Welight Education

✍️ Reading & Writing: Literature and Nonfiction (Grade 5-8)

Suggested Grade Level: 5–8

This engaging fall course invites students to deepen their reading and writing skills through a rich exploration of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Designed for middle and high school students who enjoy literature and want to strengthen their communication skills, the course blends thoughtful discussion with rigorous writing practice in a supportive, seminar-style setting.

Students will read a wide range of short stories by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, O. Henry, Shirley Jackson, and Gary Soto—writers known for tackling powerful themes like coming of age, self-discovery, moral choices, and perseverance. These carefully selected works will help students develop close reading skills and an appreciation for storytelling across genres and time periods.

In addition to fiction, students will explore poetry by iconic voices such as W.B. Yeats, Robert Frost, and Billy Collins. Poetry will introduce a different kind of challenge—interpreting language that is often layered, symbolic, and concise. Through guided discussions and writing exercises, students will learn to read between the lines, strengthening both analytical and expressive abilities.

A highlight of the course is the introduction of nonfiction, including biography, journalism, opinion pieces, and travel writing. These texts will expose students to real-world voices and expand their understanding of style, tone, and purpose across different types of writing. Students will also gain confidence discussing current events and using real-life topics as springboards for their own essays.

Throughout the course, students will work on the fundamentals of composition, including grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, paragraph development, transitions, and rhetorical tools such as figurative language and evidence-based analysis. Weekly writing assignments will be submitted via Google Classroom and returned with detailed, constructive feedback. In-class time will include both roundtable-style discussion and targeted writing skill workshops, helping students build their oral and written communication in tandem.

Whether your student is a budding writer, a curious reader, or simply wants to build stronger academic writing skills, this course offers a rich and rewarding learning experience—guided by one of the most seasoned and respected teachers in the field.