Humphrey's World: Building Reading Skills With a Helpful Hamster
This engaging literacy skill-building class will focus on one Humphrey book per week. Students will be encouraged to read excerpts of their favorite parts of the book, build specific skills, and make a hamster-inspired craft.
Miss Kate, M. Special Ed., TEFL
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(125)
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be much more successful during these lessons if they have read the books prior to the club meeting; however, all students are welcome even if they have not read the book of the week.Class Experience
US Grade 4 - 6
These classes will rotate through each Humphrey the hamster book. Each class will emphasize a separate "World According to Humphrey" book from the series by Betty G. Birney, but every class will follow a similar format. A student does not need to have participated in a prior class to learn and grow during this ongoing class. First, students will be given an opportunity to bond with their classmates by speaking about something that is important to them. This time will be for free expression in an environment which emphasizes active and respectful listening. Students love to hear about each others' lives, pets and hobbies, and this time is essential for the class as a whole to develop communication skills. The second part of each class will focus on three essential literary elements: characters, setting and plot and also develop vocabulary and word-building skills. In addition, I will also teach one additional literacy skill during each class (see scope and sequence below). To teach literary elements, I will utilize a power-point presentation. I stop often to make good eye contact with the learners, check for understanding, provide feedback and encourage active participation. The last five minutes of each class will be dedicated to making a quick book-inspired craft. This time is essential for class bonding and for developing the soft skills so necessary in today's society such as active listening and empathy. Scope and Sequence: Week of September 17: The World According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Static versus Dynamic Characters Week of September 24: Friendship According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Foreshadowing Week of October 1: Trouble According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Mood Week of October 8: Surprises According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Antagonist Week of October 15: Adventure According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Background events Week of October 22: Summer According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Theme Week of October 29: School Days According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Descriptive Words Week of November 5: Mysteries According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Time Week of November 12: Winter According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Character Motivation Week of November 26: Secrets According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Physical space according to characters Week of December 3: Imagination According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Prediction Week of December 10: Spring According to Humphrey Word Identification (reading skill building), Vocabulary, Characters, Setting, Plot Text to Self, Text to World, Text to Text
Learning Goals
Students learn many essential skills during each class such as: character motivation and development, static versus dynamic characters, and descriptive words. These literary elements will not be focused upon in each class due to time constraints; however, by the end of this 14 week course, students will be able to confidently and intelligently discuss books on a deeper level. Students will increase their word-attack skills and book-specific vocabulary skills during each class.
In addition, students will be able to identify mood, background events, physical setting, and time while focusing on the setting of each book.
Finally, learners will discuss foreshadowing as well as the plot structure of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
I use Canva as a presentation tool during my lessons. Students will not need to access this site.
Supply List
Students will be expected to purchase or borrow a copy of the Humphrey book of focus for each lesson. In addition, simple art and craft items will be necessary for the book-inspired craft; a list of items will be emailed prior to each class.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined March, 2022
4.9
125reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Alaska Teaching Certificate in Special Education
Master's Degree in Education from University of Alaska, Fairbanks
I hold a master's degree with an emphasis in reading. I teach special education and am adept at keeping students focused and excited during online learning. Reviews
Live Group Class
$21
weekly1x per week
50 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-12
1-6 learners per class
