Course Description

If you are a 4th - 6th grader and love to read, discuss and explore literature, then this is the book club for you! In this course, we will read Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. Gather together with other students to discuss this story that will forever change how we all look at anyone with a disability. Book Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Melody is not like most people. She can’t walk. She can’t talk. She can’t write. All because she has cerebral palsy. But she also has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school, but NO ONE knows it. Most people—her teachers, her doctors, her classmates—dismiss her as mentally challenged because she can’t tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by her disability. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow. Students will each be given a specific role which will guide the weekly discussion in response to what they have read. You may talk about events and characters in the book, the author's craft, or personal experiences related to the story. Literature circles provide a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. NOTE: This course will require the student to have a copy of the book and to complete the assigned reading each week and come prepared to each session ready for discussion and fulfilling his/her assigned role within the group. Homework/Time Commitment: Reading weekly assigned chapters. Supply List for Students: Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper (can purchase on Bookmart or Amazon)