Book Seminar Courses
Course Description
Book Seminars are designed to create an opportunity for students to learn both from the text and from one another. Each week, students will share ideas, thoughts, and opinions about the spotlight text. Students will practice critical thinking skills as well as proper dialogue and rules of discourse all while reading relevant and enjoyable texts. Book spotlights, descriptions, and tentative schedules are below.
Payments must be received at least 24 hours before the course begins. Please include course title (including book title) in comments field when purchasing courses.
Terrible Typhoid Mary
by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Ages: 10 & up
Dates: 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29
Time: 2:30-3:30 EST
Tuition: $25
Book Spotlight:
Terrible Typhoid Mary
Terrible Typhoid Mary
What better time to learn about the most famous asymptomatic disease carrier of all time than during a global pandemic! Through reading this nonfiction book by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, students will gain a greater understanding of the historical, medical breakthroughs that surrounding the mystifying case of Mary Mallon, aka Typhoid Mary. Students will also discuss concepts of immigration, healthcare, yellow journalism, and contagion.
Ages: 10 and Up
Tentative Schedule
Week One: Group Norms and Behavior Expectations- We will assign roles and discuss how to divide the text for the duration of the course. Prereading metacognitive skills will also be addressed as well as activities to activate background knowledge of the concepts in the book.
Week Two: Section One: Students will discuss and share memorable quotes of the first section. In addition students will discuss and complete activities about social issues the book presents.
Week Three: Section Two: Students will discuss and share memorable quotes of the second section. In addition students will discuss social issues from the book. Finally, students will examine primary sources and discuss their importance.
Week Four: Section Three: Students will respond to the text with their choice of reflections and various activities (poetry, lists, comics, art, etc.). Final discussion class! Book recommendations will be provided at this session.
Matilda Bone
by Karen Crushman
Ages: 8 and up
Dates: 10/6, 10/20, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3
*Note the absence of class on 10/13 due to fall break
Tuition: $25
Book Spotlight:
Matilda Bone
Matilda Bone
Experience the Middle Ages like never before! Matilda has been assigned to apprentice Peg the Bonesetter who lives and works in Blood and Bone Alley. When Matilda first arrives, she does not understand (or appreciate) the community where she now resides. She also doesn't know how to think for herself. After learning a few ways to heal patients, she comes to love the colorful residents of Blood and Bone Alley and begins to develop some beautiful, power thoughts all on her own!
Ages: 8 and Up
Tentative Schedule
Week One: Group Norms and Behavior Expectations- We will assign roles and discuss how to divide the text for the duration of the course. Prereading metacognitive skills will also be addressed as well as activities to activate background knowledge of the concepts in the book. WEEKLY CHALLENGE!
Week Two: Section One: Students will discuss and share memorable quotes of the first section. In addition students will discuss and complete activities about social issues the book presents.
Week Three: Section Two: Students will discuss and share memorable quotes of the second section. There will also be explicit instruction of various comprehension skills.
Week Four: Section Three: Students will respond to the text with their choice of reflections and various activities (poetry, lists, comics, art, etc.). Final discussion class! Book recommendations will be provided at this session.
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Ages: 10 & up
Dates: 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1
Time: 2:30-3:30
Tuition: $25
Book Spotlight:
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Refugee by Alan Gratz is a masterful book sharing the experience of three different refugees over three distinct time periods. First, we meet Josef, who is escaping persecution in Germany during WWII. Next, we travel with Isabel from Cuba to the United States in the early 1990's. Finally, Mahmoud, a Syrian refugee in 2015, shares his story as he and his family flee to find safety during the Syrian Civil War. All three perspectives provide a human experience of the dangers and challenges of being a refugee, all while trying to find joy in the process.
Ages: 10 and Up
Tentative Schedule
Week One: Group Norms and Behavior Expectations- We will assign roles and discuss how to divide the text for the duration of the course. Prereading metacognitive skills will also be addressed as well as activities to activate background knowledge of the concepts in the book.
Week Two: Section One: Students will discuss and share memorable quotes of the first section. In addition students will discuss and complete activities about social issues the book presents.
Week Three: Section Two: Students will discuss and share memorable quotes of the second section. There will also be explicit instruction of various comprehension skills.
Week Four: Section Three: Students will respond to the text with their choice of reflections and various activities (poetry, lists, comics, art, etc.). Final discussion class! Book recommendations will be provided at this session.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Ages: 10 & up
Dates: 12/8, 12/15
Time: 2:00-3:30
Note: This course meets for 90 minutes two times!
Tuition: $35 (includes digital literature guide)
Please include course title when purchasing.
Book Spotlight:
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A classic for the holiday season! Did you know Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in about six weeks? We'll read and discuss this short, little tome that packs a powerful, meaningful punch! It's the perfect way to usher in the holidays.
Ages: 10 and Up
Tentative Schedule
Weeks One: We'll discuss group norms and proper discussion protocols. We'll also set the scene by building our background knowledge of the time period. We'll learn a bit about Dickens as well. Naturally, we'll read some of the first section of A Christmas Carol. Students will discuss and share memorable passages from the first third of the book. We'll respond through reflective exercises as well as comprehension activities.
Week Two: We'll discuss the second third of the book and share our memorable passages as well. We'll also do some reflective writing and comprehension exercises to stretch thinking and rely on text evidence. We'll also discuss the last third of the book and complete various related activities, include theme, word games, and reflective responses.