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Roald Dahl Novel Reading Book Club - Part 2 (Semester Long)

In this 16 week course, we will read and learn more about these four Roald Dahl novels: The BFG, The Witches, Danny the Champion of the World, and Boy: Tales of Childhood. #academic
Tayler Morrell, Licensed History and ELA Teacher
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(200)
Class

What's included

16 live meetings
12 in-class hours
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be expected to read approximately half of each novel each week. Students should also finish each in-class assignment if they have not during class (especially if the parent wants the class graded).
Assessment
Each week, I will check for comprehension. This will be based off participation as well as individual answers given during questions that students can answer privately. If you would like me to grade a student's work and progress and provide a letter of achievement after the course finishes, please let me know as soon as possible. As a certified teacher, I know many parents appreciate this for their state homeschool/charter school requirements.
Grading
included

Class Experience

US Grade 3 - 6
Use coupon code MORRELLRDPART210 for $10 off.

Giants that give you dreams, witches that turn kids into mice, a boy's plan to poach 200 pheasants, and memories from Roald Dahl's own childhood...that's the kind of world famed Roald Dahl creates in his children's novels. Roald Dahl is one of my favorite childhood authors and I own almost all of his books. I have loved reading through all of them with my own two elementary-aged children and I am excited to share that wondrous world with your children!

Every four weeks, we will focus on a different children's novel of Roald Dahl's. We'll, check for comprehension, discuss some book club questions, analyze the characters and themes of the novel, then either complete an activity or writing prompt that connects to the story. As a certified literature teacher, I will not only have the students discuss the book, like a book club, but I will be teaching about literary analysis as well. We will discuss character growth, figurative language, themes and motifs, the use of songs and poems within the novels, plot development, and much more. 

Roald Dahl's books can easily be found at local libraries, or can easily be found at any local bookstore. Students will be required to read the books before coming to class each week. Students should be able to read and have at least a 2nd or 3rd grade reading level. Exact pages numbers and chapters will be assigned each week on the classroom page depending on each individual section's overall reading speed and reading comprehension level. ***We will NOT be reading the books during class.***

*Weeks 1-4: The BFG*
Week 1: Chapters 1-8 
Week 2: Chapters 9-14
Week 3: Chapters 15-19 
Week 4: finish The BFG

*Weeks 5-8: The Witches*
Week 5: Chapters 1-5 
Week 6: Chapters 6-11
Week 7: chapters 12-16 
Week 8: finish The Witches

*Weeks 9-12: Danny, The Champion of the World*
Week 9: Chapters 1-5 
Week 10: Chapters 6-11
Week 11: Chapters 12-17
Week 12: finish Danny, the Champion of the World

*Weeks 13-16: Boy, Tales of Childhood*
Week 13: Chapters 1-2 and Exploring facts about his early life, family, and writing career
Week 14: Chapters 3-9
Week 15: Chapters 10-17
Week 16: finish Boy, Tales from Childhood

Each week, prior to class, I will post on the classroom page not only the reading assignment, but what we will be doing in class each week to give families a  heads up if they need to gather supplies.

I love student participation, but I understand some students don't love participating as much. That is fine with me - I don't require students to talk and discuss if they aren't comfortable doing so. If your student just wants to come to listen to the discussion and do the activity, that is wonderful. I tend to have a pretty lax policy with Zoom microphones, but I do prefer that students keep their cameras on during class. 

Students do not need any prior knowledge or experience for this class. We will be utilizing NearPod - students do *not* need an account to use NearPod, they will join with a code that I will share. At the end of each novel, I will also show a preview for a movie version of each book. Watching the movie is *not* part of the class nor a homework requirement. But, it can be a fun activity after reading the book.

This class will not be graded. **HOWEVER**, if you would like me to grade a student's work and progress and provide a letter of achievement after the course finishes, please let me know as soon as possible. As a certified teacher, I know many parents appreciate this for their state homeschool/charter school requirements.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to summarize the novels of Roald Dahl.
Students will be able to analyze characters, plot development, themes, and more.
Students will be able to made text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world connections.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
We will be utilizing NearPod, however, students do *NOT* need an account to participate. Roald Dahl is a notable and world-famous children's author. His works are all complete fiction. But, he does tend to use hyperbole and exaggerations a lot. Usually this tends to be in the form of adults insulting kids or "punishments" happening, such as the Witches being extremely ugly and turning children into mice or giants wanting to eat humans. If your learner is sensitive about more tense aspects in the novel, please let me know ahead of time. However, these books were specifically created for children in this age range, and I have read the books numerous times. I've read all of these novels out loud to my own two children (currently 8 & 5) and they both have seen the movie interpretations.
Supply List
Students will need their own copies of the following Roald Dahl books (these can be found at local libraries or local bookstores, or even online):
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
Boy Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl

Students may need to print out a worksheet before class - specific materials for each class will be posted a few days before class begins.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
  • Nearpod
5.0
200reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Utah Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Brigham Young University
I am a certified ELA teacher in the United States and taught 7th-9th graders at a public charter school for 2 years. I have also taught an ongoing class on Roald Dahl's shorter children's stories since the beginning of summer 2022.

I also have two children of my own (ages 8 and 5) whom I have read all these novels to them.

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Live Group Class
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$8

weekly or $125 for 16 classes
1x per week, 16 weeks
45 min

Completed by 17 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
2-10 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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