Chapter Chats: Elementary Novel Studies for Grades 3-5 (1:00)

Course Name: Chapter Chats: Elementary Novel Studies for Grades 3-5
Grade Range: 3-5
Instructor: Lindsay Darienzo
Email: lindsay.darienzo@gmail.com
Price: $200 for 28 weeks
Course Description:  Students will have the opportunity to gain a love for reading through novel studies and class discussion. Novel studies allow students to develop reading comprehension and critical thinking skills in a much more exciting way with their peers.  Along with the novel, we will use study guides to check our reading comprehension as well as guide our discussion in class. The study guide also presents each story through a Biblical worldview, which is really neat when you are studying secular books. Students will also choose an end of novel project to share with the class after we have completed each book. 
Course Prerequisites: Students should be able to read or listen to chapter books at a 3-5 grade reading level. 
Curriculum used by Instructor: Novels: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater, and The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden with the accompanying Progeny Press study guides. 
Books & Supplies required for purchase by families: 
Pencils, colored pencils, glue stick, and kid scissors
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White  and Progeny Press study guide 
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater  and Progeny Press study guide 
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden and Progeny Press Study guide 
Books and study guides do not have to be purchased all at once. A notice to purchase the next book and study guide will be sent out as we finish each book. Links are provided for reference. Each novel is about $8 and the study guides are $21.99. You may find these supplies cheaper on thriftbooks.com or christianbook.com.
Homework Requirements: 
Weekly reading of the novel as well as a few comprehension questions. 
End of novel project
Duration: 28 weeks
Grading: not graded
Course Credit: n/a
Teacher Bio: Hello, I’m Lindsay Darienzo. I am currently a stay at home mom, who is homeschooling my 10th grader, 2nd grader, and preschooler. I have a bachelor of science degree in secondary education with majors in English and History. I have 5 years traditional classroom experience, and 2 years experience as a teacher in a hybrid homeschool academy in Florida. Additionally, I am finishing up my sixth year homeschooling. Time flies when you are having fun! This will be my second year at Friendly Educators, and we have enjoyed being part of this community so much! My favorite part of teaching is the light bulb moment - when a student understands a concept (they may have previously struggled with), and you see their face light up in understanding. I have a passion for learning and reading (I love to read in my spare time, especially Historical Fiction). I look forward to reading and studying these novels along side your students, hopefully inspiring a love for reading in each of them!
Min/Max # of Students: 7/12
Method and Frequency of communication: Email communication to parents will be sent weekly to let you know what was covered in class, as well as what chapters and questions need to be completed before the next class.