Estudio y análisis de literatura para la escuela secundaria: Club de lectura clásica en curso

Photo courtesy of Jaredd Craig.
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 an ongoing literature class where we will discuss a new book every two weeks.  I will gently guide the discussion on different book topics such as: plot, character attributes and development, themes, symbolism, genre types, and literary devices.
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 mainly use Socratic discussion when discussing the books and themes of the novels.  I try to get students to think about what they are reading. 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.  

The week before we study each novel I will send out discussion questions from each novel.  I will also send out a reference sheet that will give examples and definitions of any literary elements we will be learning in class.   

Please make sure that students have copies of the books in their possession as we read and discuss each book.   
  
2025
Weeks January 5th and 12th--A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. In this book we will discuss the themes of the novel, historical fiction, and plot.

Weeks January 19th and 26th--Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare.  We will discuss historical fiction, themes, foreshadowing, character development and tone and mood of the story.  

Weeks February 2nd and 9th-- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine Engel.  In this early children's science fiction novel we will be discussing science fiction, symbolism, family, belonging, and a little bit of fantasy.  

For the week of February 23rd, I will be out of town for my other job. 

Weeks February 16th and March 2nd-- Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman.  In this medieval novel about a young woman we will discuss coming of age, life in the Middle Ages, setting, family roles, point of view, and characterization.  

Weeks March 9th and 16th-- poetry.  We will read and discuss the following poems as time permits; "Do Not Go Gently into that Good Night," by Dylan Thomas, "In Flanders Fields," by John McCrae, "If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking," by Emily Dickinson, "Listen to the MUSTN'TS," by Shel Silverstein, and "Dream Variations," by Langston Hughes.  (I have chosen older poems because to understand poetry you must read it and these are in the public domain, so we can read them in class.) We will discuss-- rhyme, meter, rhythm, stanzas, and more depending on time.  We may not be able to discuss all poems in-depth.  

Weeks March 23rd and 30th-- Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.  We will discuss fairy tales, characterization, setting, point of view, dynamic versus static characters, and themes of the novel. 

Weeks March April 6th and 13th-- Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. We will discuss fantasy, plot, characters and setting.  

Weeks April 27th and May 4th-- My Name is Keoko by Linda Sue Park.  We will focus on themes, characters, dynamic versus static characters, and symbolism. 

Weeks May 11th and 18th-- The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson.  We will discuss memoirs, characters, setting, and point of view in this true account of Poland during WWII. 


This class will rely heavily on student discussion.  We will need to cancel class if there are not at least 5 learners.