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School Year 2019-20
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Prof. Fee: $0
Homework: yes
Hours/Week: 2
Max/Min Students: 12/6
Grade Range: 6-8Course Description: In this course, we will immerse ourselves in actively reading some of the best classics for middle school. Possibilities may include The Old Man and the Sea; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Carry on, Mr, Bowditch; Call it Courage; and, Treasure Island, among many others. While reading the stories, we will examine and discuss key elements of the stories such as: parts of a story (setting, character (protagonist, antagonist), point of view, plot, conflict, climax, resolution, theme, tone/mood, etc.); literary devices (allusion, imagery, hyperbole, dialogue, symbolism, irony, flashback, foreshadowing, etc.); and, figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, etc.).
We will read approximately a book a month, more if the books are shorter and our class is up to it. The books I’ve chosen are readily available via interlibrary loan, but you can also purchase them easily at bookstores or online, used. I will email the list of books, organized by month, during the summer so families can be ready for the first day of class.
The format of this class will be similar to past semesters, but we will be reading different books and analyzing them more deeply, in an effort to help prepare students for the rigors of high school reading.
There will be some writing in this class, mainly involving a key element in the story we are currently reading, for example, but the majority of this class will center around reading and understanding the story the author is telling. To that end, we will use class discussion, brainstorming, story and plot mapping, analyzing characters, etc., as vehicles to discern the author's meaning.
Course Expectations: Students are required to complete all reading assignments and additional assignments given in a timely fashion. A syllabus, book list, and class schedule will be handed out on the first day of class with more specific information. To make this class enjoyable for all, and since there will be much class discussion, it is expected that students show respect to each other, to others’ ideas, and to the teacher(s) in the class.
Prerequisites: Ability to read at a 6th - 8th grade level or above.
Workload: Moderate. Parents can expect their students to be assigned approximately 50-60 pages to read per week, sometimes more and sometimes less.
Teacher Provides: All supplies/materials needed, including a Reader's Journal
Student Provides: All reading books, sharpened pencils, colored pencils.
** This ID is assigned to classes not on the current class schedule. The codes and descriptions are available then to revive to offer again. **
Details:Class meets on Monday from 10:00 PM to 10:55 PM