric to provide a grade for their learner, or having me grade projects (or opting out of grading all together.) All students who complete projects will receive personalized video feedback on their work. For families using this class as part of their ELA curriculum, you will have several pieces of work from this class to include in a portfolio. Please don't hesitate to reach out if there are other elements you need to meet homeschool requirements in your state / province / country.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 9
Please note that although this is section four (of four), this class can be taken alone; semesters 1, 2, and 3 are not required prerequisites. This class can be taken as a stand-alone class, or combined with the other sections for a full year of ELA for grades 7, 8, or 9 (links for other sections are at the end of this listing). These classes will be rigorous enough for high school credit for English 9 (or English 1) in most locations. Please contact me with any questions about meeting your state / province / county requirements. This language arts class is a great companion to your homeschooling experience for late middle school or early high school. Students are provided with opportunities to engage in deep discussion about what they read, learn key literary elements, and complete creative projects, all while growing their abilities to think and communicate critically and effectively. Each week during class students will discuss the reading assignments from the past week using Blooms Taxonomy question starters, with student-created questions. As a teacher, I am always amazed at the depth of questions student ask and engage in! During this section, the rest of class will allow learners to examine the HOW and WHY literary elements are used (not simply what elements are used by an author). There will also be some direct instruction to equip learners to complete the week's assignment. Because this is a homeschool class, much of the work is done outside of class. Students will be given weekly assignments that 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 ability to track their own progress 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 literary focus of this class 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 reading books, poems, and stories that have these qualities, but have not had the opportunity to transcend time because they have 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? Topics below are the main reading selections that will be discussed during each week's class. Week 1: Poetry Discussion, "Webcam the World" by Heather McHugh; introduction to "Passion Project" Week 2: "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt (Newberry Medal Winner, Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book, ALA Notable Books for Children's Award ) Week 3:"The Wednesday Wars," passion project proposals due Week 4: "The Wednesday Wars," passion project check-in / peer brainstorming and feedback Week 5: "March" graphic novel by John Lewis, Volume 1 , rough draft writing portion passion project due Week 6: "March" graphic novel by John Lewis, Volume 2, rough draft passion project speech and visual Week 7: "March" graphic novel by John Lewis, Volume 3, public speaking Week 8: Passion Project Speeches and Short Story discussion (if time): "76 Dollars and 39 cents" by Kwame Alexander Literary concepts and skills that will be covered include (but are not limited to): analyzing how characters change and develop, allusions, theme, plot elements (rising action, falling action, climax, etc), types of conflict, symbolism, setting, genre, and theme. Skills worked on with the culminating passion project will vary from student to student, but will universally work on executive functioning skills such as time management and growth mindset. The passion projects will be student directed and contain a written, visual, and spoken element. Who would do well in this class? Because this course is aimed at students in grades 7-9, students should have completed grade 6 Language Arts (any curriculum or course of study, homeschool, public, or private school). 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. Students reading and writing at or above grade level should be able to work on this class independently. Students reading and writing below grade level can be successful in this class if they have support at home to be able to help with weekly assignments. Reading and writing levels should not affect student's abilities to participate during weekly class meetings. 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 1: Poetry and Literary Analysis Essay https://outschool.com/classes/homeschool-ela-contemporary-classics-section-1-poetry-and-literary-analysis-essay-ocyxKtrQ 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
Learning Goals
Students will grow in their ability to read, think critically about, and discuss literary works from a variety of contemporary authors in a variety of genres (poetry, short story, novel, graphic novels).
Students will grow in their ability to analyze how writers use literary and poetic devices in their writing.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Course Introduction
Poetry Discussion, "Webcam the World" by Heather McHugh; introduction to "Passion Project"
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
The Wednesday Wars
Discussion: "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt (Newberry Medal Winner, Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book, ALA Notable Books for Children's Award ), how to conduct research / annotation
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
The Wednesday Wars
Discussion: "The Wednesday Wars," passion project proposals due
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
The Wednesday Wars
Discussion: "The Wednesday Wars," passion project check-in / peer brainstorming and feedback
50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Learning Needs
This class is designed to support a variety of learning needs with scaffolded and adaptable assignments. Dyslexic, ADHD, and Autistic learners have had great success in this class. Please reach out if you have specific questions.
Parental Guidance
"Comics can bring social issues to life in ways that sometimes surpass other media, and this remarkable trilogy [March] demonstrates exactly how.... Rep. John Lewis has a wealth of experience from which to draw, and he and his younger collaborators have created a nonfiction graphic memoir designed to enlighten and encourage a new generation of engaged readers. [These books] celebrate the bravery and resourcefulness of the early members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee through the passage of the Voting Rights Act and beyond, but doesn't shy away from showing the costs some paid for their quest for justice. The trilogy is a marvel of nonfiction visual storytelling.
"Parents need to know that March is a powerful look back at the civil rights movement in the American South. Both a history and a memoir of Congressman John Lewis' early life, this ... trilogy emphasizes the power of nonviolent protest and shows how people can band together to effect social change.
"Parents need to know that 2017 Coretta Scott King Book Medal and Michael J. Printz Medal winner March: Book Three concludes the trilogy of graphic novels about John Lewis and the fight for civil rights in the mid-1960s. Casual racism, beatings by police, and murders by white supremacists are part of the story, which becomes quite intense at times. The authors and artist don't sugarcoat the story, but they also don't portray violence gratuitously. The language is often harsh, with frequent use of the "N" word; "damn," "hell," and "f--k" are used less frequently. Sex and substances are barely mentioned." (Common Sense Media)
Parents are encouraged to research this trilogy to determine if it is a good fit for their learner. It is a realistic portrayal of the civil rights movement told from the perspective of Rep. John Lewis as he looks back on the movement as an adult. Depictions are not gratuitous, but they are realistic. As we discuss the works in class, we will affirm the value of all humanity, regardless of country of origin, religion, economic status, gender, etc. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to message me.
Pre-Requisites
As this is a class geared toward students working at 7th, 8th, and 9th grade levels, students should have completed at least 6th grade ELA material in any program. For specific questions, please send me a message.
Supply List
Students will need "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt, "March" graphic novel trilogy by John Lewis, and "Flying Lessons and Other Stories" (short story anthology-- this book will be used for sections 2,3, and 4 of this series). Books can be purchased new, used, or borrowed from your local library. Listening to audiobooks is also an option. All other material will be common household and school supplies, or PDFs sent in the classroom.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
"The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
"March" trilogy (books 1,2,3) by John Lewis
"Flying Lessons and Other Stories" edited by Ellen Oh
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in English from University of Mississippi
I have a Bachelor of Arts in English, and held a Professional Teaching Certificate in Florida to teach English in grades 6-12. I taught middle and high school Language Arts in public schools in Florida, and for the past several years I have taught comprehensive Language Arts classes to homeschoolers, both in-person and online. I have several years of experience teaching novels that deal with the complex issues such as those present in the selections for this class at the high school and middle school level, including "The Giver," "Lord of the Flies," "Night," and "A Long Walk to Water" in various contexts, dealing with the inherent complex issues that arise with these topics. As we discuss challenging topics in this class, we will affirm the value of all humanity, regardless of country of origin, religion, economic status, gender, etc.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$136
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
50 min
Completed by 46 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-15
3-10 learners per class