Middle School Literature: Poetry, Short Stories, Mythology, and a Novel Study

In this multi-day class, learners will read, analyze, and discuss short stories, poetry, mythology, and a young-adult novel.  

I will begin each session with a three-minute quick-write to set the tone for the day's lesson.  Students will be given time to share their thoughts with the group.  

The syllabus for the course is as follows:

Unit 1: Poetry -- Students will study seven poems, from classic to modern-day. 
Meeting 1 -- Introduction to poetry with "The Road Not Taken," by Robert Frost and "Mother to Son," by Langston Hughes (both poems are extended metaphors)
Meeting 2 - "Dear Basketball," by Kobe Bryant (introduction to the ode, personification, and hyperbole) and "To an Athlete Dying Young"
Meeting 3 -- "O Captain! My Captain," by Walt Whitman and "Frederick Douglas," by Robert Hayden (introduction to allegory, figurative language, and symbolism)
Meeting 4 -- "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," by Emily Dickinson (personification)
Optional Unit Assessment: Students will write an original poem demonstrating the poetic elements they have learned in this unit.

Unit 2: Short Stories -- We will read and analyze four classic short stories.  
Meeting 5 -- "Thank you M'am," by Langston Hughes (plot, dialect, theme)
Meeting 6 -- "The Tell-Tale Heart," by Edgar Allen Poe (point of view, irony, theme)
Meeting 7 -- "Eleven," by Sandra Cisneros (conflict, similes, repetition, theme)
Meeting 8 --  "All Summer in a Day," by Ray Bradbury (setting, conflict, metaphors, theme)
Optional Unit Assessment: Students will write an original short story.

Unit 3: Mythology -- Students will analyze four Greek myths. After reading, we will spend the remaining time in class discussing the myth's protagonist/antagonist, plot development, conflict, and theme.
Meeting 9 -- "Daedalus and Icarus"
Meeting 10 -- "Pandora"
Meeting 11 -- "Odysseus" 
Meeting 12 -- "Demeter" 
Optional Unit Assessment: Students will research a god or goddess of their choice and create an info-graphic.

Unit 4: Novel Study -- "Ghost," by Jason Reynolds. "Ghost" is the first of four books in Jason Reynold's Track series. Reynolds is a New York Times bestselling author and a National Book Award Finalist. Learners will love the story line and the protagonist while experiencing a virtual literature circle. They will be responsible for reading assigned chapters on their own; annotating the novel for literary elements, characterization, point of view, conflict, and theme; and discussing the novel during class time.
Meeting 13 -- Chapters 1-3
Meeting 14 -- Chapters 4-6
Meeting 15 -- Chapters 7-9
Meeting 16 -- End of the novel
Optional Unit Assessment: Students will write a literary analysis.

This course is highly interactive; students are encouraged to participate in class discussion, sharing their insights into the day's reading. 

***Note*** Assessments are optional.  Also, parents should familiarize themselves with the content of this class prior to enrollment.