Short Story Discussion Class - Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut
Come discuss a thought-provoking story with others your age and a gifted educator.
Andy Smallman
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(981)
What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Students need to read the assigned story before the class session so they come ready to talk about it. The story is very short and shouldn't take the average middle/high school reader much more than 30-45 minutes to read it, probably less.Class Experience
As a longtime teacher, I thoroughly enjoy helping young people enjoy good stories. I do this with both humor and gentleness, meaning students in my literature-based classes typically really enjoy them. In the case of this class, all you need to do in advance of the class session is read the short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. It's intended to be a thought-provoking story in which the author has envisioned a future United States in which everyone has to be equal. So if you are a good dancer, for instance, you have to wear sand bags on your body that make graceful movement harder for you. We don't want anyone feeling bad because they're not as good as someone else at something, right? What would happen in such a society? Why did the author write this story? Is it some kind of warning? You can find the story online at https://archive.org/stream/HarrisonBergeron/Harrison%20Bergeron_djvu.txt so you can go check it out, even read it, before committing to this class. ----- A NOTE ABOUT THE COST OF THIS CLASS: I know the price of my classes is higher than many others on Outschool. As an experienced and talented educator, I believe I'm worth this amount and invite you to look at my reviews. That said, I don't want any family to be priced out of what I offer. Whatever your financial situation, if you're interested in one or more of my classes, please reach out and let me know what you can afford. I can provide coupons, refunds, and/or reductions, and am confident we can find an equitable rate that works for you and me.
Learning Goals
Students will gain comfort speaking in front of others, specifically around sharing their opinions. They will build their critical thinking skills and learn how to be supportive of others.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
https://archive.org/stream/HarrisonBergeron/Harrison%20Bergeron_djvu.txt
Joined January, 2020
4.9
981reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Washington Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Master's Degree from Pacific Oaks College
I've been a certified teacher for over 30 years, including being the founder of a progressive middle & high school in Seattle (in 1994). I have a warm way of engaging with students who typically come away feeling cared for after attending one of my classes. I love helping students build social-emotional skills, and I love discussing short stories with people. In this class, I get to do both!Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$25
per classMeets once
45 min
Completed by 10 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-15
4-12 learners per class
