Season's Readings: Classic Novel Study of Their Eyes Were Watching God Hurston
In this Language Arts class, students will enjoy the month of April by studying this classic book by Zora Neal Hurston through analysis, discussion, and nonfiction texts.
Mr. Van, Certified Teacher
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What's included
5 live meetings
4 hrs 35 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. • Students will be asked to read 50 pages (5 chapters) per week • Depending on reading level, this should take 1 to 2 hours • There will also be occasional optional academic articlesClass Experience
US Grade 7 - 9
Intermediate Level
👋 WELCOME 😁
If this is your first class with me, use this coupon code: VANCEFIRSTCLASS10
7th, 8th, and 9th grade students will enjoy the month of April by studying this classic novel by Zora Neal Hurston through analysis, discussion, and nonfiction texts
OVERVIEW
• This is a read-and-discuss course. Discussion revolves around analysis based on the chapters read. Content listed below “CONTENT”
• Students will read 50 pages (or 5 chapters; chapters are around 10 pages long) prior to class each class
• Additional text-related nonfiction articles will be assigned to students throughout the course that will sharpen their understanding of concepts being discussed
• Students will be asked to create a single discussion-question based off of the assigned reading
• The class will engage in analytical discussion revolving around instructor prompts/questions
CONTENT
Their Eyes Were Watching God provides several opportunities for rich analytical discussion.
Class discussion will revolve around the following novel-centered concepts over the following topics:
• Literary Elements
• Biographical influence
• Harlem Renaissance
• Love and 'mislove'
• Feminism
• Inequality and discrimination
• Individuality
TEACHING STYLE
• I want my students to discuss, interact, and learn from each other! Every chance I get, I will encourage them to respond to other’s ideas
• I hope to facilitate conversation, protect think-time, and pose questions that provoke deeper thought based on the central text
• I hope that students feel as welcomed to think as they are challenged in their thinking.
• While I will challenge students to think deeply, their perspective will always be encouraged and celebrated
• I love interacting with my students! I will be apart of the conversation as well 😁
• Lecture-style lessons will be taught to ensure all students comprehend concepts and themes
• Tied to all of my literature courses is an exclusive private tutoring session on Fridays for only $10. When students sign up the course, they will be given a link to that session that they can attend when needed for homework help and instructor-guidance on papers and reading
• The idea of providing a grade and then moving on is not my style. If a student is willing to persevere, I want to keep working with them until the learning goals have been achieved
SCHEDULE
Class 1: Introductions, goals, instructions, and Zora Neal Hurston Biography
Class 2: Ch 1-5
Class 3: Ch 6-10
Class 4: Ch 11-15
Class 5: Ch 16-20
✨CELEBRATE EVERY SEASON WITH ME THROUGH THE STUDY OF CLASSIC NOVELS:✨
Check out my other “Season’s Readings” courses:
❄️JANUARY
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-classic-novel-study-of-the-call-of-the-wild-for-middle-school-7ijxLgNh?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
💌FEBRUARY
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-classic-novel-study-of-the-great-gatsby-for-middle-school-yoUke2TU?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
OR Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-classic-novel-study-of-northanger-abbey-for-middle-school-PGWNHM4f?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
☘️MARCH
Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-novel-study-of-sherlock-holmes-the-hound-of-baskervilles-4ndPATMK?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
🌸APRIL
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-classic-novel-study-of-their-eyes-were-watching-god-hurston-y0pmzyQg?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
🎣MAY
Of Mice and Men
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-summer-classic-novel-study-of-of-mice-and-men-by-steinbeck-Qf44C6f2?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
🥭JUNE
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-summer-classic-novel-study-of-the-house-on-mango-street-bIBJ11O1?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
🏴☠️JULY
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-summer-classic-novel-study-of-treasure-island-middle-school-yFKgStpZ?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
🤖AUGUST
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-summer-classic-novel-study-of-fahrenheit-451-by-ray-bradbury-sj2a0SZ9?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
⚓️(EARLY) SEPTEMBER
The Old Man and the Sea
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-middle-school-classic-novel-study-of-the-old-man-and-the-sea-VcrmdFui?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
🧟♂️(LATE) SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-classic-novel-study-of-frankenstein-for-middle-school-Ln7tCarF?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
🏙️NOVEMBER
The Catcher in the Rye
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-classic-novel-study-of-the-catcher-in-the-rye-by-salinger-RNPuttsC?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
🎄DECEMBER
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-classic-novel-study-of-a-christmas-carol-for-middle-school-xrknvqvr?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_linkLearning Goals
• Students will strengthen their focus and reading-comprehension skills
• Students will learn to critically think and pose questions during and after reading a text that help it become more engrossing, educational, and enriching
• Students will learn how to structure their ideas verbally and communicate when posed with various ideas and perspectives
• Students will learn to analyze nonfiction text and use it to inform a fictional texts
Other Details
Parental Guidance
NOTE: This novel is intense and mature on several occasions. The following subjects will be approached with maturity and an educational perspective.
SEXUAL CONTENT
• The novel revolves around a female character going through several marriages in her search for love. Several explorations of love including kissing and scandal
• Men watch women as they pass in a sexual way
•.A young girl discovers her sexuality by watching bees pollinate flowers. The scene is written fairly erotically
• A married couple have a high-emotions relationship. At one point, they begin a violent argument that leads to them making love on the floor of their house.
• The main character is the result of rape
VIOLENCE
• The main character is the result of rape.
• A girl is slapped by her Nanny several times for kissing a boy
• In her search for love, a female character enters into more than one abusive relationships. She is hit on several occasions. This is usually depicted as tragic as she leaves most of them. The only exception to this is the final marriage she has, which leaves the morality of the beatings more ambiguous since they are also described as loving each other
• Delirious with rabies, a husband tries to shoot his wife. She has to shoot him in defense. This is also the climax of the story and very intense
RACISM SEXISM AND SOCIAL NEGATIVITIES
• Christian elements are depicted throughout usually as foolish, corrupt, or hypocritical
• Inequality and discrimination are major themes of the story. Racism is depicted throughout, but never in a positive light.
• Feminism is explored as a female character has to persevere the control and abuse of the men she is in relationships with throughout the book. She is controlled and manipulated. This is not depicted in a positive light.
PROFANITY
• h*ll
• d*mn
• b*tch
• n*gg*r
• c**n
• d*ck
NOTE: these words will not be openly said in class
DRUGS/ALCOHOL
• Characters smoke excessively throughout.
• Consumption of alcohol to drunkenness
Supply List
NOTE: I am NOT affiliated with the following source: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UMN7C6?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_X4N0DAED0JPQGC0DADRP
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined June, 2022
5.0
99reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Nebraska Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Bachelor's degree from Grace University
Certification to Teach Secondary Students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha
Endorsement in English/Language Arts from the University of Nebraska at Omaha
ACE Educator
Over 10 years of experience in various educational positionsReviews
Live Group Class
$110
for 5 classes1x per week, 5 weeks
55 min
Completed by 5 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-15
1-6 learners per class
