Achieving Greatness

The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaption), by Daniel James Brown:
It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys’ own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.
 
Condoleezza Rice: A memoir of my extraordinary, ordinary family and me, by Condoleezza Rice:
Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state and New York Times bestselling author, tells the story of her life, her family, and her road to becoming a successful woman. Her life began in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1950s, a place and time where black people lived in a segregated parallel universe away from their white neighbors. Ms. Rice focuses on the dedication of her parents and the strong bond they shared as a family. Passionate about music, ice skating, history, and current affairs, she tastes failure and success through her long hours of study and practice. Her memoir reveals with vivid clarity how her early experiences sowed the seeds of her political beliefs and helped her become a vibrant, successful woman.
 
Learning Objectives:
Students will interpret, analyze, and evaluate what they read.
Students will participate in meaningful discussions, enabling them to speak clearly and effectively on numerous topics and themes found within the text.
Students will use knowledge of prefixes, root words, and suffixes to assist them in understanding vocabulary.
Students will have the opportunity to present on a theme, topic, character, setting, or idea presented in the text.
Students will identify and apply literary and informational elements to the text.
Students will analyze a text’s form of structure and comprehend word meaning and phrases.
Students will be able to evaluate a text using background information.
 
Recommended for: Ages 11+ / Grades 6-7 
Instructor: Mrs. Eve Babb
Day and Time: Wednesdays, 12:45 - 1:45 PM ET
Duration: 4 classes
Dates: September 13 - October 4, 2023
Required Materials:
The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaption), by Daniel James Brown 
Condoleezza Rice: A memoir of my extraordinary, ordinary family and me, by Condoleezza Rice 
 
Eve Babb's teaching style: hands-on activities, storytelling, problem-solving activities, group discussion, explore different cultures
 
Student & Parent Reviews:
Ms. Eve is so nice and I really like having class with her. I loved making a paper bunny and learning how to write my own story. —Johnny, student
I am so glad that my son had Mrs. Eve as a teacher. She does a wonderful job making sure all of her students get involved and she really helps her students understand the literary themes. —Evelyn, parent
She is a delightful teacher! I am so happy with everything my kid has learned from her. She does a great job making sure that every student is heard and participates. Bethany, parent