$24

weekly

or $280 for 12 classes

Not Stuffy, Stale or Stodgy: Literature for Middle School

Completed by 104 learners

Ages 10-14

Live Group Course

In this discussion based semester-long middle school literature course, learners will be introduced to a number of classic poets and short story authors from around the world.

Tassie Bauman Smith

Average rating:

5.0

Number of reviews:

(412 reviews)

Live video meetings

1x per week, 12 weeks

2-8 learners per class

55 min

About Learning Overview Teacher Reviews

What's included

12 live meetings

11 in-class hours

Homework

1-2 hours per week. Students will need to read/watch outside of class. This will be especially important in the short story section but they may also be required to watch a short video on the topics of the poetry lessons before class begins. I do not anticipate this taking more than one hour for most weeks and most students. But students who read slower or weeks with particularly long short stories may need a little more.

Grading

Grades will be offered if parents request them before the semester begins. The grades will be based on student participation.

Class Experience

US Grade 5 - 8

Beginner - Intermediate Level

Together the teacher and learners will explore important authors from around the world such as Pablo Neruda, Shakespeare, E.E. Cummings, Robert Burns, Du Fu, J.R.R. Tolkien, and more. I know that at this age literature can sometimes seem out of reach, out of touch, and out-right boring. But I have found that learners can love poetry and short stories when they are supported with new vocabulary, lots of time for discovery and discussion, and a teacher who finds it all fascinating. I love talking to learners about the ways that their interests, experiences, and ideas intersect with literature. 

For each author, we will read a short work, talk about their time and place in history, and discuss the genre and literary elements of the work we are reading.  Most classes will include a very short video, reading the poem aloud/an in-depth story structure analysis (plot, characters, protagonist/antagonist, etc), and then a discussion of the implications of the piece and connections/comparisons to other pieces of literature.

This is a discussion-intensive course. All students are expected to interact with respect and civility.  I understand that the topics and themes can be controversial and invite disagreement. However, kindness facilitates productive and persuasive conversation. 

If a student needs accommodations, I am more than willing to help out. Please contact me before the semester begins to discuss your learner’s needs.

Learning Goals

Students will be introduced to, discuss, and enjoy poets and classic short story writers from America and beyond.

Syllabus

3 Units

12 Lessons

over 12 Weeks

Unit 1: Poetry around the World

Lesson 1:

Great Britain: Tolkien

 In this fun introduction to poetry, we will explore the context of "Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold" one of the songs from the novel, "The Hobbit."  We will learn about basic poetic structure including rhyme, meter, and metaphor.

55 mins online live lesson

1 assignment

Lesson 2:

China: Du Fu

 With a look long ago and far away, this lesson focuses on a classic Chinese poem by the poet Du Fu called"Pounding Clothes." In the second half of hte lesson we cover the myth of "The Woman Who Cried Down the Great Wall." Both of these pieces of literaure highlight what it means to be a powerful and faithful woman in a dangerous political landscape.

55 mins online live lesson

1 assignment

Lesson 3:

Chile: Neruda

 Pablo Neruda, the author of our focus poem--"Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market"--lived a full and radical life.  Yet the poem highlights his love and appreciation for the ordinary.  Our lesson focuses on the use of metaphor and the sometimes sideways way that poets see the world.

55 mins online live lesson

1 assignment

Lesson 4:

America/Lebanon: Gibran

 In the first half of the lesson, we are looking at Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare.  With vocabulary support this is very accessible to students.  In the second half of the lesson we examine Kahlil Gibran's "Sorrow."  Both of these poems highlight the authors' experience with sorrow and despair and yet both end on a very positive note for the students.

55 mins online live lesson

1 assignment

Other Details

Learning Needs

This class is a good fit for students with Dyslexia since it requires no reading aloud and all students are welcome to access the short stories via recording.

Parental Guidance

Parents are the best judge of their learners' sensitivities and maturity. Some of the short stories are intense, but none of them are explicit. There is character death in "The Veldt" and "To Build a Fire." Furthermore, the history of the construction of the Great Wall is sad and disturbing. I would be happy to provide links for parents to preview any of the literature they are concerned about, and I welcome conversation about any of the literature choices here. Please feel free to reach out.

External Resources

In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:

Youtube

Sources

Students will access the short stories via YouTube audio books we may also use Youtube to watch background material on authors, genres, or history.

Meet the teacher

Tassie Bauman Smith

Joined September, 2019

5.0

412reviews

Profile

Teacher expertise and credentials

I teach all kinds of English classes including writing, grammar, literature, and ESL.  I am an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction especially poetry, science fiction, and fantasy. 

I have been teaching for more than 10 years.  I taught English as Foreign Language in three different Chinese universities for a total of eight and a half years.  These classes included comprehensive English, listening and speaking, writing, and pronunciation.  I taught BA, MA, and Ph.D. students.  Since we have returned to the United States, I have taught childbirth classes, online ESL through VIPkid, and Sunday School.   

I am also a professional writer.  I have a traditionally published book, another at my publisher waiting to be edited, and a novel in its second draft.  I love giving students the chance to communicate, write, and learn in community with others. 

I balance all this with being a homeschool mom. I have homeschooled my two daughters a total of  fifteen years. My older daughter attended our local public high school, so I am familiar with public school needs and requirements as well. 
 
I love sharing the wonder of language with learners young and old--both those who are learning English for the first time and those who are diving into the joys of literature.