Outschool
Search

$18

weekly
Class
Play

Visual Lit High School: Draw Your Way Through High School English Language Arts

Completed by 98 learners
Ages 14-18
Live Group Class
Students will meet each week to read deeply, think critically, and build confidence in reading analysis and grammar skills. This learner-led class is taught by a 16-year veteran ELA teacher skilled in helping students grow linguistically.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(4,600 reviews)
Star Educator
Popular

Live video meetings
1x per week
3-12 learners per class
50 min

What's included

1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per week
Homework
1 hour per week. Although ongoing classes are not supposed to build on previous weeks, topics are often tied to related texts. Learners are encouraged to read these texts in the context of what they have learned in the class meeting.

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 12
Welcome to Visual Literature: High School English Language Arts!  You can join in anytime! This comprehensive Language Arts course explores grammar, literary interpretation, and effective communication skills in accordance with the standards set by the Common Core, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and International Reading Association. 

These standards encompass a wide range of competencies including reading comprehension, literacy, oral expression, visual interpretation, and fundamental grammar skills. Each individual standard is addressed in a self-contained lesson, allowing for independent progression without cumulative dependency.
In this course, we utilize the technique of sketchnoting to enhance our understanding and analysis of texts. Sketchnoting, a form of note-taking, involves incorporating visual elements into the process, thereby promoting a more engaging and vivid representation of information.

Our class commences with varied warm-up activities, ranging from sentence diagramming to thought-provoking discussion prompts. No homework or pre-reading assignments are required as we access and explore stories and poems together during class. Guided reading and Socratic discussions facilitate our comprehension and exploration of these literary works.

Throughout the course, we embark on in-depth examinations of texts, delving into various literary elements such as tone, plot structure, symbolism, and character development. During these explorations, we translate our insights into visual representations, allowing students to create tangible artifacts that serve as lasting reminders of each text.

The primary objective of this class is to foster students' confidence in their analytical and grammatical skills within a supportive and collaborative learning environment. All the texts we will study are available online and/or in the public domain and are provided as links in the list below:

CURRICULUM: 
THIS CLASS CONTINUES WITHOUT STOPPING (except for occasional breaks) and is designed so that students can join at any time. 
The texts listed below are subject to change to match student interest and learner need/ request.

WEEK OF JANUARY 6:
VISUAL GRAMMAR + Standards: RL.9-10.2; RL.9-10.3; RL.9-10.4; RL.9-10.5; RL.9-10.6
Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and “The Odyssey” excerpts
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1727/1727-h/1727-h.htm  

WEEK OF JANUARY 13:
VISUAL GRAMMAR + Standards: RL.9-10.2; RL.9-10.3; RL.9-10.4; RL.9-10.5; RL.9-10.6
Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and “The Odyssey” excerpts
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1727/1727-h/1727-h.htm

WEEK OF JANUARY 20: (CLASS VOTE TO DETERMINE INTEREST FOR FOLLOWING WEEK'S TEXT) 
VISUAL GRAMMAR + Standards: RL.9-10.2; RL.9-10.3; RL.9-10.4; RL.9-10.5; RL.9-10.6
Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and “The Odyssey” section three
https://theodysseyonline.weebly.com/uploads/1/5/3/2/15321652/book_12_complete.pdf

WEEK OF JANUARY 27: (CLASS VOTE TO DETERMINE TEXT OF INTEREST) 
VISUAL GRAMMAR + Standards: RL.9-10.4; RL.9-10.6; RL.9-10.7; RL.9-10.10
“The Signal Man” by Charles Dickens” https://shortstoryamerica.com/pdf_classics/dickens_the_signal_man.pdf  OR 

OR 

Standards: RL1, RL2, RL6, RL8; NCTE 9, NCTE 4; CC 4, CC 5 Text:  “Icarus and Daedalus” - Josephine Preston Peabody;   PDF FOUND HERE: https://www.ontarioteacher.org/reading7/index_htm_files/Icarus%20and%20Daedalus%20Myth.pdf & Musée des Beaux Arts BY W H Auden found here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/159364/musee-des-beaux-arts-63a1efde036cd 
 
******GRAMMAR   COVERED through visual grammar series: W.9-10.6 ; ELA L.9-10.1; ELA L.9-10.2  

******THIS CLASS CONTINUES WITHOUT STOPPING (except for occasional breaks) and is designed so that students can join at any time. 

WEEK OF FEB 02:  VISUAL GRAMMAR + STANDARDS RL..3, RL.1, RL..4, RL..10, RL.5 “The Signal Man” by Charles Dickens found here: https://dailystep.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DailyStep-English-The-Signalman-By-Charles-Dickens.pdf   

WEEK OF FEB 10: VISUAL GRAMMAR + STANDARDS RL..3, RL.1, RL..4, RL..10, RL.5 “The Signal Man” by Charles Dickens found here: https://dailystep.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DailyStep-English-The-Signalman-By-Charles-Dickens.pdf & Emily Dickinson’s “I Like To See It Lap The Miles” found here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56019/i-like-to-see-it-lap-the-miles-383 

WEEK OF FEB 10:  Standards RL1; RL2; RL3;  RL5; RL7 CC 1; CC 4; CC 7; NCTE 1 & 7  “Axolotl” by Julio Cortázar found here https://ambystoma.uky.edu/teachers_materials/axolitbook/AxolotlByJulioCortazar.html and “”The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop found here: https://poets.org/poem/fish-2 



WEEK OF FEB 24:  Standards: VISUAL GRAMMAR + STANDARDS RL..3, RL.6, RL..7, RL.10 : “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner found here: https://facultyweb.wcjc.edu/users/jonl/documents/RoseforEmily.pdf 

WEEK OF MARCH 3:  : VISUAL GRAMMAR + Standards R.L.6, R.L.4, and R.L.2 : Louise Erdrich, “The Leap” found here: https://www.frontiercsd.org/cms/lib/NY19000265/Centricity/Domain/66/The%20Leap_%20Short%20Story.pdf 

WEEK OF MARCH 10:  VISUAL GRAMMAR + Standards R.L.6, R.L.4, and R.L.2 : “Contents of a Dead Man’s Pocket” by Jack Finney found here: https://www.cusd80.com/cms/lib6/AZ01001175/Centricity/Domain/3421/Contents_of_the_Dead_Mans_Pocket.pdf 

WEEK OF MARCH 17:  VISUAL GRAMMAR + Standards R.L.1, R.L.3, and R.L.6. PART 1 OF “The Rule of Names” by Ursula K Le Guin found here: https://reinert.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/2/7/14270413/the_rule_of_names.pdf 

WEEK OF MARCH 24:  VISUAL GRAMMAR + Standards R.L.1, R.L.3, and R.L.6. PART 2 OF “The Rule of Names” by Ursula K Le Guin found here: https://reinert.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/2/7/14270413/the_rule_of_names.pdf

WEEK OF MARCH 31 VISUAL GRAMMAR +  RI 1; RI4. RI. 5; Persuasive Techniques and Shakespearean Speech from Julius Caesar (Brutus and Antony’s speeches) pdf found here: https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/julius-caesar/read/ 

WEEK OF APRIL 7 VISUAL GRAMMAR +  Standards: RL1; RL 4; RL 7; Text: "Gabriel-Ernest" by Saki http://eflreading.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/47229218/Gabriel-Ernest.pdf  & William Blake’s “Songs of Innocence” & “Songs of Experience” found here:  https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1934/1934-h/1934-h.htm 

WEEK OF APRIL 14 VISUAL GRAMMAR +  Standards:  RL..2, RL..3, RL..4, RL..5, RL..6 “The Feather Pillow” by Horatio Quiroga pdf found here: https://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/AL/HooverCity/SpainParkHigh/Uploads/Forms/The%20Feather%20Pillow.pdf 

WEEK OF APRIL 21 VISUAL GRAMMAR + Standards: CC 1; CC 4; CC 7; NCTE 1 & 7; “The Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe: https://www.northiowa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Tell-Tale-Heart.pdf 

WEEK OF APRIL 28 VISUAL GRAMMAR +  RL 3 ; RL 6; Texts: “Joy” by Anton Chekhov and “I am Nobody” "I heard a Fly buzz"  by Emily Dickinson (poem) https://www.online-literature.com/anton_chekhov/1103/ and https://poets.org/poem/im-nobody-who-are-you-260 
 

******GRAMMAR   COVERED through visual grammar series: W.9-10.6 ; ELA L.9-10.1; ELA L.9-10.2  

******THIS CLASS CONTINUES WITHOUT STOPPING (except for occasional breaks) and is designed so that students can join at any time.

Other Details

Parental Guidance
This course incorporates many short, free texts available in the public domain. Some of these stories may involve analyzing emotionally difficult scenes or sensitive historical events and having socratic discussion on these topics. Teacher Jordan has years of experience as both classroom teacher and debate coach ensuring all voices are heard while protecting learners from abusive or aggressive language. Bullying will never be tolerated in the classroom setting, and may result in removal from the class and referral to Outschool's Trust and Safety team.
Supply List
- Something to Draw With
- Something to Draw On
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Visual Lit features numerous texts from the Public Domain. These texts have been selected to feature diverse perspectives from around the world, including those of traditionally marginalized groups.

Offered by

4.9
4600reviews
Star Educator
Popular
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Georgia Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Jordan Kohanim
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Cameron Shaw
Georgia Teaching Certificate in Special Education
Maria Thorne
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
Allie Baker
Doctoral Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Arts in Belgrade
Natalija Stojanovic
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Arts in Belgrade
Natalija Stojanovic
Master's Degree in Education from University of Georgia
Whitney Panetta
Master's Degree in Education from Georgia College and State University
Maria Thorne
Master's Degree in Education from Georgia State University
Benjamin Corey
Bachelor's Degree in English from Kennesaw State University
Jordan Kohanim
Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science from Vassar College
Cameron Shaw
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Georgia Southern University
Maria Thorne
Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Ramapo College of New Jersey
Jessica Rinzuello
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of Georgia
Whitney Panetta
Bachelor's Degree in Education from UNCP
Allie Baker
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Oglethorpe University
Benjamin Corey
Bachelor's Degree in Science from Hampshire College
Peter Burke
Bachelor's Degree in History from Georgia State University
James Bostick
Teacher Jordan is a nationally recognized English and Language Arts educator with over 15 years of experience teaching in public schools in the Atlanta area. She is certified in the state of Georgia. She has twice been recognized as Teacher of the Year, and is a beloved debate and public speaking coach as well. 

Reviews

Benjamin Corey's Creative Curriculum Coop suggests this class next...
Visual Lit's High School Classics: Ongoing Book Club
Benjamin Corey's Creative Curriculum Coop
4.9
(4,600)
$18 per class
Group Class
1/wk, 50 min
14-18


Parents also liked
English Language Arts Tutoring
Charity
4.9
(16)
$35 per session
1-on-1 Tutoring
On Demand
5-13
Elementary ELA Course 2: Second Grade English Language Arts
Stone Bridges Academy
4.9
(656)
$20 per class
Next session at 2 PM on Tue 8/26
Group Class
36 wks, 2/wk, 45 min
6-8
Grade 10, 11, 12 English Language Arts (ELA) Literature Summer Intensive
Ms. Caldwell, B.A. Adv. English Literature, M.Mus.
4.9
(177)
$23 per class
Next session at 7:45 PM on Mon 6/23
Group Class
3 wks, 5/wk, 45 min
14-18
Middle School ELA: Seventh and Eighth Grade English Language Arts
Beth Foster | Humanities Educator
4.9
(356)
$13 per class
Next session at 7 PM on Tue 8/12
Group Class
32 wks, 2/wk, 45 min
11-15
Crafting Clear Communication: Mastering English Language Arts
Blanca
1.0
(1)
$28 per session
1-on-1 Tutoring
On Demand
11-18
English Language Arts Tutoring!
Rose Oxendine
5.0
(1)
$15 per class
Next session at 10 PM on Friday
Group Class
2/wk, 55 min
8-11
Grade 7, 8, 9 English Language Arts (ELA) Literature Summer Intensive
Ms. Caldwell, B.A. Adv. English Literature, M.Mus.
4.9
(177)
$23 per class
Next session at 7 PM on Mon 6/23
Group Class
3 wks, 5/wk, 45 min
11-14
English Language Arts Tutoring (K-8)
DEM Academy: Learn through Gaming
4.8
(723)
$40 per session
1-on-1 Tutoring
On Demand
5-12
3rd Grade English Language Arts Curriculum: Reading, Writing, and Grammar
Wild Prairie Learning
4.9
(186)
$9 per class
Next session at 8 PM on Monday
Group Class
2/wk, 25 min
7-8
Third /Fourth Grade English Language Arts Curriculum-Reading, Writing, & Grammar
Wild Prairie Learning
4.9
(186)
$18 per class
Next session at 5 PM on Thu 3/6
Group Class
1/wk, 50 min
8-10
Fourth and Fifth Grade English Language Arts
Ms. Michelle
5.0
(202)
$10 per class
Next session at 4 PM on Monday
Group Class
2/wk, 25 min
9-11
Elementary ELA Course 3: Third Grade English Language Arts (2x Weekly)
Stone Bridges Academy
4.9
(656)
$20 per class
Next session at 1:15 PM on Tue 8/26
Group Class
39 wks, 2/wk, 45 min
7-10
Private English Language Arts Tutoring 2
Neda Topic
4.9
(143)
$42 per session
1-on-1 Tutoring
On Demand
6-12
1:1 English Language Arts Tutoring: Reading, Writing, and Grammar Help
Wild Prairie Learning
4.9
(186)
$30 per session
1-on-1 Tutoring
On Demand
5-12
English Language Arts With Taylor Swift- An Exploration of Her Inspiration
Ms. Chelsea M. Ed. | ELA, Paranormal, & True Crime
4.9
(118)
$17 per class
Next session at 4 PM on Tuesday
Group Class
1/wk, 45 min
12-16
Middle School English Language Arts (ELA): Ongoing Style
Genevieve Pollock
5.0
(83)
$18 per class
Next session at 5 PM on Monday
Group Class
1/wk, 50 min
11-14
See More Classes
Home
Search
Give a Gift Card
Open currency, time zone, and language settings
Language & Region
Log In