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Reading Short Stories: Middle School (CEFR: B1)

Students will read a selection of short stories, then write different essays in response to the stories. This course builds writing and reading comprehension skills.
Choreography by Rae
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(623)
Class

What's included

8 live meetings
7 hrs 20 mins in-class hours
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Each class concludes with a written homework assignment to be completed outside of class. Assignments are submitted via Google Docs. Students are expected to complete the homework via Google Docs.
Assessment
Students will receive written feedback on their weekly essays. Teacher sends a short summary to parents at the end of the semester.

Class Experience

US Grade 6 - 8
In this 55-minute class, students will read a selection of short stories and write about them. Students will learn to build their reading comprehension and "book detective skills" by answering questions ranging from an exploration of literary devices to personal opinion on the author's societal impact. 

This class focuses on writing:
- literary analysis
- narrative essay
- persuasive essay
- argumentative speech (a speech for debate)

Unlike many writing classes this is not a lecture course! Less than half of our time in class is spent on instruction. Students will have about 20 minutes to read in class, 20 minutes of in class writing time, and 20 minutes of discussion. 

This class is very hands on and the instructor provides individual feedback to students to help them better understand teacher feedback. Our goal is to help students feel more in control of their own writing process and to develop critical thinking skills.

Please note: Students who do not do the homework on time or skip steps, tend to spend a lot of time trying to catch up. This can lead to unfinished essays or poorly written essays.

This class is great for:
- Students who are familiar with writing a 5 paragraph essay
- Students who are looking to expand their essay writing skills 
- Students who are looking to expand read weird stories
- Students who are seeking a supportive in-class writing environment


Please note: Students must attend at least 50% of the classes in order to continue receiving homework and class feedback. Only watching the class video recording does not substitute for the in class experience.

Learning Goals

Improve reading comprehension
Build critical thinking skills
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Standards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
8 Lessons
over 8 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Exploring Literary Devices
 Students will learn about popular literary devices and read Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell Tale Heart. 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Exploring Literary Devices
 Students will learn about popular literary devices and read Inside Out by Francisco Jimenez. 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Thinking About Impossible Decisions
 Students will envision facing circumstances difficult decisions and read Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit and The Pendulum. 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Thinking About Impossible Decisions
 Students will envision facing circumstances difficult decisions and read Lather and Nothing Else by Hernando Téllez. 
55 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Students do not have to be good at typing, but should be comfortable using a mouse and a keyboard. This class does not use paper and pencil. No special accounts need to be created to use Google Docs. If your child does not have an email account to access Google Docs, then the teacher will be able to send the content using another method. Students may be asked to revise their written work before the next in-person meeting. Teacher comments are placed in the document's comment section. In some cases, the teacher may remit a short video to the student to demonstrate what changes are recommended.
Pre-Requisites
- Basic reading comprehension (at least a 5th grade level) - Basic computer skills (ability to open and close tabs, use google docs) - Basic writing skills (recognize proper punctuation and grammar rules)
Supply List
A device with a keyboard, working microphone, and a mouse. Using a laptop or computer is ideal.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined March, 2020
4.9
623reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Ms. Rae has over 8 years of experience teaching creative writing to Middle School students. She has been teaching ESL learners online for 6 years, is TOEFL certified, and holds a Bachelors degree in Performing Arts.

Reviews

Live Group Course
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$25

weekly or $200 for 8 classes
1x per week, 8 weeks
55 min

Completed by 4 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-15
2-6 learners per class

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