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Students in Scholé Academy’s upper-school American literature course will read a selection of classic American novels, short stories, poetry, and essays throughout the year. Organized chronologically, the reading selections each quarter will follow the development and growth of the United States as a country and as a source of beautiful, praiseworthy literature. Although we will be examining these works in light of American historical development, as with any reading, we will also simply be listening to the authors, asking questions of them and their works, and seeking truth, goodness, and beauty where they can be found. As a nation, the United States is fairly young and, therefore, does not have a lengthy literary history. Our hope, as instructors, is that the selected works will cause you to think, to wonder, and to wrestle with your understanding of what it means to live and walk beside your neighbor in this world God has created.
While this course primarily features literary study, it also incorporates some study from American history, helping students to see and enjoy the integration of both history and literature. For students who want to dive more deeply into this time period, an “Honors Track” will be offered with additional reading and assignments.
This class is paired with Scholé’s upper-school American History course, which is scheduled back-to-back with that course in a “block.” Students who take both courses receive a discount. This course may also be taken as a standalone literature study.
High School Credit: This course is the equivalent of one high school credit in English or literature.
How is faith integrated with these courses? These seminar-style discussions unfold organically. One could approach the texts with a focus on defensive critiques of classical authors. By contrast, we seek to read charitably. We treat classic authors as if they were friends, gleaning every available truth while also examining them from a robustly Christian perspective.
At Scholé Academy, we have carefully considered how we should engage our contemporary culture as those who believe that Christ is the Truth (John 14:6), and that all truth has its source in him. We think it is important to provide our upper school students (in grades 7-12) with tools and opportunities for critically examining various cultural trends, issues and mores through the lens of orthodox, Christian beliefs. Being confident in the truth revealed to us in creation, the Scriptures, and the tradition of the church, we are not afraid to follow the truth and its implications nor to address error and falsehood. … Read more about our Faith & Culture.
Required Materials: Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course. These resources are listed to help inform your decision-making as you make course selections and build your course schedule. Please reach out to the instructor if you have any questions about materials.
For sections with Phaedra Shaltanis and Caeli Lanzilotti:
Any edition of the novels above is acceptable.
For sections with Alison Johansen: Unless noted by ISBN, any version will work. Assignments are posted by chapter.
Honors Option:
Materials: Two notebooks: the first for taking notes; the second to serve as a dialectic reading journal.
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ajohansen.scholeacademy@gmail.com
Alison Grace Johansen serves as a Scholé Academy instructor, tutor, and host of the Poetry Club. While tutoring in grammar and writing, she teaches Upper-School American Literature, Art of Poetry, and Introduction to Law & Justice, along with Middle-School Creative Writing and Classic Literature VII. Alison earned her Juris Doctor from the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in French, from the University of Richmond. She worked as a legal journalist in Washington, D.C., for over 13 years, while also freelancing in writing, editing, and marketing for over two decades. She hopes to inspire her students to find joy in discovering the many ways they can use their own words to express themselves with truth, goodness, and beauty. Alison lives in Virginia with her husband and two children. Her faith and family influence every part of her life, from teaching Sunday school and writing a children’s picture book about food allergies to exploring the beauty of God’s world together. If they aren’t walking (or running) with their sweet Goldendoodle, Nugget, you might find them doing art projects, reading together, or delighting in music on the piano, flute, guitar, ukulele, and drums!
pshaltanis.scholeacademy@gmail.com
Phaedra Shaltanis, Chair of the Humanities Department, has taught in private and classical schools for over 25 years and has educated her four children in the classical tradition, which has been the monumental joy of her life. After college graduation, she began teaching high school Writing, Literature, Spanish, and Art in classical schools. Her involvement with Scholé Academy includes teaching American Literature, British Literature, Western History, Rhetoric I, Formal Logic and Well-Ordered Language Levels 1 and 2. She is enthused to serve as the Humanities department chair and appreciates guiding parents and teachers toward restful education. In her Dallas community, she currently directs a high school university-model program, trains and mentors teachers, conducts seminars on classical education, builds curriculum, supports parents, and provides fine art instruction at a classical high school. She and her husband hope to support classical education as avenues present themselves.
rclanzilotti.scholeacademy@gmail.com
Caeli Lanzilotti lives in Northern VA with her husband and two-year-old son. She is passionate about the Liberal Arts and pursuing a life fully realized. She has taught Ancient, American, and World Literature to 9th-12th graders in a private school setting for the past six years. Before moving to VA, she taught Middle School Literature-History, English grammar, and Religion for six years at a small classical school near Philadelphia. She loves the classical model of education, and she is deeply indebted to her former students and colleagues from whom and with whom she has learned so much about the virtuous life. She holds an MA in teaching and a BA in English with a minor in Philosophy. For leisure, she loves trail running and hiking in the woods with her husband, swimming, and baking.
First, read the available course descriptions, noting prerequisites, target grades, and course objectives. If you think your student is prepared for the course, go ahead and register. After registration, a placement assessment may be provided to students, depending on the course and the student’s previous enrollment with Scholé Academy. Registration is finalized when the student’s placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.
Make sure they don’t conflict with other activities in your schedule or other courses you are purchasing. Our system will not catch double-bookings!
Our Assistant to the Principal will be in touch with you after your enrollment to help you with next steps, including any placement evaluations that may be required for your course selections.
This registration will be finalized when the student’s placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.
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