SAT & ACT Reading List: To Kill a Mockingbird Literature Circle Book Club
In this 8-class course, we read a classic American novel that shows a snapshot of the South during the 1930s through the eyes of young Scout. Each week, students have a new role for the group discussion and we end with a creative project.
New Horizons Academy - SAT & ACT Prep - ELA
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(306)
What's included
8 live meetings
7 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursHomework
2-4 hours per week. In preparation for each class, students will read a section of the novel and complete a weekly literature circle roll. This roll will change each week, with each student getting a chance to fill each role by the end of class. For the final class, students will prepare a creative project to share. They should also watch the 1962 film version of To Kill a Mockingbird and be prepared to discuss in the final class.Assessment
Homework Schedule: Class Homework: Read Ch 1-5 and complete your weekly role Class Homework: Read Ch 6-9 and complete your weekly role Class Homework: Read Ch 10-13 and complete your weekly role Class Homework: Read Ch 14-18 and complete your weekly role Class Homework: Read Ch 19-24 and complete your weekly role Class Homework: Read Ch 25-31 (the end) and complete your weekly role Class Homework: Prepare your Literary Choice Board Project and watch the 1962 film/movie version of To Kill a Mockingbird, keeping an eye out for differences between it and the book.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
👩🏫 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐨𝐧-𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬? 𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭! 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬" 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐨𝐧-𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 $𝟏 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞! 🌻 🌻 🌻 What's a literature circle? In a literature circle, students are able to take ownership in their learning as they rotate between different literary roles each week. The different roles will cover important material in the reading in a fresh, engaging, and thorough way. On class day, students arrive having read the section and completed their role for that week. During class, students will take turns sharing their role's work and discussing the reading in-depth. The following week, students will rotate down one role so that each student will have the opportunity to fill each role by the end of class. In this class, we will read sections of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, then get together in class to talk about the reading section. Students will be encouraged to share what they loved, what they hated, what confused them, and more. I will also facilitate the discussion to help students dig into the deeper truths hiding in each chapter. After finishing the book and having our last discussion, the students will put together a creative project from a Literary Choice Board handout, and presentations will take place in the final class. Literature Circle Roles: 1. Summary Superintendent 2. Discussion Director 3. Literary Leader 4. Word Wizard 5. Connection Captain 6. Artistic Agent Class Schedule: Class 1: (Introduction to Literature Circles) Learn: What are the roles? How do literature circles work? What do *I* do? Preview the Literary Choice Board project that will be presented the final week. Homework: Read Chapters 1-5 and prepare your role for the literature circle meeting. Class 2: (First Literature Circle Meeting) Discuss: Chapters 1-5 as a class, with each literature circle member sharing their role and discussing. Homework: Read Chapters 6-9 and prepare your new role for the next literature circle meeting. Class 3: (Second Literature Circle Meeting) Discuss: Chapters 6-9 as a class, with each literature circle member sharing their role and discussing. Homework: Read Chapters 10-13 and prepare your new role for the next literature circle meeting. Class 4: (Third Literature Circle Meeting) Discuss: Chapters 10-13 as a class, with each literature circle member sharing their role and discussing. Homework: Read Chapters 14-18 and prepare your new role for the next literature circle meeting. Class 5: (Fourth Literature Circle Meeting) Discuss: Chapters 14-18 as a class, with each literature circle member sharing their role and discussing. Homework: Read Chapters 19-24 and prepare your new role for the next literature circle meeting. Class 6: (Fifth Literature Circle Meeting) Discuss: Chapters 19-24 as a class, with each literature circle member sharing their role and discussing. Homework: Read Chapters 25-31 (the end) and prepare your new role for the next literature circle meeting. Class 7: (Sixth Literature Circle Meeting) Discuss: Chapters 25-31 (the end) as a class, with each literature circle member sharing their role and discussing. Homework: Prepare your Literary Choice Board project and be ready to present in the last class! Watch the film version of To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and be prepared to discuss differences between the book and the movie versions, and what your opinion is of the differences. Class 8: (Literary Choice Board Project Presentations) Present: Students will take turns presenting their chosen Literary Choice Board projects. Discuss: As time allows, the class will discuss differences between the book and the movie, which version we like better, why the director chose to portray certain scenes/people in certain ways, and more!
Learning Goals
Students will increase their reading comprehension skills, their knowledge of vocabulary and literary devices, and hone their discussion skills. They will focus on finding text-connections, improving their summarizing skills, and creating artistic representations of literature.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Parents need to know that Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird addresses the terrible impact of racism in America through a little girl's point of view. The story takes place in Depression-era Alabama, in the fictional town of Maycomb, which Lee patterned after her own hometown of Monroeville. The narrator, 6-year-old Scout Finch, and her brother Jem and their friend Dill play children's games, but they also have a clear view of the adults in their world. Their youth and innocence contrasts with the prejudice, cruelty, and poverty they often observe. There's some threatened and real violence in this Pulitzer Prize winner: A man breaks a child's arm; a rabid dog is shot and killed; there is a stabbing death; the children and their father, Atticus Finch, confront a lynch mob; and the court case at the center of the novel involves a Black man who's been accused of raping and beating a white woman. Some of this violence is whiskey-fueled, as well. Profanity includes "damn," "bastard," and "son-of-a-bitch." The "N" word and "('N'-word)-lover" is used liberally by some residents of Maycomb as if it's perfectly commonplace, and by others as a weapon. The children in the novel learn powerful lessons about the impact of poverty and prejudice, and the importance of empathy, and so will those who read this classic. The 1962 film version starring Gregory Peck is one of those rare films that truly does justice to the original book. The audiobook read by Sissy Spacek is also note-perfect.
See the full review at https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/to-kill-a-mockingbird.
At New Horizons Academy, we understand how difficult setting your family's schedule can be, juggling everyone's activities and classes. To honor that time commitment, we are proud to be able to offer another of our organization's Outschool-approved and trained teachers (Mrs. Becky, Teacher Carissa, Ms. Monica, or Teacher Donna) in the rare occurrence of teacher illnesses or urgent personal events. This will allow you to keep your schedule in-tact as much as possible and keep the learning going!
---
External Resource: Lumio by SMART
Lumio by SMART is an interactive lesson resource similar to Nearpod that engages learners through polls, games, sharing, as well as workspaces for individuals, groups, and the whole class! It’s a great way to elevate the learning experience.
To join class, students will:
1. Go to hellosmart.com.
2. Students can connect to class by signing in with their Google or Microsoft accounts, or they can join as GUESTS with a lesson code and simply type in their names/nicknames.
3. If students would like to access the lesson outside of class time, they can either access the student-paced lesson link by signing in with a Google or Microsoft account, or accessing the PDF resources in the Outschool classroom.
Supply List
Students will need to have a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. As it is a widely popular book, it can usually be found at the local library or as an e-book. Copies may also be purchased through Amazon, Thriftbooks, Abe Books, or Better World Books. The digital handouts are a forced-copy Google Doc, which is the equivalent to a photocopy. If you do not have a Google account, please message me and I would be happy to provide you with a PDF.
Language of Instruction
English
Joined June, 2020
4.8
306reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
1 teacher has a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's Degree in English from Emporia State University
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐫
Teaching--especially in English, writing, and language arts--is a true passion of mine. I graduated Cum Laude from Kansas State University in 2010 with a Secondary Education degree in English and Journalism, and then went on to teach in the public schools before setting off on my own as an online teacher and tutor.
My philosophy of education is to make it as fun, personalized, and as interactive as possible for the kids. I always try to even out my direct instruction/lecture time with plenty of opportunities for students to practice these new skills, take polls, play review games, and collaborate with peers.
I am happily married to my husband Brad, and we have two beautiful daughters, Sophia and Elise. We currently reside in Kansas in a small town, and we love the small town life.
Oh, and Zerr is pronounced "Zarr," so it rhymes with "car." 😉
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐫
Hi there! I'm Monica and I teach reading, vocabulary, and writing classes. I recently finished graduate school in linguistics.
I grew up speaking English, Spanish, and Swiss German at home, so I've been surrounded by several languages from a young age. Whether I am studying the history of a word, or what language can tell us about its speakers, I am endlessly curious about language. I have experience teaching linguistics courses at the university level, as well as teaching writing, reading, and English as a second language online. I'm so excited to share my passion for language and to learn with and from my students!
My teaching philosophy is that every student comes into the classroom with knowledge. It's my job, as a teacher, to leverage what they already know to help them achieve their goals.
Outside of the classroom, you can find me at the beach, or out in nature. I love to spend my free time reading, writing, and with my friends and family. Oh, and playing with my cat, Biscuit!
I'm looking forward to seeing you in class! 😊
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐌𝐜𝐄𝐥𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐲
Hello! My name is Donna (students often call me Teacher Donna) and I am so excited to meet you!
I have a Bachelor's Degree in Education with a concentration in English, an active teaching certificate, and am currently in the process of working on my Master's Degree as a Reading Specialist.
I teach English Language Arts with New Horizons Academy and stay home with my own four young kiddos. My kids (ages 10, 8, 6, and 3) keep me on my toes and help me to come up with new and fun lessons to bring into the classroom for your own little learners. I love teaching children of all ages and am looking forward to becoming your child's teacher.
My personal teaching philosophy is "We are Lifelong Learners!" I want to foster a love of learning in my classroom through engaging, fun, and creative lessons. I hope to see you in my classroom very soon! ✨
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐰
Hi! My name is Brittney. I received my Associates Degree in Elementary Education and my Bachelors Degree in English. I love working with kids and have experience with all ages.
I am a wife and mother of four, ages 9, 6, 4, and 1, and the oldest of eight. I have been both a nanny and babysitter as well. Through my past employment and own kids, have gained experience with children with speech delays, autism, and ADHD. I have also worked as a classroom volunteer and ESL instructor.
I love reading and writing and am a total bookworm. I also love dogs and cooking. My kitchen and my reading chair are my happy places!
My teaching philosophy is that every child is different and my job is to make sure to embrace those differences to make the education experience the best for all the children. I also want to make sure I do my best to foster a love of reading in my students because, "if you can read, you can do anything!"
Qualifications:
-Associates in Elementary Education
-Bachelors in English
-Former ESL instructor
-Experience with all ages
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧
Hi! My name is Rebecca and I'm from South Carolina in the USA. I've been teaching for over 9 years, both in the classroom and online.
I graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology. This background helps me to relate to students from all walks of life. I earned my ESL teaching certification from Oxford Seminars in 2013.
I have taught English in New York City, Nicaragua, and Thailand as a US Peace Corps teacher. I've also taught students online from countries like China, Japan, and all over Central and South America. I speak conversational Thai and Spanish.
In addition to teaching English, I also teach dance! I enjoy cooking, being active outdoors, and making crafts.
I look forward to meeting you soon!
Qualifications:
- BS College of Charleston
- 100 Hour TEFL/ TESL/ TESOL Certification - Oxford Seminars
- 9 years of experienceReviews
Live Group Class
$80
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
55 min
Completed by 2 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
3-6 learners per class
