RESOURCES FOR
OUTSCHOOL COURSES
You can see a full course listing of what I offer on Outschool by clicking here.
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL LITERATURE AND ANALYSIS
The following courses are best for ages 13-18. Some of the books we study contain sensitive topics. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note. Every one of these courses can be done off the Outschool platform, too!
HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH: READ LITERATURE LIKE A PROFESSOR
Register for the course here: High School English: Read Literature Like a Professor
Pick up a copy of the book here: How to Read Literature Like a Professor
For ages 13-18
MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH: READ LITERATURE LIKE A PROFESSOR
Register for the course here: Middle School English: Read Literature Like a Professor
Pick up a copy of the book here: How to Read Literature Like a Professor for Kids
For ages 11-14
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: JANE EYRE
Register for the course here: When Women Write: Jane Eyre
I recommend the following editions of Jane Eyre—the choice is up to you:
Ignatius Critical Edition, Jane Eyre
Norton Critical Edition, Jane Eyre
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: FRANKENSTEIN
Register for the course here: When Women Write: Frankenstein
I recommend the following editions of Frankenstein—the choice is up to you:
Ignatius Critical Edition, Frankenstein
Norton Critical Edition Frankenstein
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go. There are subtle changes between the 1818 and the 1831 editions of Frankenstein; we will discuss them as we read.
I adore the Audible version read by Dan Stevens. If you’d prefer an audio version of the book, this one is hard to beat: Frankenstein
For ages 13-18
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: Little women
Register for the course here: When Women Write: Little Women
I recommend the following editions of Little Women—the choice is up to you:
Sterling Unabridged Little Women
Oxford’s World’s Classics Little Women
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: Pride and Prejudice
Register for the course here: When Women Write: Pride and Prejudice
I recommend the following editions of Pride and Prejudice—the choice is up to you:
Oxford World’s Classics Pride and Prejudice
Ignatius Critical Edition Pride and Prejudice
Norton Critical Edition Pride and Prejudice
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Register for the course here: When Women Write: To Kill a Mockingbird
I recommend the following editions of To Kill a Mockingbird:
Harper Perennial Edition, 2002, To Kill a Mockingbird
Audible Audiobook, To Kill a Mockingbird
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: Murder on the orient express
Register for the course here: When Women Write: Murder on the Orient Express
I recommend the following editions of Murder on the Orient Express:
As of this listing, there aren’t any great paperbacks available. You’ll be able to find used copies and library copies, of course.
If you’d like a beautiful hardbound copy, Barnes and Noble offers the following: Murder on the Orient Express
Just as with Frankenstein, I adore the Audible version read by Dan Stevens. If you’d prefer an audio version of the book, this one is hard to beat: Murder on the Orient Express
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: AND THEN THERE WERE NONE
Register for the course here: When Women Write: And Then There Were None
I recommend the following editions of And Then There Were None:
William Morrow 2011, And Then There Were None
Harper Audio audiobook version, And Then There Were None
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: DEATH ON THE NILE
Register for the course here: When Women Write: Death on the Nile
I recommend the following editions of Death on the Nile:
William Morrow 2011, Death on the Nile
Harper Audio audiobook version, Death on the Nile
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN
Register for the course here: When Women Write: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
I recommend the following editions of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn:
Harper Perennial Deluxe Edition, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Caedmon Audio version of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: SENSE & SENSIBILITY
Register for the course here: When Women Write: Sense & Sensibility
I recommend the following editions of Sense & Sensibility:
Penguin Edition, Sense & Sensibility
Audible, Sense & Sensibility
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
college-bound reader: WUTHERING HEIGHTS
Register for the course here: College-Bound Reader: Wuthering Heights
I recommend the following editions of Wuthering Heights:
Norton Critical Edition, Wuthering Heights
Oxford World Classics, Wuthering Heights
Ignatius Critical Edition, Wuthering Heights
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
college-bound reader: the scarlet LETTER
Register for the course here: College-Bound Reader: The Scarlet Letter
I recommend the following editions of The Scarlet Letter:
Norton Edition, The Scarlet Letter
Audible, The Scarlet Letter
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
college-bound reader: of mice and men
Register for the course here: College: Bound Reader: Of Mice and Men
I recommend the following editions of Of Mice and Men:
Penguin, Of Mice and Men
Audible, Of Mice and Men
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 13-18
college-bound READER: SEMESTER OF LITERATURE WITH STEINBECK, bRONTË, AND HAWTHORNE
Register for the course here: College-Bound Reader: Semester of Literature with Steinbeck, Brontë, and Hawthorne
𝘖𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘦 & 𝘔𝘦𝘯, 𝘞𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴, & 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 are essential novels students are expected to have read as university students. Discover each text in this memorable analytic course.
For ages 13-18
A SEMESTER WITH JANE AUSTEN: PRIDE & PREJUDICE, EMMA, AND SENSE & SENSIBILITY
Register for the course here: A Summer with Jane Austen
Come read three of Jane Austen’s most beloved novels! We’ll learn about Jane’s life, the period she wrote in, and some of the quirky ways society lived back in the day. She’s funny, insightful, and revolutionary, all while keeping her dainty hands spotlessly clean.
For ages 13-18
UPPER ELEMENTARY
The following courses are recommended for learners who are able to read a chapter book on their own. Typically, that’s ages 8-13, but there are, of course, exceptions. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note.
BOOK CLUB FOR ADVENTUROUS READERS: ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS
Register for the course here: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: Island of the Blue Dolphins
I recommend the HMH Books edition: Island of the Blue Dolphins
The Audible version is available here: Island of the Blue Dolphins
For ages 8-13
Book Club for Adventurous Readers: THE TWENTY-ONE BALLOONS
Register for the course here: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: The Twenty-One Balloons
I recommend the Puffin Modern Classic version of The Twenty-One Balloons
Audible’s version is good, too: The Twenty-One Balloons
The biggest difference between editions will be the forwards’ authors and the annotations. If the text is unabridged, you’re good to go.
For ages 8-13
book club for adventurous readers: beezus and ramona
Register for the course here: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: Beezus and Ramona
I recommend the Harper Collins edition of Beezus and Ramona
Audible has a version here: Beezus and Ramona
For ages 7-11
Book Club for Adventurous Readers: I, Juan de Pareja
Register for the course here: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: I, Juan de Pareja
I recommend the following editions of I, Juan de Pareja:
Squarefish Edition, I, Juan de Pareja
Audible Audiobook, I, Juan de Pareja
I will be posting a supply list in the classroom, so be sure to check for that here on Outschool: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: I, Juan de Pareja
For ages 8-13
BOOK CLUB FOR ADVENTUROUS READERS: BLUE WILLOW
Register for the course here: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: Blue Willow
Puffin Books Blue Willow is available here.
For ages 8-12
BOOK CLUB FOR ADVENTUROUS READERS: THE SHAKESPEARE STEALER
Register for the course here: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: The Shakespeare Stealer
I recommend the following editions of The Shakespeare Stealer:
Puffin, 2000, The Shakespeare Stealer
Audible Version, The Shakespeare Stealer
For ages 8-13
BOOK CLUB FOR ADVENTUROUS READERS: BY THE GREAT HORN SPOON!
Register for the course here: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: By the Great Horn Spoon
I recommend the following editions of By the Great Horn Spoon!:
Little Brown Edition, By the Great Horn Spoon!
Audio Version, By the Great Horn Spoon!
For ages 8-13
book club for adventurous readers: swallows and amazons
Register for the course here: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: Swallows and Amazons
I recommend the following editions of Swallows and Amazons:
Godine, Swallows and Amazons
Audible, Swallows and Amazons
For ages 8-13
book club for adventurous readers: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
Register for the course here: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: The Adventures of Robin Hood
I recommend the following editions of The Adventures of Robin Hood:
Puffin Classics, The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green
For ages 8-13
book club for adventurous readers: heidi
Register for the course here: Book Club for Adventurous Readers: Heidi
Any unabridged edition of Heidi, written by Johanna Spyri, will work. I love the beauty of this edition:
Puffin in Bloom, Heidi
For ages 8-13
WRITING AND ANALYSIS
The following courses are recommended for all learners. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note.
ESSENTIALS FOR RELUCTANT WRITERS, SEMESTER I
Register for the course here: Essentials for Reluctant Writers, Semester I
For ages 13-18
ESSENTIALS FOR RELUCTANT WRITERS, SEMESTER II
Register for the course here: Essentials for Reluctant Writers, Semester II
For ages 13-18
ESSENTIALS FOR RELUCTANT WRITERS, SEMESTER III
Register for the course here: Essentials for Reluctant Writers, Semester III
For ages 14-18
WRITING THE LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY
Register for the course here: Writing the Literary Analysis Essay
For ages 14-18
ONE-TIME CLASSES
One-time classes are perfect for trying an online format. They run 45-55 minutes, depending on the class. Also perfect when you need a bit of time to yourself but want to know your learner is learning!
WHEN WOMEN WRITE: 16 BANNED BOOKS BY FEMALE AUTHORS
Register for the course here: 16 Banned Books By Female Authors
In addition to discussing banned books written by women, we’ll be working on a zine project. Instructions included!
For ages 13-18
book club for holiday readers: the gift of the magi
Register for the course here: Book Club for Holiday Readers: The Gift of the Magi
I will be reading the story aloud in our session together, but if you would like to read a copy of your own, I recommend the following:
Holiday Classics, The Gift of the Magi
Dover Thrift Edition, The Gift of the Magi
For ages 8-13
THE GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA STORY HOUR
Register for the course here: The Great State of California Story Hour
Books and stories vary from class to class.
For ages 4-9
CELEBRATE Summertime StorYTIME
Register for the course here: Summertime Story Hour
Books and stories vary from class to class.
For ages 4-9
Ice Cream in a Bag Recipe
1 cup half-and-half
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups ice
1/3 cup kosher salt
1 gallon-size plastic zipper bag
1 quart-size plastic zipper bag
Combine half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla and pour into the quart-sized bag. Add ice and kosher salt to the gallon-sized bag. Insert small bag into large, zip them all up, and shake, shake, shake! Takes about 15 minutes.
CELEBRATE AUTUMN STORY TIME
Register for the class here: Celebrate Autumn Story Time
Books and stories vary from class to class.
Celebrate Autumn Story Time also includes a craft activity. A simple supply list of items you likely already have will be provided upon registration.
For ages 4-9
CELEBRATE WINTER STORYTIME
Register for the class here: Celebrate Winter Storytime
Books and stories vary from class to class.
Celebrate Winter Storytime also includes a yummy recipe for hot chocolate, which we’ll be making together.
For ages 4-9
BOOK LOVERS’ WEEKLY CHAT
Register for the chat here: Book Lovers’ Weekly Chat
Are you an avid reader looking to discuss books and authors and all things reading? Come join our ongoing weekly chat and find your people!
For ages 13-18