English
Homeschool Middle School English Language Arts: World Literature, Section 3
Over 8 weeks, students grow in their ability to read, think, write, and communicate critically and effectively. Literature includes "True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle," "A Long Walk to Water," and "Eleven." Discussion and project based.
Martha Jackson, English Language Arts and Writing
412 total reviews for this teacher
16 reviews for this class
Completed by 71 learners
11-14
year olds
4-10
learners per class
$128
Charged upfront
$16 per class
Meets 1x per week
Over 8 weeks
50 minutes per class
There are no open spots for this class, but you can request another time or scroll down to find more classes like this.
Description
Class Experience
Please note that although this is section three, this class can be taken alone; sections one and two are not required prerequisites. If looking to take this section without first taking sections one or two please carefully read this course description to ensure your learner has the necessary background knowledge. This middle school language arts class is a great companion to your homeschooling experience. Students are provided with opportunities to engage in deep discussion about what...
Students will grow in their ability to read, think critically about, and discuss literary works from a variety of authors writing about cultures different from their own. Students will grow in their ability to analyze how writers use literary elements in their writing. Students will be able to express their learning verbally and creatively in a variety of ways.
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 school Language Arts in public schools in Florida, and for the past several years I have taught comprehensive Middle School Language Arts classes to homeschoolers. 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 "True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle," "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.
Detailed weekly assignments will be given. Students will complete work individually at home and will discuss it together as a class. Student work will include about 50-60 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.
"True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" by Avi "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park Shorter selections will be provided for students. These books can be purchased from Amazon, ThriftBooks, Abebooks, or even borrowed from the library (although I prefer students to have their own copy). Students do not need a specific version of these books. If purchased used, these books can be found for a total of around $10. Parents also need a *free* account with Teachers Pay Teachers to download and print *free* resources from that site for their learners. All other material will be common household and school supplies, or PDFs sent in the classroom.
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
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. Projects 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.)
50 minutes per week in class, and an estimated 2 - 4 hours per week outside of class.
The selections for this class are all commonly found on reading lists for learners ages 11-14. Because each family is different as to what is appropriate for their learners, please read this section. Parents should know that "True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" contains a scene of whipping a sailor of African descent, as well as the shooting of a sailor. Racism and societal gender roles are themes throughout this novel. For a more complete summary of this book, please read https://www.supersummary.com/the-true-confessions-of-charlotte-doyle/summary/ In "A Long Walk to Water," there are several scenes of genocide in Sudan. "Salva [the main character] experiences many horrific adventures as he walks, swims, and canoes from camp to camp. His friend, Marial, is dragged away from the camp by lions one night, and Salva witnesses many men dying of dehydration in the desert. The Nuer, a rival tribe, attacks the group and kills Uncle Jewiir. After making it to a refugee camp, soldiers force the travelers into a crocodile-infested river, where thousands die." (from the summary linked below) For a more complete summary of this book, please read https://www.supersummary.com/a-long-walk-to-water/summary/ I will not be explicitly teaching about the Sudanese genocide in this class, but am prepared to deal with any questions that arise in our student-led discussions. As we discuss these novels 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.
Main literary selections are: "True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" by Avi "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros (PDF provided)
Teacher
Martha Jackson, English Language Arts and WritingPursuing Progress Over Perfection
412 total reviews
488 completed classes
About Me
Hi! My name is Martha Jackson. I mainly teach writing and literature, and I absolutely love it. My classes focus on breaking down complex ideas into bite-size pieces, giving students concrete tools to grow in specific areas (conducting research,...
