"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" That's exactly how the kids of The Mysterious Benedict Society feel (and the exact words that start this adventure)!

This summer, join me, Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance as we leave our former lives behind, move into a remote boarding school, and accept a challenge that will forever change your life.

And you thought this was just going to be another run-of-the-mill summer, didn't you? Psh!

If you're a fan of Lemony Snicket, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or The Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, you'll love this story!

Details for parents and guardians:

Class Summary:
Each day, students will come to class prepared to discuss a specific number of chapters. This is a longer book than most. To get the best experience possible, please come to class having read the book beforehand. (Plus, we don't want to give away any spoilers.)
During our live meeting time, students and I will talk about what has been read and I will guide the conversation with a selection of Socratic questions created to drive the conversation. Students will have the chance to develop a deeper understanding of the text by examining issues and events that occur within the novel. This is also a great opportunity for students to discuss passages they didn't understand or get another perspective on characters and ideas throughout the books.

Class breakdown:
Week 1: The Mysterious Benedict Society (Trenton Lee Stewart)
Monday - (Chapters 1-13) During our first lesson, students will discuss the author (Trenton Lee Stewart) and why his story is considered an adventure novel. We will also discuss the influences of the time period and what influences the author's own life had on the book. Students will each get a chance to answer and ask questions regarding the book's characters, theme, and create their own predictions about Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance's future...what will they do when they find out what "special opportunities" each child is presented with?

Tuesday - (Chapters 14-27) In class, we will start the conversation by focusing on each child's "quest", beginning with the test, and what is motivating each of them. During our time together, we will step into each character's shoes and discuss the hidden meanings and messages through metaphors and symbolism. We will also take a look at the various characters that, outside of the Mysterious Benedict Society, they meet along their journey and what roles they play in the Society's transformation.

Wednesday - (Chapters 28-39) During this class, we will take a look at the timeline of events, highlighting the more important occurrences, that led to the story's conclusion. I will present the directions for student's book reviews towards the end of the class.
*Students will be asked to write a book review for Thursday's class. This is a one-page worksheet that will be posted in the classroom and can be filled out online or printed. Please make sure that your student uploads it via Google Docs or MS Word so that we can discuss as a class.*

Thursday - Thursday will be the last day we discuss The Mysterious Benedict Society. Students will discuss whether their predictions of the outcome was as expected or different than what they had in mind. We will also define the novel's overall theme and discuss what the student's thought about the story versus the author's intent. 

Why is this class called "Bootcamp"?
Just like any good Bootcamp, we are getting down and dirty exploring the details and ideas we read during this session. Okay, so it may not be push-ups and burpees (whew), but we will be digging into the character's psyche, the underlying themes within The Mysterious Benedict Society. But really it's because the classes are four days each week instead of the usual once-a-week meetings.

*Summer camp papers, participation, or reviews are NOT GRADED. 

*Because this is a discussion class, there should be a minimum of 3 students per class. If this minimum is not reached, I will contact you about additional options.