2024/2025 Curriculum

While we offer a year-long curriculum, registration is by semester with a $25 deposit per course.

“In Storyweaver literature courses, students develop critical thinking skills, open their hearts to other perspectives, and join their unique stories with the great conversation of ideas. Through building empathy and developing character in the reading of good books, students form a lens through which they can see both themselves & others with dignity.”

— Calli Birch

High School

Heroes & Pilgrims: an Adventure through British Literature

What are the ancient qualities of a hero and how have they been reimagined through the ages? In this course we will consider the Hero’s Journey & the Pilgrimage as depicted in classic British & Post-colonial literature, all while contemplating our own unique journeys and attempts at heroic lives.

This course will place emphasis on possible interpretations of literary passages in a variety of genres, the universality of themes, analysis of structure and style, historical context, and recognition of literary devices such as tone, imagery, mood, allusions, and figures of speech. Class participation and discussion is at the heart of this course, which thrives on lively student interactions; therefore, every student is encouraged to make contributions to class activities and discussions, especially Socratic seminars. All students will receive a digital certificate & final grade upon the completion of each course, whether it be year-long or single semesters. Every text was selected on the basis of literary merit (judged by academic institutions), student enjoyment, and thematic significance.

Fall Semester Texts & Assignments: Medieval Pilgrims and Ancient Heroes

The Fellowship of the Ring
Beowulf
Sir Gawain & the Green Knight
The Canterbury Tales*
Pilgrim’s Progress*
*indicates we will read excerpts (not entire text)

Assignments: Writer’s Notebook, Character Analysis, Personal Narrative, Pilgrim Creative Project

Fall Registration Closed

Spring Semester Texts & Assignments: Tragic Hero, Antihero, and Heroic Verse

Hamlet
Sonnets & Romantic Poetry
Wuthering Heights
Various Short Stories
Things Fall Apart

Assignments: Writer’s Notebook, Sonnet Composition, Embedded Narrative, Synthesis Essay

Register for Spring Semester

Middle School

Finding our Way: Journeys that Shape Us

Combining classics with contemporary award-winning tales, this course challenges younger readers to recognize the growth & discovery that comes with all courageous journeys.

Pursuing an atmosphere of scholé & gentle learning, this course will place emphasis on teaching young scholars how to probe quality texts for deeper meaning, while guiding them through the analysis process, recognizing historical context and literary devices such as imagery, mood, allusions, and figures of speech. Class participation and discussion is at the heart of this course, which thrives on lively student interactions; therefore, every student is encouraged to make contributions to class activities and discussions. While I will provide feedback on polished work, this course can be completed with or without a final grade, according to the desires of each family. All students will receive a digital certificate upon the completion of each course, whether it be year-long or single semesters. Please note that while I will point out areas for improvement in student writing, this is specifically a language arts course & will not cover a grammar curriculum.

Fall Semester Texts & Assignments: Journeys of Freedom & Self Discovery

Holes
Beyond the Bright Sea
Inside Out & Back Again
The Giver
A Christmas Carol

Assignments: Writer’s Notebook, Personal Narrative, Identity Poetry, Creative Project