This course is the first in a series of intensive semester courses that are Common Core aligned to the grade 6 to 8 American English Language Arts standards, but these courses can be taken in any order. This course develops our exploration of overlapping themes and topics across various forms (short stories, novels, poems, audio readings, and films), styles (narrative, sonnet, free verse, etc.), and genres (fantasy, realistic fiction, Gothic, mystery, allegory, historical fiction, adventure, dystopian, etc.), with attention to historical accounts, points of view, figurative language, diction, syntax, structure, allusions, and the interaction of setting, character, and plot.

⭐This course is rich in content and is a good fit for advanced and gifted learners, but I maintain an encouraging, creative, low-stress environment for all learners to thrive in, while providing support so that everyone can make growth and stimulate each other. There is a full course load, but I am accommodating of various needs, levels, and schedules. I feel that all learners will do what they can do when treated with respect and encouraged to grow. Therefore, there will be no grading in this course (A, B, C, etc. or percentages). Instead, I record feedback (video) with specific praise and suggestions for the future, believing that essay writing and English skills develop over time (for a lifetime) and at varying rates for all individuals. Individual growth and sustained/renewed interest is most important. Thus, this course will be a wonderful fit for any learner who has time for a full English course load, is able to read, write, and participate independently, and is ready for a thrilling deep dive into the genre!

⭐Do reach out to me for accommodations and support! I do my best to connect with and support every learner.

⭐We will have a rotating schedule to build up the various reading (literature and informational text), writing, speaking, listening, and language skills. Therefore, each week day will have a particular focus, as follows:

VISIT IT! (DAY 1)
NOTE: Homework, including essay writing, should be completed PRIOR TO each class.

These classes set the stage for the literature to be covered and for our weekly writing focus (as we develop our mystery short stories). This will be done by reading nonfiction articles, researching, introducing key concepts, discussing documentaries, or planning, crafting, revising, and editing essays.

EXPLORE IT! (DAY 2)
NOTE: Homework should be completed PRIOR TO each class. This will include completing a summarizing activity and posting it in our classroom.

These classes will begin with storytelling and exploring the literature! The students will take turns retelling the story with a summarizing activity in the classroom (their homework). At the beginning of class, we will briefly respond to the contributions. These classes will be the time to focus on comprehension via exploration of the vocabulary, structure, figurative language, point of view, and themes in the selected reading for the week (fiction). There will be opportunities to listen to and read the literature aloud. 

Summarizing Options: Pick an Activity!
Choose one summarizing activity per week. Just say the magic words, “I’m going to . . .” 

✔️Journal It – Imagine that you are the character writing in your diary about what you have experienced and how you feel about it.

✔️Draw It - Create a comic illustrating the main events.

✔️Map It – Map out the plot on the story mountain.

✔️Graph It – Draw a graph or a series of thermometers reflecting the rising and falling conflicts.

✔️Order It – Put the story in chronological order on a time line (or, another way like a chart) to show when things happened.

✔️Voice It - Have another character tell the story with their thoughts and opinions.

✔️Witness It – Imagine that you are an inanimate object that came alive and witnessed the story. Describe what you saw or heard!

✔️Quote It - Choose the most important three sentences of the passage. Then, record yourself reading them aloud together with voice and sound effects. You may choose to add props. Add the chapter and page numbers with your work.

✔️Re-set It: You are the set and stage manager, so change the setting of the story and reimagine it in another country or time period. Rewrite the story to reflect these changes! Then, present your story using sound effects, suitable backgrounds, etc. or create a model of the new setting.

✔️Live It: Imagine that you are transported into the story. Describe your experience in writing. Then, present your story using sound effects, suitable backgrounds, etc.

✔️Script It: Create a play script of a scene from the story and perform it. Consider adding music, sound effects, and props.

✔️Think It: Develop a scene where the character is alone but is talking out loud (so we can know their thoughts). Write out their monologue and then record it.

✔️Transport It: Transport a character into our world and describe their experiences living in your community.

✔️Transform It: Convert a poem to prose or the other way around without losing the core elements of the setting, characters, and plot.

✔️Freeze It: Write and role play a scene where the character must make a choice. Have everything freeze while they talk through their options and thoughts. Have everything unfreeze as they make their decision.

✔️Advertise It: Create a poster advertising a new version of the story and pitch your idea.

✔️Orchestrate It: Choose music for a production of the story with a focus on the audience's mood, the author's tone, and the story's themes. Then, describe your choices in writing.


IMAGINE IT! (DAY 3)

This is a day for creative writing! This is when you will work on crafting your own mystery short story!

Core Literature:
Greenglass House by Kate Milford
"Three Skeleton Key" - Beginning only

One of the Following (Learner's Choice):
The Detective's Assistant by Kate Hannigan (Mid-to-late 1800s)
The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine (1909)
Taylor & Rose Secret Agents: Peril in Paris by Katherine Woodfine (1911)
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson (1914, 1950s, 2007 & Present)
The Story Collector by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb (1920s)
The Story Seeker by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb (1920s)
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein (1936)
Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit by Brittney Williams, Hope Larson, and Lilliam Rivera (1950s)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (Mid-1960s)
At the Bottom of the World: Jack and the Geniuses by Bill Nye and Gregory Mone
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair by Amy Makechnie
Sunnyside Plaza by Scott Simon
Yours Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
The Mystery of the Moon Tower by Francesco Sedita and Prescott Seraydarian
The Pathfinders Society: The Mystery of the Moon Tower by Francesco Sedita & Prescott Seraydarian

▶️Due to rising costs and lower enrollment, I have had to increase my prices. However, I am dedicated to finding a solution for all families! Do reach out to me if your learner would like to take my class and you need a discount. In fact, I am offering at least one pay-what-you-can spot for each confirmed section (with other learners). Reach out to me for details!

▶️If you are able to pay the current fee, I thank you for your support since I work hard to provide creative, inspiring content while balancing the challenges of living with disability and chronic illness. Thank you!