Learn to Love Literature Part 1 - 5th-8th Grade (English, Literature)
In this Full-Semester 17-week English Literature course, we will dive into five great books. This class was created to build vocabulary, reading fluency, and enjoyment.
Ms. Stacey Hamlin
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(148)
What's included
17 live meetings
8 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. There will be discussion questions each week to help focus your learner on what they are reading. I also expect to do some light character studies and vocabulary discussions as we progress through the semester. The largest aspect of the homework will entail the actual reading of the material. There will be no written homework to turn in.Assessment
Course Completion Certificate available upon request.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
There is no prerequisite requirement for this class. We will start with “Frindle”, a simple and silly tale of words; how they are created and adopted into a language. Our second book, “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH” is an adventure that takes us into the heart of the fields to see if Mrs. Frisby and her new friends can save Timothy before the plow comes. That leads us into our third book of the semester, “Girl in a Cage,” a realistic historical fictional telling of the early captivity of Princess Margery, the daughter of Robert de Bruce. Our fourth book, “The Fog Diver” delves into light dystopian fiction as we follow a few determined slum kids who might just become heroes. And finally, we’ll learn what it means to stand up for someone who cannot speak for himself in “Shiloh”. This semester is full of wonderful stories. Each book its own genre that will give a young reader a taste of a great story of the type. English, Literature I have been a lover of books since I was 9 years old and had to have surgery. My mother, who understood a few things about her child, read the first book in a series to me with all the voices and enthusiasm any book could want. Then she read the first 2 chapters of the next book. And then she stopped. The larger picture of why she stopped at that moment isn't important. What is important is that she lit a flame in me. I wanted to know how it finished. From that point on, I've been a reader. This early experience truly informs the books I choose for my young readers. I want the books to fire their minds, I want them to touch their hearts. Reading a book is starting a conversation with a person you've never met and truly hearing them. I want to build lovers of reading not just hit that magical 30-minute reading time. The Details We will be reading through five wonderful books over the course of 17 weeks. Each book will increase in word count helping your learner's reading fluency gradually improve. This is the perfect, light-reading class to keep everyone reading through the whole semester. Semester One and Semester Two are completely self-contained and can be taken in any order. Classes will follow a general structure: Welcome Discussion (questions provided) Introduction of next class assignment Vocabulary to look out for Every week the student will need to complete the reading and the Discussion Questions to be ready for the following week's class. There is no homework to hand in. Below is our general schedule. Assignments by week Week 1 No Assignment due first week Week 2 Frindle, by Andrew Clements Read approximately 53 pages or from 8-11 per day Week 3 Frindle, by Andrew Clements Read approximately 52 pages or from 8-11 per day Week 4 Ms. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O’Brien Read approximately 60 pages or from 9-12 per day Week 5 Ms. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O’Brien Read approximately 60 pages or from 9-12 per day Week 6 Ms. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O’Brien Read approximately 60 pages or from 9-12 per day Week 7 Ms. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O’Brien Read approximately 60 pages or from 9-12 per day Week 8 Girl in a Cage, by Jane Yolen and Robert Harris Read approximately 80 pages or from 12-16 per day Week 9 Girl in a Cage, by Jane Yolen and Robert Harris Read approximately 80 pages or from 12-16 per day Week 10 Girl in a Cage, by Jane Yolen and Robert Harris Read approximately 80 pages or from 12-16 per day Week 11 Fog Diver, by Joel Ross Read approximately 80 pages or from 12-16 per day Week 12 Fog Diver, by Joel Ross Read approximately 80 pages or from 12-16 per day Week 13 Fog Diver, by Joel Ross Read approximately 80 pages or from 12-16 per day Week 14 Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Read approximately 73 pages or from 11-15 per day Week 15 Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Read approximately 72 pages or from 11-15 per day Week 16 Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Read approximately 72 pages or from 11-15 per day Week 17 Final Class Wrap up of Discussion Questions and Full Class Discussion
Learning Goals
This class was created to build vocabulary, reading fluency, and enjoyment.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Each of the books in this class was chosen to provide an excellent example of a genre of books. They were also chosen for children from approximately 5th-8th grade, so 10-15 year-olds.
That said there are a few things to consider in these books. I've used Common Sense Media to give you some "Things to talk about with your students," except for "Girl in a Cage" that I personally explain below.
"Frindle" is a piece of realistic fiction about a bit of a trouble-maker named Nick who decides the world needs a new word. Common Sense Media suggests that families can talk about language, media, and culture. Is the media reaction to Nick's new word realistic? And ask questions such as... How is Nick affected by his growing celebrity? Families can also talk about the role of dictionaries as records of culture and how words are continuously added. Have you ever made up a new word?
"Ms. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh" is a rousing adventure story that does include some violence. Common Sense Media in their review says that it would be a great place for families to talk about animal research. And ask questions such as...Do you think this book supports or condemns experimentation on animals? If you could receive shots to increase your intelligence, would you want them?
"The Girl in the Cage" is a work of Historical Fiction. A fictionalized first-person recounting of the abduction and captivity of 11-year old Princess Marjorie, the daughter of Robert de Bruce, Scotland's Outlaw King. Set in the 1300s, we see that world through the eyes of a princess. Although I could not find a parental guidance article on this book, I do feel like there could be some difficult passages for sensitive students. However, I also feel that the difficulty and nobility of the character in this book is well worth the tough spots.
"The Fog Diver" is our nod to Dystopian Novels and is a steam-punk fast-paced adventure story with teen-aged protagonists set to save the world. Common Sense Media suggests that families can talk about dystopian novels. And ask questions such as... Why do you think they're so popular? How realistic does the future universe described here seem? Does it seem possible to you? Why, or why not? Why do you think so many futuristic novels assume we will revert to a barter system?
"Shiloh" is a coming-of-age story about a boy who protects a dog from abuse. Common Sense Media suggests that families can talk about right and wrong. And ask questions such as...Do you ever feel mixed up about what's right and what's wrong? Is Marty justified in keeping secrets from his family? Do you think the deal between Marty and Judd is fair?
Supply List
Your learner will need their own copy of the books below. Please feel free to use the library or digital editions of the books. While there are many wonderful audiobooks available here, I do not recommend audiobooks for this class simply because we are building reading fluency and speed. SEEING the words really helps with solidifying the words in the memory. I'm including the Amazon link to each of these books to make it easy to find them. Sometimes, seeing the cover is helpful. (These are NOT affiliation links...just a quick search on my part.) Frindle, by Andrew Clements - https://www.amazon.com/Frindle-Andrew-Clements/dp/0689818769/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=frindle&qid=1607009141&sr=8-1 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O'Brien - https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Frisby-Rats-Robert-OBrien/dp/0689710682/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2TTR126KXM1I8&dchild=1&keywords=mrs+frisby+and+the+rats+of+nimh+book&qid=1607009199&sprefix=mrs+fris%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-1 Girl in a Cage, by Jane Yolen - https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Cage-Stuart-Quartet-Yolen/dp/0142401323/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=girl+in+a+cage&qid=1607009290&sr=8-1 The Fog Diver, by Joel Ross - https://www.amazon.com/Fog-Diver-Joel-Ross/dp/0062352946/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Fog+Diver&qid=1607009328&sr=8-1 Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor - https://www.amazon.com/Shiloh-Quartet-Phyllis-Reynolds-Naylor/dp/0689835825/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=shiloh&qid=1607009371&sr=8-1
Language of Instruction
English
Joined May, 2020
4.9
148reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have taught for over 30 years so far. I started as a corporate trainer training, at the time, high-end IT classes. I went on to homeschool my children through high school, an endeavor that took 16 years. During those years I ran several Co-op classes for junior high and high school Language Arts, Public Speaking, and Drama. I also created Scene and Heard Performing Arts, a live homeschool Drama Club for ages 5-18. I am very familiar with upper elementary, middle school, high school, and adult learning.Reviews
Live Group Class
$136
for 17 classes1x per week, 17 weeks
30 min
Completed by 7 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
3-9 learners per class
