We discuss the books at length so make sure your child has read and has copies of the books so we don't give away any plot lines or spoilers.
This will be a weekly literature class where we will begin a new novel every 2 weeks. 
I will gently guide the discussion on different book topics such as: plot, character attributes and development, themes, symbolism, genre types, literary devices and others. 
This will be a time for students to share their love of reading.  We will leave most time open for discussion and learn different book elements around that discussion.  I have found that readers love to share what they are reading with others and why they love it.  This class will give that opportunity to students who love to read.  I will also use google slides in my classroom presentations. Some weeks we may have handouts related to the different literary elements we will be discussing. This class can also be used as a literature credit for the school year.  
All study questions and vocabulary will be handed out the week before we study that specific book.  
Please make sure that students have copies of the books in their possession as we read and discuss each book.  

Our book list will be as follows: 
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
Letters from Rifka by Karen Hess
Maniac Mcgee by Jerry Spinelli
Poetry selections — Jabberwocky by Lewis Carol,
Macavity the Mystery Cat by T.S. Eliot, and
Life Doesn’t Frighten Me at All by Maya Angelou
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Poetry Selections-- Ode to My Socks by Pablo Neruda, The Tiger by William Blake, and Fog by Carl Sandburg
Matilda by Roald Dahl


Week of September 15th-- Author sketch of Marie McSwigan and discussion and introduction to Snow Treasure.
Week of September 22nd-- Continued discussion of Snow Treasure. Discussions of plot, setting, and various literary elements in the novel. Go over a vocabulary list from Snow Treasure. 
Week of September 29th--Author sketch of Karen Hess and background of Letters from Rifka.  
Week of October 6th--Continued discussion of Letters from Rifka.  What is historical fiction?  
Week of October 13th-- Fall Break.
Week of October 20th-- Author sketch of Jerry Spinelli.  Go over any unfamiliar vocabulary in Maniac Mcgee.  Begin study questions from Maniac Mcgee.  
Week of October 27th-- Discussion of the different characters in the book-- direct verses indirect characterization and static verses dynamic characters.  Finish up study questions. 
Week of November 3rd-- Author sketch of poetry authors.  Begin the study questions.   Discussion of literary elements in poetry.
Week of November 10th--Finish up the study questions about the poems we have been studying.  Do a Kahoot on the books read this semester.
Week of November 17th-- Author sketch of Brandon Mull and what is fantasy.  Go over any unfamiliar vocabulary and study questions. 
Week of December 1st-- Finish Fablehaven discussion and discuss symbolism used in the book.  
Week of January 5th-- Begin studying Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.  Give an author sketch and do an overview of the characters. 
Week of January 12th-- Finish up the discussion of Because of Winn Dixie.  
Week of January 19th-- Discussion of the setting and plot in Bud, Not Buddy.  Author sketch of Christopher Paul Curtis.  What is historical fiction?  
Week of January 27th--  Go over any unfamiliar vocabulary in Bud, Not Buddy.  Finish study questions from Bud, Not Buddy.  
Week of February 2nd-- Author sketch of E. B. White.  What is life on a farm like? Discussion of the different characters in the book-- direct verses indirect characterization and static verses dynamic characters.  Homework will be to create a new animal character in Charlotte's Web.  
Week of February 9th-- Share your new Charlotte's Web character.  Go over any unfamiliar vocabulary and study questions.
Week of February 16th-- No class for Spring Break. 
Week of February 23rd-- No class for Spring Break. 
Week of March 2nd--Begin discussion of Number the Stars. Author sketch of Lois Lowry. Discussion of where Denmark is located, language spoken there.  Short overview of where World War II was fought and who were the Allies verses Axis powers.  Begin discussion questions. 
Week of March 9th--Finish discussion questions from Number the Stars.  Kahoot vocabulary game going over the last 3 books. 
Week of March 16th-- Poetry unit.  Learn literary elements in poetry and discuss Ode to My Socks by Pablo Neruda, The Tiger by William Blake, and Fog by Carl Sandburg.  Each child will write a poem to share for homework. 
Week of March 23rd-- Finish up poetry discussion and read aloud all poems.  Short Kahoot reviewing literary elements learned in class.   
Week of March 30th--Begin Matilda by Roald Dahl. Author sketch of Roald Dahl.
Week of April 6th-- Finish up study questions of Matilda by Roald Dahl. 
Class will take a break before beginning a summer session. 

This class will rely heavily on student discussion.  We will need to cancel class if there are 
not at least 4 learners.