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Literary Course for Middle Schoolers-Novel Study, Vocabulary & Literary Elements
Rachel Capes
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(92)
In this class, students will dive into a new book each month, enhancing their comprehension skills through engaging discussions and activities. This can also be used as a homeschool literacy course for 6th or 7th graders.
Class Experience
US Grade 6 - 8
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Course Overview: In this engaging literature course, middle school students will read a new book each month, enhancing their comprehension, vocabulary, and understanding of literary elements. Through assigned readings, interactive worksheets, and lively class discussions, students will deepen their appreciation for literature while developing essential language arts skills. Monthly Breakdown: Book 1: Holes: Book 2: Number the Stars by Lois Lowy Book 3: Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson...
64 lessons//32 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Holes: Chapter 1-5This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "perseverance" and "desolation" while teaching the literary concepts of setting, character traits, and palindromes. Students will learn how these elements and vocabulary words are used to enhance storytelling and character development in literature.Lesson 2Holes: Chapter 6-10This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "preposterous" and "intensity" while teaching the literary concepts of summarizing, flashback, and foreshadowing. Students will learn how these elements are used to create deeper meanings and build suspense in literature.Week 2Lesson 3Holes: Chapter 11-15This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "engraved" and "paranoid" while teaching the literary concept of character traits. Students will learn how these traits help define and develop characters in a story, contributing to their depth and relatability.Lesson 4Holes: Chapter 16-20This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "evict" and "callused" while teaching the literary concept of character change. Students will explore how characters evolve over time and the factors that influence their transformation in a story.Week 3Lesson 5Holes: Chapter 21-25This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "refuge" and "concoctions" while teaching the literary concept of comparing characters. Students will learn to analyze and compare different characters' traits, motivations, and development within a story.Lesson 6Holes: Chapter 26-30This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "drenched" and "delirious" while teaching the literary concept of the course of action. Students will explore how characters' decisions and actions drive the plot forward and affect the story's outcome.Week 4Lesson 7Holes: Chapter 31-35This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "deftly" and "ventilation" while continuing to explore the literary concept of character traits. Students will examine how specific traits influence characters' actions and interactions within a story.Lesson 8Holes: Chapter 36-40This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "protruded" and "contritely" while teaching the literary concept of making predictions. Students will learn to use context clues and character behavior to anticipate future events and outcomes in a story.Week 5Lesson 9Holes: Chapter 41-45This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "inexplicable" and "pronounced" while teaching the literary concept of parallel lives. Students will explore how characters with similar experiences or traits can have interconnected yet distinct storylines within a narrative.Lesson 10Holes Chapters 46-50This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "authenticated" and "incarcerated" while teaching the literary concepts of theme and mapping the story. Students will learn to identify the central themes of a narrative and visually map out the key events and plot points that support these themes.Week 6Lesson 11Number the Stars: Chapter 1-2This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "preposterous" and "intensity" while teaching the literary concepts of summarizing, flashback, and foreshadowing. Students will learn to identify and use these techniques to understand and analyze how stories are structured and developed.Lesson 12Number the Stars: Chapter 3-4This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "engraved" and "paranoid" while teaching the literary concept of character traits. Students will learn how these traits define characters and influence their actions and interactions within a story.Week 7Lesson 13Number the Stars: Chapter 5-6This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "evict" and "callused" while teaching the literary concept of character change. Students will explore how characters evolve over time and the factors that contribute to their transformation within a story.Lesson 14Number the Stars: Chapter 7-8This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "refuge" and "concoctions" while teaching the literary concept of comparing characters. Students will learn to analyze and compare different characters' traits, motivations, and developments within a story.Week 8Lesson 15Number the Stars: Chapter 9-10This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "deftly" and "recur" while continuing to explore the literary concept of character traits. Students will examine how these traits influence characters' actions and interactions within a story.Lesson 16Number the Stars: Chapter 11-12This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "protrude" and "surefooted" while teaching the literary concepts of making predictions, tone, and mood. Students will learn to use context clues and character behavior to anticipate future events, and analyze how tone and mood contribute to the overall atmosphere of a story.Week 9Lesson 17Number the Stars: Chapter 13-14This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "falter" and "donned" while teaching the literary concepts of parallel stories and personification. Students will explore how parallel storylines enhance narrative complexity and how personification adds depth and vividness to descriptions.Lesson 18Number the Stars: Chapter 15-16This lesson will introduce the vocabulary words "lunged" and "confront" while teaching the literary concepts of idioms and summarizing. Students will learn to identify and understand idiomatic expressions and practice summarizing key points and events in a story.Week 10Lesson 19Number the Stars: Chapter 17 to EndThis lesson will introduce the vocabulary word "devastate" while teaching the literary concepts of adages, proverbs, and theme. Students will explore how adages and proverbs convey universal truths and how themes provide the underlying messages in a story.Lesson 20Among the Hidden: Chapter 1-4Week 11Lesson 21Among the Hidden: Chapter 5 - 8Lesson 22Among the Hidden: Chapter 9 - 12Week 12Lesson 23Among the Hidden: Chapter 13 - 16Lesson 24Among the Hidden: Chapter 17-20Week 13Lesson 25Among the Hidden: Chapter 21-24Lesson 26Among the Hidden: 25-28Week 14Lesson 27Among the Hidden: Chapter: 29 - 30Lesson 28Tuck Everlasting: Prologue - Chapter 3Week 15Lesson 29Tuck Everlasting: Chapters 4-7Lesson 30Tuck Everlasting: Chapters 8 - 11Week 16Lesson 31Tuck Everlasting: Chapters 12 - 15Lesson 32Tuck Everlasting: Chapters 16 - 19Week 17Lesson 33Tuck Everlasting: Chapters 20 - 23Lesson 34Tuck Everlasting: Chapters 24 - EpilogueWeek 18Lesson 35Call it Courage: Chapter 1Lesson 36Call it Courage: Chapter 2Week 19Lesson 37Call it Courage: Chapter 3Lesson 38Call it Courage: Chapter 4Week 20Lesson 39Call it Courage: Chapter 5Lesson 40Allies: Chapter 1 - 7Week 21Lesson 41Allies: Chapters 8 - 15Lesson 42Allies: Chapters 16 18Week 22Lesson 43Allies: Chapters 19 -23Lesson 44Allies: Chapters 24 - 26Week 23Lesson 45Allies: Chapters 27- 28Lesson 46Allies: Chapters 29 - 33Week 24Lesson 47Allies: Chapters 34 - 36Lesson 48Allies: Chapters 37 - 39Week 25Lesson 49Allies: Chapters 40 - 44Lesson 50Allies: Chapters 45 - 47Week 26Lesson 51Allies: Chapters 48 - 52Lesson 52Allies: Chapters 53 - 57Week 27Lesson 53Echo: Chapters 1-3Lesson 54Echo: Chapters 4 - 10Week 28Lesson 55Echo: Chapters 11 - 18Lesson 56Echo: Chapters 19-22Week 29Lesson 57Echo: Chapters 23 - 26Lesson 58Echo: Part 2: Chapters 1-6Week 30Lesson 59Echo: Part 2: Chapters 7 - 13Lesson 60Echo: Part 2: Chapters 14 - 20Week 31Lesson 61Echo: Part 2: Chapters 20 - 24Lesson 62Echo: Part 3: Chapters 1 - 6Week 32Lesson 63Echo: Part 3: Chapters 7 - 14Lesson 64Echo: Part 3: Chapters 15 to end
- To foster a love for reading and literature in middle school students.
- To develop comprehension, vocabulary, and analytical skills through diverse literary work
- To encourage active participation, critical thinking, and effective communication during class discussions.
- To provide a structured yet dynamic learning environment that nurtures students' intellectual and personal growth.
I hold a Master's in Literacy and have 12 years of experience in public school education, including two years as a literacy coach. As a homeschool mom who loves to read with my four children, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a passion for literature to this course.
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Homework
Frequency: available upon requestFeedback: available upon requestDetails: Students will be assigned chapters to read before each class. A worksheet will accompany each reading assignment, focusing on various tasks such as: - Predicting future events in the book. - Analyzing character development. - Identifying cause and effect or problem and solution scenarios. - Reflecting on how they would have responded in certain situations.Assessment
Frequency: available upon requestDetails: Vocabualry quizzes will periodically be given as an optional assessment.
You will need to print off the one-page worksheet for each class. Students will also need the book we are reading. This can be purchased, borrowed from a friend, or borrowed from the library. August: Holes by Louis Sachar September: Number the Stars October: Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix November: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt December: Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry January: Allies by Alan Gratz February: Crash by Jerry Spinelli March: Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan April: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Students will need to have a copy of the book that we are reading.
Joined June, 2020
4.8
92reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Education from Walton University
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Georgia State
Hi, I'm Rachel Capes! 🌟 I have an Early Childhood Degree and a Master's in Literacy. I spent 12 amazing years teaching 4th and 5th graders, and Kindergarten SPED in public schools. I even got to be a math and literacy coach! Now, I homeschool my...
Group Class
$18
weekly or $576 for 64 classes2x per week, 32 weeks
40 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
3-12 learners per class
