What's included
4 live meetings
3 hrs 40 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 St. Patrick's Day and the March season by studying this classic book by Arthur Conan Doyle through analysis, discussion, nonfiction texts, and an optional essay. 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 4 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 Sherlock Holmes provides several opportunities for rich analytical discussion. Class discussion will revolve around the following novel-centered concepts over the following topics: • Literary Elements • Literary Period • Biographical influence • Victorian Literary Period • Natural and supernatural • Classism, racism and misogyny • Crime • Deductive and inductive reasoning 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 Arthur Conan Doyle Biography Class 2: Ch 1-5 Class 3: Ch 6-10 Class 4: Ch 11-15 ✨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_link
Learning 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
SEXUAL CONTENT
• The villain of the story is inferred to have several sexual partners
• The villain of the story promises marriage to advance his plans
• The plot revolves around a family tragedy where a woman was kidnapped by a villainous group of men, (the idea of rape is alluded to). She escapes the men, but ultimately falls to her death
VIOLENCE
• Very little violence is directly described, however, much is alluded to
• This is a murder-mystery. While the murder does not happen in-text the entire plot revolves around the crime
• A character falls to his death. His corpse is observed and his skull is described as crushed.
• A character is mauled by a giant dog (note: the mauling itself is not described)
• A vicious man-killing hound is killed
• Characters traverse through adventurous and life-threatening situations
• The plot revolves around a family tragedy where a woman was kidnapped by a villainous group of men, (the idea of rape is alluded to). She escapes the men, but ultimately falls to her death
RACISM SEXISM AND SOCIAL NEGATIVITIES
• The story takes place in Victorian England. Women are depicted as fragile while men are depicted as adventurous and intelligent.
• A side-character has a hobby of analyzing skulls and surmising the implications of their skull-shape. This real-life historical practice was used to justify racism, which is even alluded to at one point in the novel!
• Usage of the word "n*gro"
• Usage of the word "esk*mo"
PROFANITY
• h*ll
DRUGS/ALCOHOL
• Characters smoke excessively throughout.
• Holmes smokes an abundant amount of tobacco because he believes it helps sharpen his mind
Supply List
NOTE: I am NOT affiliated with the following source: Arthur Conan Doyle: The Hound of Baskervilles https://a.co/d/7tNXZv6
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
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 positions
Reviews
Live Group Class
$22
weekly or $85 for 4 classes1x per week, 4 weeks
55 min
Completed by 8 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-15
1-6 learners per class