Photo courtesy of Jaredd Craig.
We discuss the books at length so make sure your child has read and has copies of the books so we don't give away any plot lines or spoilers.
This will be an ongoing literature class where we will discuss a new book every two weeks.  I will gently guide the discussion on different book topics such as: plot, character attributes and development, themes, symbolism, genre types, and literary devices.
This will be a time for students to share their love of reading.  We will leave most time open for discussion and learn different book elements around that discussion. I mainly use Socratic discussion when discussing the books and themes of the novels.  I try to get students to think about what they are reading. I have found that readers love to share what they are reading with others and why they love it.  This class will give that opportunity to students who love to read.  I will also use google slides in my classroom presentations. Some weeks we may have handouts related to the different literary elements we will be discussing. This class can also be used as a literature credit for the school year.  

The week before we study each novel I will send out discussion questions from each novel.  I will also send out a reference sheet that will give examples and definitions of any literary elements we will be learning in class.   

Please make sure that students have copies of the books in their possession as we read and discuss each book.   
  

Weeks of September 1st and 15th--Hakon of Rogen's Saga by Erik Christina Haugaard.  In this story of Vikings and war we will study historical fiction, bravery, poetry and verse from the novel, and symbolism within the story.  

***I am sorry to have to start class and then skip a week but one of my children is getting married the week of September 8th.***

Weeks of September 22nd and September 29th-- Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang.  In this story about the Cultural Revolution in China we will study irony, dynamic versus static characters, protagonists versus antagonists, and plot. 

The week of October 6th is Fall Break.

Weeks of October 13th and October 20th-- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien.  We will discuss language and speech, names, setting, symbolism, motifs, and antagonist versus protagonist. 

Weeks October 27th and November 3rd-- We will read the following poems and verse Act 3, scene 2, lines 70-104 of Julius Ceasar by William Shakespeare, She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron (George Gordon), Suspend, Singer Swan by Sor Juana a Inés de la Cruz, Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar. (I have chosen older poems because to understand poetry you must read it and these are in the public domain, so we can read them in class.) We will discuss-- rhyme, meter, rhythm, stanzas, and more depending on time.  We may not be able to discuss all poems in-depth.  

Weeks November 10th and 17th--The Beyonders by Brandon Mull.  We will discuss the characters, symbolism, tone and mood, plot, juxtapostion, heroism, and fantasy/adventure genre.  

Weeks December 1st and 8th-- Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.  We will talk about historical fiction, characters, protagonist verses antagonist and setting.

2025
Weeks January 5th and 12th--A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. In this book we will discuss the themes of the novel, historical fiction, and plot.

Weeks January 19th and 26th--Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare.  We will discuss historical fiction, themes, foreshadowing, character development and tone and mood of the story.  

Weeks February 2nd and 9th-- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine Engel.  In this early children's science fiction novel we will be discussing science fiction, symbolism, family, belonging, and a little bit of fantasy.  

For the week of February 16th, I will be out of town for my other job. 

Weeks February 23rd March 2nd-- Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman.  In this medieval novel about a young woman we will discuss coming of age, life in the Middle Ages, setting, family roles, point of view, and characterization.  

Weeks March 9th and 16th-- poetry.  We will read and discuss the following poems as time permits; "Do Not Go Gently into that Good Night," by Dylan Thomas, "In Flanders Fields," by John McCrae, "If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking," by Emily Dickinson, "Listen to the MUSTN'TS," by Shel Silverstein, and "Dream Variations," by Langston Hughes.  (I have chosen older poems because to understand poetry you must read it and these are in the public domain, so we can read them in class.) We will discuss-- rhyme, meter, rhythm, stanzas, and more depending on time.  We may not be able to discuss all poems in-depth.  

Weeks March 23rd and 30th-- Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.  We will discuss fairy tales, characterization, setting, point of view, dynamic versus static characters, and themes of the novel. 

Weeks March April 6th and 13th-- Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis.  We will talk about historical fiction, plot, characters and setting.  

Weeks April 27th and May 4th-- Washington Irving short stories.  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Wrinkle.  We will discuss the first American literature, short stories, themes, dynamic versus static characters, and setting. 

Weeks May 11th and 18th-- My Name is Keoko by Linda Sue Park.  We will focus on themes, characters, dynamic versus static characters, and symbolism. 


This class will rely heavily on student discussion.  We will need to cancel class if there are not at least 5 learners.