*IMPORTANT: Maximum students: 6. Minimum class enrollment is 3 students. If there are less than 3 students, that section will be cancelled, and students will be asked to transfer to another section. This is to encourage productive and thoughtful group discussions and critical thinking.*

SPRING SEMESTER: There are no classes the week of February 17 - 21, 2025. Class will resume the regular Tuesday/Friday schedule on February 25, 2025.

What happens when nature and technology collide? This in-depth 7-week novel study inspires 3rd and 4th graders, as well as enthusiastic 2nd graders, to read deeply and thoughtfully as they answer that question. This course is perfect for students who prefer small group settings.

Students will read Peter Brown's adventurous book, The Wild Robot, and practice close reading strategies. This course offers rich discussions, vocabulary exploration, and thematic lessons tailored to enhance reading comprehension and critical thinking.

Already read the book? That's great! Re-reading and slow reading are encouraged so that students learn to pause and think, to consider and talk, to speculate and revise their initial understandings. This practice of close reading also teaches students to be patient with the development of their interpretations and the interpretations of others.

This course begins with the Notice & Note signposts, a powerful reading strategy that empowers students to identify key moments in a text, deepening their understanding and engagement with the story. This foundation sets the stage for analyzing "The Wild Robot" through exploratory and critical discussions.

After the first week, classes will then focus on thought-provoking analysis and discussions on assigned chapters. (This will take up about half of each class meeting.) Other class activities include:

- Vocabulary review.
- Sentence-building and paragraph-writing activities. 
- Multimedia tools like slides and video clips to further enrich the learning experience.

Student will also have a final project: a book review that covers the plot, themes, character development, and their personal reflections on the story. This can be a written review, an illustrated review, a video review, or a review in a creative medium of their choice. A rubric will be provided in the beginning of the course.

Please refer to the syllabus for a detailed breakdown of each lesson.

My teaching style is interactive and student-centered, with a strong focus on participation and enthusiastic exploration of the text. I encourage students to be curious and take ownership of their questions.

Students will benefit from small group discussions, guided writing, and a creative end-of-unit project, ensuring that this course challenges and inspires them to think critically and express their ideas creatively in a warm, supportive environment.

I look forward to meeting your student!