Outschool
Open currency, time zone, and language settings
Log In

Novel Studies 101 - Teen Book Club: The Classics (Semester class)

In this multi-week book club, students will read the assigned book readings and be prepared for open discussions and quizzes in class.
Tanya Renee Brewington, MBA
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(245)
Class

What's included

12 live meetings
10 in-class hours
Homework
1-2 hours per week. *Students will be required to read the assigned chapters prior to class. It is estimated we will read between 4-6 chapters a week. *The students will be required to write a minimum of a three-page book report on one of the books we covered during this section. This is to be turned in during week 17. The teacher will provide feedback within two week or less.
Assessment
Informal assessments during class followed by a written assessment on the comprehension of the monthly books.

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 12
Intermediate - Advanced Level
In this 17-week class, students will be assigned a certain amount of reading in the current book. Each week, the students will be assigned a portion of the book to read. This is imperative as our discussion will be based on the current readings. In addition, it will be imperative for all students to attend the discussion class. In order to have a great discussion, we need multiple participants. Every student will be expected to actively participate. When reading, the author may have one intention, but the reader may believe or interpret something differently. Because of this, all opinions will be respected and validated. 

The chosen books in our book club are based on some of the classics. 

Weeks 1-4 (January 3-January 24, 2024): We will read "Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery. The students will be required to read specific chapters prior to class. Then, in class, we will openly discuss the chapters we have read. Towards the end of each class, we will play a Blooket quiz game based on the week's reading assignments.
          * "Anne of Green Gables" is a classic novel by L.M. Montgomery, published in 1908. The story 
             follows the adventures of a young orphan girl named Anne Shirley, who is mistakenly sent to live 
             with an elderly brother and sister on Prince Edward Island. The book has been widely praised for 
             its depiction of Anne's imaginative and spunky personality, as well as its portrayal of rural life in 
             Canada during the late 19th century. However, some readers have criticized the book for its 
             portrayal of Indigenous peoples and its use of offensive stereotypes.

Weeks 5-8 (January 31-February 21, 2024): We will read "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. The students will be required to read specific chapters prior to class. Then, in class, we will openly discuss the chapters we have read. Towards the end of each class, we will play a Blooket quiz game based on the week's reading assignments.
          * "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is a novel by Mark Twain, published in 1876. The story follows the 
             life of a mischievous and adventurous boy named Tom Sawyer, who lives in a small town on the 
             Mississippi River. The book has been praised for its vivid portrayal of American life in the mid- 
             19th century, as well as its humor and engaging storytelling. However, some readers have 
             criticized the book for its use of racial slurs and stereotypical depictions of African Americans.

Weeks 9-12 (February 28-March 20, 2024): We will read "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain. The students will be required to read specific chapters prior to class. Then, in class, we will openly discuss the chapters we have read. Towards the end of each class, we will play a Blooket quiz game based on the week's reading assignments.
          * "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is a novel by Mark Twain, published in 1884. The story 
             follows the adventures of a young boy named Huck Finn and his friend Jim, a runaway slave, as 
             they travel down the Mississippi River. The book has been praised for its realistic depiction of life 
             in the American South during the mid-19th century, as well as its use of vernacular language and 
             humor. However, the book has also been the subject of controversy due to its use of racial slurs 
             and its portrayal of African Americans as inferior and subservient to whites.

Weeks 13-16 (March 27-April 17 2024): We will read "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Sallinger. The students will be required to read specific chapters prior to class. Then, in class, we will openly discuss the chapters we have read. Towards the end of each class, we will play a Blooket quiz game based on the week's reading assignments.
          * "The Catcher in the Rye" is a novel by J.D. Salinger, published in 1951. The story follows the 
             experiences of Holden Caulfield, a disenchanted teenager navigating the complexities of 
             adulthood and society. The book has been praised for its authentic portrayal of adolescent angst 
             and rebellion. However, it has also faced controversy due to its explicit language, sexual content, 
             and themes of alienation, leading to occasional censorship and banning attempts.

Week 17 (April 24, 2024): The students will be required to write a minimum of a three-page book report on one of the books we covered during this section. This is to be turned in during week 17. The teacher will provide feedback within two week or less. Towards the end of each class, we will play a Blooket quiz game based on the week's reading assignments.

The teacher has a love for reading and would like to instill or enhance the love for reading to others. I like to be a hands-on-to-learning teacher. This class is not about the teacher. The students are the focus and will guide the course. The teacher is just the facilitator.
Learning Goals
* Students will learn to write an effective book report.
* Students will learn how to have meaningful and thought-provoking conversations with their peers.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
This class can and will involve topics of trauma, thefts, assaults, prison, abuse, death, salvery, as well as other difficult topics. There will be stories about people who have died. There will be stories about people who have been killed. There will be stories about the people doing the killing. There are stories where people are assaulted, sometimes sexually. This class may not be for every student. This class is not designed to be therapuetic. This class is designed to allow students to have an open and honest dialogue about the book's contents. The class is designed to respect each other and create empathy in some of the characters. If at any time, I, as the facilitator feel a student needs more assistance than what this class is designed for, I will reach out to the student and/or parents.
Supply List
Students will need to rent the books from the public library for free or purchase the books. 
    *Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
    *The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
    *The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
    *The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Sallinger
The books can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, etc. for a price between $10-$15 each.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined April, 2020
4.9
245reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree from Western Governor's University
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Central Methodist university
Through a partnership and collaboration with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and as an administrative teacher of public educational programs for more than ten years, I have taught English and social studies classes, among other subjects, to middle and high school students. Our curriculum met the Missouri Learning Standards and prepared high school students for college. 

In addition, I have received over:

* Facilitator Certificate through Narrative 4
* 150 hours of professional development, specifically in social & emotional development and how to teach positive communication 
* 75 hours of professional development, specifically in English language arts writing courses
* 50 hours of professional development, specifically in history
* 12 hours of professional development teaching facts about people without personal viewpoints 
* 75 hours of professional development in diversity from all over the world and how to teach diversity 

In addition, the teacher has earned a Master's in Business Administration.

Reviews

Live Group Class
Share

$19

weekly or $225 for 12 classes
1x per week, 12 weeks
50 min

Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
3-8 learners per class

About
Support
SafetyPrivacyCA PrivacyLearner PrivacyManage Data PreferencesTerms
Financial Assistance
Get The App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
© 2024 Outschool