The Boundless: A Literature Circle based Book Club
Students will read the gripping tale "The Boundless" by Kenneth Oppel and participate in a Literature Circle based book club discussion, rotating responsibilities and presenting their findings to the group.
Mrs. Russell, M.S. Ed.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(367)
What's included
8 live meetings
8 in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 2 - 5
*Please note: Due to the student-led discussion format of this class, the smallest size that will work is 3 students. I will cancel the class if fewer than 3 students enroll. Invite your friends! That said, the class will not work well with more than 8 students. I will keep a firm cap on the limit as well, in order for everyone to have the best possible educational experience. Q: What Are Literature Circles? A: In literature circles, small groups of students gather together to discuss a piece of literature in depth. The discussion is guided by students' responses to what they have read. You may hear talk about events and characters in the book, the author's craft, or personal experiences related to the story. Literature circles provide a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. Collaboration is at the heart of this approach. Students reshape and add onto their understanding as they construct meaning with other readers. Finally, literature circles guide students to deeper understanding of what they read through structured discussion and extended written and artistic response. Q: What is this book about? A: The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life! When Will ends up in possession of the key to a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister figures from his past. In order to survive, Will must join a traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With villains fast on their heels, can Will and Maren reach Will’s father and save The Boundless before someone winds up dead? Q: Is there any homework? A: You will be asked to read approximately 40 pages per week and complete your "job" in order to be ready to present to the group each week. Q: Am I going to be graded on this? A: I will be taking notes each week on a rubric that allows me to assess your overall participation and the completion and depth of your assigned weekly role. This can be shared with your parents upon request.
Other Details
Supply List
The student will need 8 week access to a copy of the book "The Boundless"by Kenneth Oppel. https://www.amazon.com/Boundless-Kenneth-Oppel/dp/144247288X
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
- Google Classroom
Joined August, 2018
4.9
367reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
My name is Carie Beth Russell. I live in the Kansas City area with my husband, two daughters and two cats. I am a former elementary teacher and gifted education specialist. I have been “home” since my second daughter was born, but have remained active in the field of education by teaching educational summer camps, tutoring and teaching at a homeschool enrichment program.
My professional priorities center around student-led learning. It’s my strong conviction that supporting children as they learn, rather than dictating how and what they learn, is the way to encourage their inborn patterns of curiosity, wonder and problem-solving that will serve them well in all stages of being human.
While my own children attend public school, we very much view education as something we own and must take personal responsibility for. We work hard at educational advocacy within the public school context. I teach my daughters to communicate with their teachers, ask for what they need and request amended or extended: depth, duration and scope of projects, units, skills and personal areas of interest.
Gifted Education services often provide these things for students who have been identified as such, but these standards and the definition of “giftedness” vary from state to state, based generally on funding, and doesn’t allow for many students to qualify. This leaves an enormous group of students who have “need of different” but no access to a more open-ended and curiosity-led education. Please understand that when I say enormous, I mean ALL.
Out School, and other platforms like it, allow students who are enrolled in public schools to adapt their learning modalities and pursue interests and learning pathways that intrigue their own very unique minds. This is great, but certainly not financially accessible to all. Teaching students to participate in Student Led Learning, in its various formats, allows them to continue on in their own investigations of an amazing planet and human experience, studying past, present and future as they forge their own distinct path. Reviews
Live Group Class
$144
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
60 min
Completed by 7 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 7-11
3-8 learners per class
