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Short Story Study for Winter: The Law of Life by Jack London

Let's survive frigid January by studying a classic short story by Jack London through reading comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, and short answer classroom discussion; for 7th, 8th, or 9th, grade students
Mr. Van, Certified Teacher
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(139)
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Class

What's included

1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

US Grade 8 - 10
Beginner - Intermediate Level
👋 WELCOME 😁 
If this is your first class with me, use this coupon code: VANCEFIRSTCLASS10

CLASS SYNOPSIS
Let's survive frigid January by studying a classic short story by Jack London through reading comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, and short answer classroom discussion; for 7th, 8th, or 9th, grade students
Let's live a fulfilling life and celebrate it through the seasons of the year! This begins with reading the best stories the world has known in the time of year that fits it--from scary tales in the fall to heated adventures in the summer!

OVERVIEW
    - This is a read-and-discuss course
    - Vocabulary Glossary--A pdf of the text's most complicated words will be provided so that students can reference it while reading
    - Pre-reading Mini-Lesson--To begin class, I will share a lesson about the author and historical setting of the text.  I will also share the discussion questions so that students can look for responses during the reading of the story
    - Presentation of the text--I will read the story out-loud so students can follow along
    - Discussion-- The class will discuss and analyze the text based on the questions provided

CONTENT
Classic short-stories provide several opportunities for rich analytical discussion.  What they lack in narrative length, they make up for in quality academic content
Class discussion will revolve around the following novel-centered concepts:
    - Personal analysis
    - Critical analysis
    - Academic analysis
    - Literary elements
    - Figurative language

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 😁
    - Occasionally, mini-lessons will be taught to ensure all students comprehend concepts and themes

✨CELEBRATE EVERY SEASON WITH ME THROUGH THE STUDY OF SHORT STORIES:✨

JANUARY:
❄️ To Build a Fire (by Jack London) 
❄️ This Klondike survival story will be read from the wintery wilderness!
...Coming soon...

FEBRUARY:
❤️ Love (by Anton Chekhov)
❤️ This romantic story, perfect for Valentines Day, will be read from a flowery garden
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-love-0svaoRPu?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

MARCH: 
🍀 Eveline (by James Joyce)
🍀 This short story by an Irish author describes the inner turmoil of a woman in Dublin and will be read from the Irish Channel!
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-eveline-wTWXMnvY?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link 

APRIL:
...Coming soon...

MAY:
🦑 The Sea Raiders (by HG Wells)
🦑 Kick off the tropical summer with this exciting story of sea-monsters read from an Atlantic Ocean beach!
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-the-sea-raiders-ZjBAykhG?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

JUNE (into JULY):
🇺🇸 Speaking of Courage (Tim O'Brien)
🇺🇸 Honor our American troops with this reverent war story by veteran Tim O'Brien, read in front of the Washington Monument and Military Memorials
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-speaking-of-courage-4th-of-july-short-story-study-tim-obrien-HXSPCTr2?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

JULY:
🌵 That Man from the Bitter Sands (Louis L'Amour)
🌵The heat has set in, so enjoy this heated cowboy story read from the desert in Texas!
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-that-man-from-the-bitter-sands-cowboy-short-story-study-6gk5TMi9?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

AUGUST:
...Come soon...

SEPTEMBER:
🎷 Sonny's Blues (James Baldwin)
🎷 There is something about jazz that just fits so perfectly with the fall, so jump into those feelings with this bluesy short story read from the jazz capital of the world, New Orleans!
...Coming Soon...

OCTOBER:
⛓️ The Cask of Amontillado (Edgar Allen Poe)
⛓️ Perfectly twisted and terrifying for Halloween, read in front of a dark campfire
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-the-cask-of-amontillado-kI4BIHIo?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

NOVEMBER:
🦃 An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving (Louisa May Alcott)
🦃 A charming story of a 19th century family getting ready for Thanksgiving, read from Alcott's Historical Orchard House in MA!
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-an-old-fashioned-thanksgiving-short-story-study-alcott-jUFxG8sP?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

DECEMBER:
🎄 The Gift of the Magi (O. Henry)
🎄 A story of sacrifice to give a gift to a loved one for Christmas, read from a snow storm in a cute Vermont mountain-town
https://outschool.com/classes/christmas-camp-gk3CRR3u?usid=HjYuHv99&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

ONGOING:
📚 Read a seasonal short story every week before jumping into the once-a-week zoom meeting to discuss and analyze!
https://outschool.com/classes/seasons-readings-short-story-club-ZzNATOp9?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
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
- The story describes an elderly Inuit man left behind to die (senicide). He considers how he will freeze to death before being attacked by wolves - The story centers on an Inuit custom and was written by a white man, therefore, it (at times) uses racist descriptions (such as "savage")... conversly, the narrator is also fairly objective and even understanding and respectful overall. This inconsistency will be discussed and analyzed and the racist terms will not be advocated - Misogynistic descriptions will be discussed and will not be advocated
Supply List
NOTE: I am not affiliated with the following source:
You can access the text for free here:
https://americanliterature.com/author/jack-london/short-story/the-law-of-life
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
NOTE: I am not affiliated with the following source: You can access the text for free here: https://americanliterature.com/author/jack-london/short-story/the-law-of-life
Joined June, 2022
5.0
139reviews
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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 positions

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Live One-Time Class
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$25

per class

Meets once
55 min
Completed by 4 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-16
1-6 learners per class

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