Summer Semester: A Reading Comprehension Camp; Short Stories for Middle School

Class Focus: Reading Comprehension and Analysis
(this is NOT a writing class)

Here is what learners can expect:
No pre-reading or printing is required. I will screen-share everything during the live Zoom session and will not upload any materials before the session.

~ Explore weekly short stories (fiction)
~ Vocabulary exploration with footnotes and definitions
~ Participate in interactive read-aloud sessions covering the entire passage
~ Learn effective test-taking strategies 
~ Engage in real-time analysis modeling by the instructor
~ Learn through live annotation on the shared screen (learners will not annotate)
~ Identify and analyze various literary elements (plot, characterization, figurative language, symbolism, etc.)
~ Experience in-class assessments through multiple-choice questions via private ZOOM chat
~ Time-permitting, we will review a short writing prompt and work on drafting
~ Unfinished reading comprehension questions and prompts become optional self-paced independent homework
~ Homework is optional and becomes the responsibility of the parent and learner
~ Answer keys for multiple-choice questions are released at the beginning of the following session
~ You'll receive a session summary and a PDF file containing all related materials at the END of each session (there will be a one-week delay for answer keys).

What do the 50-minute sessions usually look like?
~ Introduction 
~ I'll present the title, author, and genre to the class.
~ I'll review any related vocabulary and footnotes.
~ I'll review the reading comprehension and writing prompt questions (test-taking strategy). This segment helps prepare readers to be aware of what to look out for while reading.
~ I'll identify any specific literary devices throughout the read-aloud.
~ We'll take turns narrating the passage (I'll accommodate those who prefer to stay muted).
~ After discussions and questions, we will begin the reading comprehension questions. I'll guide learners on how to analyze the questions and answers to better understand how to successfully choose an answer. Deductive reasoning is a natural part of my teaching style.

Summer Agenda: Ten sessions are available.

Week of June 2nd - June 8th
Genre: Fiction
Title: The Griffin and the Minor Canon (excerpt - part one)
Theme: Fear and prejudice
Literary Focus: Characterization, motives, relationships, and inferencing


Week of June 9th - June 15th
Title: The Griffin and the Minor Canon (excerpt - part two)
Theme: Fear and prejudice
Literary Focus: Characterization, motives, relationships, and inferencing


Week of June 16th - June 22nd
Genre: Fiction
Title: The Water of Life by Howard Pyle
Theme: Strength and bravery
Literary Focus: Theme, characterization, perspective, and motives


Week of June 23rd - June 29th
Genre: Fiction / Folktale
Title: Master Jacob by Howard Pyle
Theme: Greed and arrogance
Literary Focus: Characterization and motives


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Week of June 30th - July 6th: NO CLASSES
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Week of July 7th - July 13th
Genre: Short Story
Title: The Elephant's Child by Rudyard Kipling
Themes: Curiousity and opportunities
Literary Focus: Characterization, inferencing, and author's tone


Week of July 14th - July 20th
Genre: Short Story / Philosophy
Title: The Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy
Themes: Live in the present, rely on oneself, and do good.


Week of July 21st - July 27th
Genre: Fiction
Title: After Twenty Years by O. Henry
Theme:
Literary Focus: Irony and O. Henry's classic plot twist


Week of July 28th - August 3rd
Genre: Mythology
Main Characters: Theseus and the Minotaur
~ The text is a retelling of these characters and makes references to both Greek and Roman mythology. It is written in a short story format.


Week of August 4th - August 10th
Genre: Mythology
Main Idea: Saturn, Jupiter, and the Golden Age
~ The text is a retelling of these characters and makes references to both Greek and Roman mythology. It is written in a short story format.


Week of August 11th - August 17th
Genre: Mythology
Main Idea: Prometheus and Pandora
~ The text is a retelling of these characters and makes references to both Greek and Roman mythology. It is written in a short story format.

End of Summer Sessions