"Who Was...?" Books: Author Study Series
In this 10-week course, students will read and discuss 10 "Who Was/Is...?" biographies about famous authors, read and explore excerpts from the authors' well-known writing, and create their very own writing pieces inspired by each author.
Roxann Wheeler, M.Ed.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(192)
What's included
10 live meetings
8 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
An author study gives students the opportunity to learn about an author's life, read the author's work, make connections between the author's life and work, and evaluate the style and themes of the author's work. In this 10-week course, students will have the opportunity to do brief author studies on ten different authors, one author per week. Each week we will read about and explore the life and work of a different author. Students will read and discuss illustrated biographies from the popular "Who Was...?" series. With over 250 titles, this series tells the incredible stories of trailblazers, creators, and legends. Students will read the "Who Was/Is...?" book for that week independently before coming to the live class. In the live class, we will have a rich discussion about the book. Then we will read and examine excerpts from that author's well-known works (or adaptations of their works) together. Finally, students will write a creative piece inspired by the author, with the option to share their work. After each class, I will provide age-appropriate book recommendations for students who are interested in reading more by the author and/or about the author. This will give them an opportunity beyond this course to delve deeper into author study for the authors who have piqued their interest the most. WEEK ONE: Roald Dahl WEEK TWO: Jane Austen WEEK THREE: Maya Angelou WEEK FOUR: Jeff Kinney WEEK FIVE: Beatrix Potter WEEK SIX: William Shakespeare WEEK SEVEN: R.L. Stine WEEK EIGHT: J.K. Rowling WEEK NINE: Dr. Seuss WEEK TEN: Judy Blume
Learning Goals
Students will:
Connect with a community of readers
Experience a variety of writing styles and voices
Practice small group discussion skills
Develop reading skills
Build critical thinking skills
Enhance writing skills
Other Details
Supply List
Students will need to have their own copy of the following books: "Who Was Roald Dahl?" by True Kelley "Who Was Jane Austen?" by Sarah Fabiny "Who Was Maya Angelou?" by Ellen Labrecque "Who Is Jeff Kinney?" by Patrick Kinney "Who Was Beatrix Potter?" by Sarah Fabiny "Who Was William Shakespeare?" by Celeste Mannis "Who Is R.L.Stine?" by M.D. Payne "Who Is J.K. Rowling?" by Pam Pollack "Who Was Dr. Seuss?" by Janet B. Pascal "Who Is Judy Blume?" by Kirsten Anderson Students will also need paper and pencil (or the electronic equivalent) each class for their own creative writing inspired by the author. I recommend keeping a Writer's Notebook to use throughout the course.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2020
4.9
192reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Maryland Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Master's Degree in Education from Towson University
Welcome! I'm Mrs. Wheeler. I have a Bachelor's degree in English from Chatham College, Pennsylvania. I have a Master's degree in Reading from Towson University, Maryland. I am certified in English 7-12, Reading K-12, and Special Education ages 6 - adult. I have been teaching elementary and secondary language arts and reading since 2002. I have also enjoyed facilitating many extracurricular activities such as literary magazine and newspaper club. I have been teaching English as a second language to younger students, ages 4-12, online since 2016. I coach middle school and high school athletics, mostly badminton and track & field. I love working with children and young adults. It is very rewarding work. In my classroom, you can expect a high level of engagement and interaction. If students are engaged they will remember the learning and desire to learn even more! My classes include a lot of interaction and discussion. Keeping class sizes small ensures that each student has ample opportunities to share their unique perspective. When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my three children, reading, running, and gardening. I look forward to working with you and seeing your child in my classroom soon!Reviews
Live Group Class
$120
for 10 classes1x per week, 10 weeks
50 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
2-7 learners per class
