A Full Year of English for Late Middle School or Early High School
The Contemporary Classics series features high-quality modern literature that meets the same standards of depth, complexity, and literary merit as traditional classics. These texts offer rich characters, layered storytelling, and strong literary craft—while also connecting directly to the world students live in today. With diverse voices and relevant themes, they encourage empathy, critical thinking, and meaningful reflection. Through engaging discussions, creative projects, and thoughtful writing assignments, students learn to analyze literature and connect it to real-life ideas and experiences.
This four-part series forms a full year of high school English (English 1) and is ideal for late middle school or early high school students. Each class is a standalone class, so students can jump into any section without having completed the earlier sections. Classes meet online on Outschool for 50 minutes a week for deep discussion and direct instruction, and students complete detailed assignments during the week. Offering a fresh, relevant approach to English Language Arts, this series is ideal for late middle school and early high school, and is rigorous enough for a high school credit (English 1).
This 5-week course introduces students to the power and purpose of contemporary poetry. Featuring poets like Amanda Gorman, Tupac Shakur, and Rita Joe, students explore how language expresses identity, emotion, and social insight. Throughout the course, they develop a literary analysis essay step by step, with direct instruction and personalized feedback guiding the entire writing process. Along the way, students build confidence with poetic devices, close reading, and analytical writing. Ideal for homeschoolers, this class supports high school English credit and encourages meaningful engagement with modern literature.
In this 8-week class, learners explore how truth, memory, and power shape the stories we tell—and the ones we believe. Through The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera and Bomb by Steve Sheinkin, as well as poems and short stories, students examine how authors use narrative to preserve history, challenge authority, and imagine new futures.
With in-depth discussion, meaningful assignments, and creative projects, students strengthen their analytical thinking and deepen their understanding of literature. They grow in understanding of character development and how authors achieve this, as well as how ideas connect within stories. This course encourages personal connections to the texts and provides a supportive environment where ideas are shared, perspectives expand, and confidence grows. As students explore different genres and narratives, they begin to see connections across seemingly unrelated stories, identifying broad themes that tie literature—and life—together.
In this 8-week class, students explore how memory, heritage, and personal voice shape both the stories we read and the ones we tell. Anchored by Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson and Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac, the course highlights how authors honor identity and lived experience.
During the course, students craft a personal This I Believe essay, reflecting on a core belief and the personal experience that shaped it—an essay that emphasizes voice, purpose, and connection. Through poems, short stories, and class discussions, students also examine how literary texts reflect cultural history and how writers use genre and form to reach their audience. Section 3 encourages students to think deeply about what shapes who we are—and how we use story to make sense of it. It can be taken as a stand-alone course or as part of the full Contemporary Classics sequence.
In the final 8-week section of this series, students explore how storytelling, voice, and personal growth shape both literature and life. Anchored by The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt and the March graphic novel trilogy by John Lewis, students examine how authors blend humor, history, and heart to explore social commentary, and themes of identity, courage, and change.
Throughout the course, students develop a personalized Passion Project: a deep-dive into any topic they care about, combining research, writing, visual elements, and public speaking. This multi-format project helps students build confidence as thinkers and communicators while encouraging creativity and ownership. Class time includes thoughtful discussion, collaborative feedback, and targeted instruction to support both literature and project work. Whether students love books, big ideas, or self-expression, this final section offers a powerful way to synthesize their skills and celebrate their voice.