High School Writing with Custodians of Wonder
Skills and knowledge live inside of the minds and bodies of the people who practice them, but what happens when those practitioners dwindle? Custodians of Wonder goes around the globe to provide us glimpses of people who hold the keys to endangered art forms.
From Scandinavia's last night watchman to the work it takes to keep Japan's secret soy sauce recipe alive, each chapter brims with reflections on what it takes to make us human and how we connect to one another through our crafts.
We'll read the book with reading guides to help with close examination and reflection.
We'll also be writing four, multi-draft papers to practice academic writing skills.
Gain Key Academic Writing Foundations
Students will learn foundational academic writing skills including brainstorming, organization, revision, formatting, and proofreading.
Meet Live Weekly
This is a live class, which means we meet weekly to discuss the reading and explore writing tips. Learners can also interact with each other and the instructor between class meetings on our class discussion boards.
Provided materials include reading guides and activities to help with vocabulary and comprehension as well as writing tips to apply to short, informal writing assignments.
Practice Writing as a Process
Most importantly, students will compose four multi-draft papers with individual video feedback on rough drafts and the opportunity to revise a final draft.
Course Details
Schedule: September 7-December 13, 2026 with live meetings on Thursdays at 12pm Eastern.
There's no class on October 22 (Fall Break) or November 26 (Thanksgiving Day).
If a learner cannot attend a session due to illness or a schedule conflict, they will still have access to all class materials and can check in with the instructor with any questions.
Time Commitment
Most learners can expect to spend 5-7 hours per week (including the live meeting) working on class materials.
(This class will meet or exceed 60 hours of coursework to count as 0.5 credits of high school ELA).
Supplies
To participate successfully in class, learners will need the following:
- Copies of the following books:
- A copy of Custodians of Wonder by Eliot Stein (ISBN: 9781250281098) (used copies are fine)
(Note: It is highly recommended that learners have their own copies of the physical book that they can annotate as they read. Learners who prefer audiobooks may want to have a combination of audio and print copies. Learners will need to cite specific lines and passages frequently.) (Bookshop Link)
- A copy of Custodians of Wonder by Eliot Stein (ISBN: 9781250281098) (used copies are fine)
- Microphone and camera for in-class participation
- PDF Reader
- Zoom (free account)
- Learners will submit work through Google Drive (a Google (Gmail) account can be acquired for free)
Assignments Open Each Week
In order to allow for learners and their families to have the flexibility they need, assignments open at the beginning of each week and are due at the end of that week. Learners can complete work at whatever time works best for them throughout the week.
Evaluation and Records
At the beginning of class, families will have the option to opt into numerical grading. All learners will receive a detailed class wrap-up report suitable for inclusion in a portfolio. All students receive detailed feedback (including video feedback) on major assignments.
Is this the right fit?
This class is designed for learners who have experience with academic writing and want to stretch their skills for college preparation. Learners will do best if they have the following skills:
- Can write about 1000-1200 words (about 3-4 pages) on a single topic
- Has experienced reading texts at or above 1200L Lexile level
- Familiarity with basics of using quoted material in writing
This class is a good fit for high school learners who want to expand their writing skills in a supportive environment that will address their individual writing needs through personal feedback.
Skills Gained
Students will read the entire book (with the assistance of reading guides and discussions) and complete four multi-draft papers themed around the topics.
All students will learn about the following:
- Develop their own meaningful and productive writing process
- Reflect on the connection between reading and writing practices
- Practice strategies for approaching nonfiction text to discover meaning
- Practice note-taking strategies that allow for productive learning
- Write in a way that meets the needs and expectations of an academic audience
- Produce cogent, organized writing in multiple paragraphs
- Polish final drafts to meet Standard Academic English conventions
Records and Reporting
Upon successful completion of class, instructor provides detailed exit letter suitable for inclusion in portfolio. Families may request numerical grade at beginning of class for a detailed course grade summary, but it is optional.
Individual Support
All students will receive individualized video feedback on all rough drafts that specifically addresses their rough draft submissions.
My teaching philosophy very much focuses on starting with students’ strengths to build confidence and using them to work on improvements over time.
Feedback is tailored to each student’s individual needs and goals. I also encourage a lot of self-reflection and provide opportunities for students to directly communicate their challenges so that facing them with strategies becomes a normal part of the writing process.
Content Notes
This book doesn't have any major topic concerns, but there is mention of animal slaughter. In addition, several chapters touch on historical events and cultural values of communities who have been impacted by colonialism and political unrest.
Meet Your Teacher!
