This course is divided into two themes, with each theme lasting 5 weeks. During each theme, students will read, write, and work on a creative project. 2 reading response prompts are due during each theme. For theme 1, students will write a short mystery, and for theme 2, students will make their own short film for the 90 Second Newbery film festival. 

This class aims to create a secure and engaging classroom where students feel safe to share their thoughts, writings, and projects with me and each other to help them grow in their analysis skills and their writing skills. 

Theme 1: Mysteries - For weeks 1 to 5, we will be reading Drew Leclair Gets a Clue by Katryn Bury, The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories by Agatha Christie, and The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln

Week 1, Meeting 1: Intro to the class, discussion of Drew Leclair Gets a Clue, reading response due
Week 1, Meeting 2: Discussion of one story from The Regatta Mystery, intro to mystery elements
Week 2, Meeting 1: Discussion of one story from The Regatta Mystery, Write a mystery overview
Week 2, Meeting 2: Discussion of  one story from The Regatta Mystery, Mystery topic due
Week 3, Meeting 1: Discussion of one story from The Regatta Mystery, Planning your mystery
Week 3, Meeting 2: Practical writing workshop
Week 4, Meeting 1: Discussion of The Swifts, reading response due
Week 4, Meeting 2: Mystery writing group work, one-on-one writing conferences
Week 5, Meeting 1: Mystery writing group work, one-on-one writing conferences
Week 5, Meeting 2: Student sharing, intro to next unit

Theme 2: Newbery Award Winners - For weeks 6 to 10, we will be reading New Kid by Jerry Craft, The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani, and a Newbery book of the student's choice. Students will create their own 90-second Newbery.

Week 6, Meeting 1: Discussion of New Kid, reading response due, introduction to the 90-Second Newbery
Week 6, Meeting 2: Classic film elements, sample 90-Second Newbery films,  book choice finalized
Week 7, Meeting 1: Overview of a script, storyboarding samples, idea brainstorming
Week 7, Meeting 2: First draft script due, one-on-one script conference
Week 8, Meeting 1: Planning your filming day by day, final script due, filmmaking review
Week 8, Meeting 2: Discussion of The Night Diary, Project check-in, introduction to editing and music
Week 9, Meeting 1: Project check-in, post-production overview
Week 9, Meeting 2: Project check-in, discussion of everyone's Newbery book
Week 10, Meeting 1: Final edits and tweaks, one-on-one conferences if needed
Week 10, Meeting 2: In-class film festival