English, Literature

There is no prerequisite requirement for this class.

I have been a lover of books since I was 9 years old and had to have surgery.  My mother, who understood a few things about her child, read the first book in a series to me with all the voices and enthusiasm any book could want.  Then she read the first 2 chapters of the next book.  And then she stopped.  The larger picture of why she stopped at that moment isn't important.  What is important is that she lit a flame in me.  I wanted to know how it finished.  From that point on, I've been a reader.  

This early experience truly informs the books I choose for my young readers.  I want the books to fire their minds, I want them to touch their hearts.  Reading a book is starting a conversation with a person you've never met and truly hearing them.  I want to build lovers of reading not just hit that magical 30-minute reading time.  

The Details
We will be reading through five wonderful books over the course of 15  weeks.  Each book will increase in word count helping your learner's reading fluency gradually improve.  This is the perfect, light-reading class to keep everyone reading through the whole semester.

Classes will follow a general structure:

Welcome
Discussion (questions provided)
Introduction of next class assignment
Vocabulary to look out for

Every week the student will need to complete the reading and the Discussion Questions to be ready for the following week's class.  There is no homework to hand-in.

Below is our schedule.  I've noted the two weeks that will have a video class.

Assignments by week
Week 1 No assignments due at first class.

Homework due Week 2 at the beginning of class
A Grain of Rice, by Helena Clare Pittman – pg 1-100 (50 pages or 14-20 pages per day-Don’t worry there are lots of pictures)

Homework due Week 3 at the beginning of class
The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes 
Read 4 Chapters (approximately 39 pages or 5-7 pages per day)
Chapter 1 – Wanda
Chapter 2 – The Dresses Game
Chapter 3 – A Bright Blue Day
Chapter 4 – The Contest

Homework due Week 4 at the beginning of class
The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes 
Read 3 Chapters (approximately 40 pages or 5-7 pages per day)
Chapter 5 – The Hundred Dresses
Chapter 6 – Up On Boggins Heights
Chapter 7 – The Letter to Room 13

Homework due Week 5 at the beginning of class
The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate
Pages Beginning to Page 60 (approximately 9-12 pages per day)	

Homework due Week 6 at the beginning of class
The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate
Page 61-120 (approximately 9-12 pages per day)	

Homework due Week 7 at the beginning of class
The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate
Page 121-179 (approximately 9-12 pages per day)	

Homework due Week 8 at the beginning of class
The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate
Page 180-240 (approximately 9-12 pages per day)	

Homework due Week 9 at the beginning of class
The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate
Page 241-300 (approximately 9-12 pages per day)	

Homework due Week 10 at the beginning of class
The Year of Ms. Agnes, by Kirkpatrick Hill
Page 1-58 (approximately 9-12 pages per day)

Homework due Week 11 at the beginning of class
The Year of Ms. Agnes, by Kirkpatrick Hill
Page 59-113 (approximately 9-12 pages per day)

Homework due Week 12 at the beginning of class
Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White
Read 6 Chapters (approximately 47 pages or 6-9 pages per day)
Chapter I – Before Breakfast
Chapter II – Wilbur
Chapter III – Escape
Chapter IV – Loneliness
Chapter V – Charlotte
Chapter VI – Summer Days

Homework due Week 13 at the beginning of class
Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White
Read 6 Chapters (approximately 43 pages or 6-9 pages per day)
Chapter VII – Bad News
Chapter VIII – A Talk at Home
Chapter IX – Wilbur’s Boast
Chapter X – An Explosion
Chapter XI – The Miracle
Chapter XII – A Meeting

Homework due Week 14 at the beginning of class
Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White
Read 5 Chapters (approximately 45 pages or 6-9 pages per day)
Chapter XIII – Good Progress
Chapter XIV – Dr. Dorian
Chapter XV – The Crickets
Chapter XVI – Off to the Fair
Chapter XVII – Uncle
	

Homework due Week 15 at the beginning of class
Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White
Read 5 Chapters (approximately 46 pages or 6-9 pages per day)
Chapter XVIII – The Cool of the Evening
Chapter XIX – The Egg Sac
Chapter XX – The Hour of Triumph
Chapter XXI – Last Day
Chapter XXII – A Warm Wind

Final Class Wrap up of Discussion Questions and Full Class Discussion