Novel Study (Grades 4-5) With a Certified Teacher: My Neighbor Totoro
In this six-week novel study, learners will experience a beloved classic from the mind behind Studio Ghibli. We'll enjoy the fantastic story of Totoro, grow our novel reading skills, and have confident reading discussions.
Angelina D. Holt, MA
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(1)
What's included
12 live meetings
6 in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Homework is an absolute must for this novel study because students will be expected to have read the assigned chapter before they come to class. The readings are typically around 20 pages per lesson. They will not get as much out of class if they do not do the reading in advance. We may read some sections of the book together in the lesson, but this is no replacement for independent reading time. Students will have a reading journal, which I will provide electronically. This is a space where they can take notes that will help them participate in class discussions. It is meant to instill in them some good reading habits and help them think about the sections they've read. This pre-work will help students feel prepared for the class discussion. If you would like to have specific feedback about your learner's reading journal at the end of the course, please send me their completed journal after lesson 11. I will provide feedback within one week after the final class.Grading
Their reading journal will be graded upon the caregiver's request. If you would like for me to provide specific feedback to your learner about their reading journal at the end of our course, please send it to me after the final lesson. I can also provide feedback to learners about reading journals on an ongoing basis. Learners or caregivers will have to be sure that I have received the pages they'd like me to review for this to happen. Please give me at least 48 hours to review materials. It is important to me to give you high-quality feedback. If caregivers are interested in a specific aspect of their child's learning, you can request feedback as well. I take notes during every class about learner progress, and I'd be glad to share more about how your child is doing. Please feel free to reach out.Class Experience
US Grade 4 - 5
Captivate the imagination of your learner with a tale from Hayo Miyazaki, one of the key creators behind the Studio Ghibli films. In this six-week novel study, we'll not only journey along the path of the wind (the path Totoro takes), but we'll also explore life in Japan in the 1950s. By the end of this class, we will be able to confidently engage in book discussions. We'll enrich our study with excerpts from a memoir, 'Where are you from?' written by Yasuko Horioka, a young girl who grew up in Japan. Her memoir is set just before My Neighbor Totoro, but the first-hand account she provides is vital for explaining what life for children was like during this time. Yasuko's family has given me special permission to use excerpts from her memoir as a nonfiction primary source for our novel study. By structuring our lessons using both Totoro and our primary source, this novel comes to life. Each lesson will focus on objectives related to the Common Core State Standards in literature and speaking and listening. (Note: I have listed the 4th grade standards for this class, but I can adapt the standards depending on the grade levels and needs of the group.) I'll incorporate relevant images into our mini-lessons and leave plenty of room for questions and observations. Each lesson will include a rich discussion. The questions in the reading journal help students prepare for the discussions. For students who need more support, I will include additional scaffolding and modeling so that everyone can participate. An important note about this novel is that it is written for students between the ages of 9 and 11 (Grades 4-6). The novel is written at Level Q (Lexile 660-930). Learners in the 4th and 5th grade are going to be most comfortable with this material. The main character of the novel is a 4th grader, which will make the material most relatable for that age group. My teaching philosophy is that students need to feel safe to learn. I normalize giving it your best shot and never giving up. I provide lots of encouragement, and I believe that our class is made more rich by the unique thoughts and insights that your learner can offer. I take the confidence-building part of my work very seriously. I have designed this to run as a group with no more than five students so that there are plenty of opportunities for engagement. If only one student signs up, I will still run this class and work one-on-one with your learner. We'll build the skills that make it possible for students to have lively discussions about their reading.
Learning Goals
RL4.1. Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.RL 4.2. Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)12 Lessons
over 6 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction (Ourselves, Hayao Miyazaki, Tsugiko Kubo, and the novel)
In this first lesson, we'll take a few minutes to get to know the members of the group. We will set the expectations for our novel study and discussions, and I'll explain our reading journals. Then, we'll get to know the creator of the story and the writer (they are different for this novel) and we will talk about the setting (Japan in 1958). 30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
On the road to Matsugo
Before Class: Read Chapter 1: The New Old House (pgs. 9-37)
1- Mini-lesson about shrines and some notes about the role of nature in Japanese culture.
2-Reading discussion (Chapter 1) 30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Life in the Old House
Before Class: Read Chapter 2: Is the house haunted? (pgs. 38-59)
1-Mini-lesson about traditional Japanese homes. I will share an excerpt of a first-hand account from a young girl living in Japan around this time. The vivid description of her childhood home will enrich our understanding of Mei and Satsuki's world. We also compare the traditional Japanese home in the book to the homes where we live.
2- Reading discussion (Chapter 2) 30 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
A trip to the Sanitorium
Before Class: Read Chapter 3: Mother (pgs. 59-81)
1- Background information about the sanitorium.
2- Mini-lesson about the significance of bowing and changing our slippers when we enter a home or establishment. We will pull from our primary source, 'Where are you from?' to talk about this.
3-Reading discussion (Chapter 3) 30 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The story of My Neighbor Totoro is told through the eyes of children who are grappling with some challenging life circumstances. The biggest challenge for them is that their mother is sick with tuberculosis and must stay at a sanitorium for an extended period. Students who are grappling with the illness of a loved one may find this content relatable, but I wanted to point it out in case a child is particularly sensitive to this topic.
Supply List
1. The novel study reading journal, which I will provide in an electronic format after our first class meeting, is a must. This may be filled out electronically, students may print it and fill it out by hand, or they may transfer the writing onto their own paper. (If they use their own paper, they should label the sections clearly.) Students will ultimately turn this in for feedback (at the discretion of their caregivers). Even if students do not plan to turn in the work, it will still be valuable for them to complete the reading journal so that they can come to class prepared. 2. Learners will need a copy of the novel called, 'My Neighbor Totoro: The Novel.' The original story is written by Hayao Miyazaki, and the novel itself is written by Tsugiko Kubo. It was published in 2013. ISBN-13978-1421561202 There are other books about 'My Neighbor Totoro', and there is a movie with the same name. Please be sure you are getting the novel written by Tsugiko Kubo. It is available new and used. The cost for a new copy is around $20, but I have seen it for less. You may also check with your local library.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2020
5.0
1reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
South Dakota Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Master's Degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
I am a certified teacher, and most of my brick-and-mortar classroom experience is specifically with upper elementary (grades 3-5) reading. I have facilitated many book discussions in my classes. I also currently serve as a reading tutor (K-8). These experiences prepare me to facilitate the discussion here and also to differentiate the instruction to meet the needs of your learner.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$25
weekly or $150 for 12 classes2x per week, 6 weeks
30 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-11
1-5 learners per class
