NEW BOOK STARFISH by LISA FIPPS STARTS 1/20!

This class is designed to promote critical reading, thinking, vocabulary, and writing for middle-grade students (5th-8th grades). Younger students with reading levels at least at the 6th-grade level are permitted. There is a short essay assigned after each book. All books are read outside of class. Classtime is spent discussing the chapters, completing activities, and playing games. Students should be expected to be able to read 50-70 pages per week. During class, there are vocabulary studies, discussion questions, a short comprehension quiz, competitive games, and the occasional activity. The class is focused on building literacy and comprehension skills, however, I have designed the class to be a safe place where students can fall in love with reading and enjoy discussing some awesome books!

ABOUT THIS COURSE
In this ongoing middle school reading course, we will meet once a week to discuss great middle-school novels. Emphasis is on vocabulary, comprehension, figurative language, writing, and most importantly, the joy of pleasure reading! Students will read one novel over a 4-week time period. This allows us to dive deeper into literary analysis and have more in-depth discussions. 

Students can jump in and out throughout these 4-weeks as desired as long as they have read the text from the current point. For example: if we are on chapter 12 of a book, the student should have read chapters 1-12 before enrolling in order to best participate in the discussions.

Students also practice literary analysis writing and receive feedback from the instructor. For each book, I offer students an essay assignment to submit to me for individual feedback. They will submit a draft and I will provide feedback to the student. The student will then revise the essay and submit a final copy for a grade. There is NO direct essay-writing instruction in this class, but I do provide literary analysis prompts and feedback to students who wish to practice their writing independently. I also provide writing outlines and writing support as needed via Outschool messaging and google docs. 

2024: Starting 1/20

BOOK 3: Starfish by Lisa Flipps (*note that this book is a vignette, so each page may only have a paragraph or so; rated for ages 10+)
SUMMARY: Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth-birthday party, she's been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules - like "no making waves", "avoid eating in public", and "don't move so fast that your body jiggles". And she's found her safe space - her swimming pool - where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It's also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie's weight will motivate her to diet. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbor, Catalina, who loves Ellie for who she is. With this support buoying her, Ellie might finally be able to cast aside the Fat Girl Rules and starfish in real life - by unapologetically being her own fabulous self.

-Week of 1/20: Intro to a vignette, beauty throughout history, and intro to text
Reading Assignment: Read 1-120 (For Just a While - Permanently Altered)
Homework: Final Essay Draft due next week

-Week of 1/27: Discuss pages 1-120
Reading Assignment: Read 121-244 (The Question-Room for Starfish)

-Week of 2/3: Discuss pages 121-244
Homework: Essay Draft due by next class
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________


BOOK 4: Bluefish by Pat Schmatz (ages 10 and up)
SUMMARY: Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he’s missing his old hound, Rosco. Now there’s just the cramped place he shares with his well-meaning but alcoholic grandpa, a new school, and the dreaded routine of passing when he’s called on to read out loud. But that’s before Travis meets Mr. McQueen, who doesn’t take “pass” for an answer — a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world. And it’s before Travis is noticed by Velveeta, a girl whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. With sympathy, humor, and disarming honesty, Pat Schmatz brings to life a cast of utterly believable characters — and captures the moments of trust and connection that make all the difference.
-Week of November 27: What is dyslexia? Intro to the genre of realistic fiction
Reading Assignment: Read pages 1-66 (chapters 1-9)

-Week of: Discuss pages 1-66 (chapters 1-9)
Reading Assignment: Read pages 67-142 (chapters 10-18)

-Week of: Discuss pages  67-142 (chapters 10-18)
Reading Assignment: Read pages 143-223 (Chapters 19-28)

-Week of : Discuss pages 143-223 (Chapters 19-28)
Homework: Draft essay assignment


MISSED CLASSES
If your student misses a class, a recording will always be accessible on the classroom page. The PowerPoint with notes is always available as well. 

PARTICIPATION: 
Students may choose to keep cameras on or off as long as they briefly verify themselves with me at the beginning of the class (per Outschool policy). I do expect participation in this class. We cover quite a bit of material and it is essential that students discuss and understand the material. Being active participants helps them do so.

DATES
This class includes time off for holiday breaks (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break).

All classes allowing weekly payments adhere to the following refund policy:
1.  "Cancel anytime. No refunds for past payments. Most recent payments can be refunded within 24 hours of purchase and prior to the first meeting of the payment period. Billed each Sunday morning." Refunds may be granted for emergency situations.