Spar Lit Jr. 8: Understanding Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth With Debate
Class experience
US Grade 3 - 6
Intermediate Level
Kindly note: This is an ESL friendly class, CEFR level — B1-B2 (intermediate). Please feel free to write me via Outschool email with questions. *** Long-considered a modern masterpiece, The Phantom Tollbooth is one of the best-selling and most beloved books in publishing history, enthralling millions of learners with clever quips and hilarity while igniting a true and abiding love of learning. "As Pilgrim's Progress is concerned with the awakening of the sluggardly spirit, The Phantom...
6 lessons//6 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Discussion Chapters 1-4Discussion and Spar Debate sparked by: "And since no one bothered to explain otherwise he regarded the seeking of knowledge to be the greatest time waste of all." Spar Statement: To gain lasting knowledge the purpose of learning needs to be explained. Position 1: Agree with the above statement. Explain. Position 2: Sometimes we need to learn things just because someone says they are important and the reason doesn’t matter.Week 2Lesson 2Discussion Chapters 5-7Discussion and Spar Debate sparked by: "You can get in a lot of trouble by mixing up words or just not knowing how to spell them." Spar Statement: The way we use language matters in how we are understood in the world. Position 1: Agree with the above statement. Explain. Position 2: We can be creative with language—making new words for example —and find new ways of saying what we want to say.Week 3Lesson 3Discussion Chapters 8-10Discussion and Spar Debate sparked by: “Illusions are sometimes easier to see than reality." Spar Statement: We can each change our perspective on things that we see and things that we wish to understand if we choose to. Position 1: Agree with the above statement. Explain. Position 2: Disagree with the above statement. It makes sense for us to make a decision about what we see—what we like or dislike—and stay with that position.Week 4Lesson 4Discussion Chapters 11-13Discussion and Spar Debate sparked by: "People listened less and less." Spar Statement: Listening is more important than speaking. Position 1: Agree with the above statement. Explain. Position 2: Disagree with the above statement. Speaking well and clearly is just as important as being able to listen well. Explain.Week 5Lesson 5Discussion Chapters 14-17Discussion and Spar Debate sparked by: “as long as the answer is right, who cares if the question is wrong?” Spar Statement: Questions are more important than answers. Position 1: Agree with the above statement. Explain. Position 2: Disagree with the above statement. Answers are more important than questions.Week 6Lesson 6Discussion Chapters 18-20 (End)Discussion and Spar Debate sparked by: “I’d have been here much sooner if I hadn’t made so many mistakes.” Milo Spar Statement: You learn more by being wrong than you do by being right for the wrong reasons. Position 1: Agree with the above statement. There are real benefits to making mistakes. Explain. Position 2: Mistakes can and should be avoided! Research what you have to do, take your time, get things done the right way to be most efficient.
Students successfully completing this course will be able to: *To gain confidence in speaking and organization *Understand all the basic ideas of debate and rhetoric *Gain deeper understanding of literature through debate * To communicate effectively through speaking, thinking adroitly and responding fluently * Improve memory retention and organizational skills * Gain confidence and poise in oral presentation * Expand vocabulary and word usage *To gain deeper understanding of the nuances of literature
Longtime teacher of literature for both middle and high school students. Founder and former coach of an award-winning Speech and Debate team that competed at local, state and national levels, long-time speech judge for local, regional, national speech events for NCFL and National Speech and Debate Association, former teacher of high school debate and rhetoric, art history, literature, and AP Language and Composition.
Homework Offered
Students will be required to read the portions of the text we will be considering for the upcoming week. Optional homework assignments will be given after each class. If students are able to complete the homework a detailed response will be sent to each learner.0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
I will be in touch with learners and/or parents throughout the course to give feedback on student progress.Grades Offered
Pencil and paper always! Copies of The Phantom Tollbooth are available on Amazon or second-hand through Thriftbooks, and at Libraries everywhere. Any edition of the book is fine for this class.
Hello, Everyone, I'm Cindy Frank! *Proud ACE Educator and INDEPENDENT TEACHER *Classes limited to 6 students--all have a voice in the classroom * All classes taught, written, and created by me for my learners *Each session a full 55 minutes of...
Group Class
$165
for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
55 min
Completed by 29 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
3-6 learners per class