GRADE 7–8 ONLINE GROUP LESSON

The program that lifts middle school readers into analytical thinkers.

If you’d like to reserve a spot, you can complete the interest form [here](https://forms.gle/8DP65Zmtp4g5CfEY9).

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PROGRAM PROMISE

Most middle schoolers can tell you what happened in a story.
Very few can explain why it matters.

This program trains students to read like real thinkers — noticing tension, interpreting meaning, and writing responses that sound mature, precise, and insightful.

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WHAT STUDENTS WILL MASTER

1. True Close Reading Skills

Students learn to slow down, observe patterns, and notice what most readers miss: tone shifts, contradictions, symbols, characterization, and author intention.

2. How to Explain Their Thinking Clearly

Instead of vague thoughts or plot summary, students learn to make a claim, support it with evidence, and explain their reasoning with clarity.

3. Literary Response Writing

They write short analytical paragraphs that teachers love — focused, well-supported, and free of fluff.

4. Confidence With Challenging Texts

Students become comfortable reading above grade level, building the foundation for Honors and AP courses in high school.

If you’re considering enrollment, you can express interest [here](https://forms.gle/8DP65Zmtp4g5CfEY9).

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PROGRAM STRUCTURE

7 Core Units

Unit 1: What Close Reading Really Means

Students learn the difference between reading for plot, reading for meaning, and reading for interpretation.
They begin practicing annotation techniques used in top humanities programs.

Unit 2: Identifying Key Literary Elements

Students learn to recognize:
• tone and mood
• conflict and tension
• character motivation
• symbolism
• setting as meaning
• thematic development

Unit 3: Finding Evidence That Matters

Not every quote is good evidence. Students learn how to select lines that truly reveal something deeper.

Unit 4: The Analytical Paragraph (G7–8 Standard)

We teach a reliable structure with:
clear claim
specific evidence
meaningful explanation
insightful concluding idea

Unit 5: Writer’s Craft and Author Choices

Students explore how writers create meaning using diction, syntax, pacing, imagery, and narrative perspective.
This builds an early foundation for future AP-level analysis.

Unit 6: Deeper Interpretation and Thematic Thinking

Students practice moving from literal meaning to abstract ideas — the hardest skill for middle schoolers.
We train them to express big ideas simply, clearly, and confidently.

Unit 7: Literary Response Mastery

Students produce refined responses in:
• character analysis
• theme analysis
• symbolism interpretation
• conflict and motivation
• narrative perspective

Each piece is revised with precise, line-by-line feedback.

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WHAT MAKES THIS PROGRAM DIFFERENT

1. You Don’t Just Teach Reading — You Teach Thinking

Students aren’t memorizing terms. They’re learning how stories work and why meaning emerges.

2. Above-Grade-Level Training

Every text is chosen to challenge strong readers and lift developing readers upward.

3. Strong Writing Integration

Students don’t just talk about ideas — they learn to express them in writing with clarity, structure, and purpose.

4. Critical Thinking as a Habit

By the end, students automatically read deeper — a skill that elevates all subjects, not just English.

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FINAL DELIVERABLES

Every student finishes the program with:

• A portfolio of polished literary responses
• A close-reading method they can use in any class
• Stronger vocabulary and analytical skill
• Confidence with advanced texts
• A clear advantage entering Grade 9 and Honors English

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THE RESULT

Students rise far above the average middle school reader and writer.
They become the students teachers rely on — the ones who see more, think deeper, and express ideas with clarity well beyond their age.