Junior Great Books
VIRTUAL ACADEMY

Join an Online Session Now

Introducing
a proven method to engage and motivate young learners!

We have brought our renowned Junior Great Books program online with the Junior Great Books Virtual Academy™ for grades 2–8. Students from all over the world are sharing how much they love the sessions!

Students are connecting with peers in an engaging and collaborative online environment, and taking part in lively discussions and varied interpretive activities led by experienced Great Books trainers. The JGB Virtual Academy provides much-needed English language arts content, prevents the erosion of gains students1 made in reading comprehension and critical thinking this year, and connects students to other students in a fun and friendly format.

Students will build essential skills through:

  • Voicing their ideas and thoughts with their peers
  • Engaging in civil discourse in a collaborative environment
  • Hearing diverse ideas from their peers around the world
  • Making and explaining inferences about a text or artwork
  • Identifying evidence and explaining how it supports an answer
  • Experiencing and learning from the guidance of our stellar expert trainers

Register for JGB Virtual Academy

The NEW Junior Great Books Virtual Academy strengthens skills in:

Critical Thinking

Reading Comprehension

Speaking and Listening

Writing

What Students, Parents, and Educators Have to Say

Amber Pelletier

The facilitator was able to really listen and hear what the students were saying and respond to it to promote deeper reflection, rather than attempt to bring the discussion around to a point that she was trying to make. It was amazing to see the teaching skill and craft that brought together students from the continental US, Alaska, and Canada—students who had never before worked together—and create such a rich discussion among them.

Amber Pelletier
Early Years Support Teacher
Prince Charles Education Resource Centre

JVA Parent 2

My daughter loved being able to discuss the themes and questions from the story. She enjoyed hearing other thoughts and learning that you can influence and be influenced by the ideas of others.

Parent
Junior Great Books Virtual Academy

Linda Barrett JVA

Having worked for GBF for as long as I have, it is becoming rare to have a “first ever” situation. Today I had one. A student from Colorado joined my discussion from his hospital bed after having been bitten by a rattlesnake just yesterday afternoon! Thanks to the timely administration of antivenom, he is recovering well and was a great participant.

Discussion Leader
Junior Great Books Virtual Academy

JVA Parent 1

My son loved talking about the short story with other students. He loved hearing everyone’s different thoughts. He said he was able to understand the text a lot better after his Shared Inquiry discussion.

Parent
Junior Great Books Virtual Academy

JVA Student 1

Everyone was able to collaborate and share their ideas. It made me see everyone’s point of view and why they thought what they did.

Student
Junior Great Books Virtual Academy

Online Student Discussions

Using the Junior Great Books curriculum, the Junior Great Books Virtual Academy combines works of art, short films, and interactive reading activities with student-centered online discussions to help students develop ideas, use and explain evidence, and respond constructively to their peers.

  • Format: Four- and eight-week sessions where students meet for 60 minutes once or twice a week
  • Price: $149–$329

Fall Virtual Academy Sessions Now Enrolling!

Join us for these fun new themes:

  • Grades 2–3 — Bravery
  • Grades 4–5 — Integrity
  • Grades 6–8 — Fairness

Our focus will be on thinking critically and listening closely to each other while having fun. Sessions begin October 5th.

Register for JGB Virtual Academy

Coming Soon

  • Winter Virtual Academy Sessions
  • Year-round Virtual Academy Sessions

NOTIFY ME OF UPCOMING SESSIONS

VIRTUAL ACADEMY
Professional Development

Join an Online Session Now

Virtual Professional Development for Discussion Leaders
Educators, Parents, & Volunteers

Learn How to Lead Shared Inquiry Discussion Online or in the Classroom!

Strong inquiry-based learning has been proven to engage all participants at higher levels of reading and thinking. Our research-based approach to learning through questioning and collaboration is what we call Shared Inquiry™.

In Shared Inquiry, the discussion leader serves as model learner and coach, showing how to explore complex texts and ideas, and rich content while shifting to a participant-centered process. The goal is creating a community of learners where every participant is supported and challenged to find his or her own voice, develop deep understanding, and engage in respectful, civil discourse to learn from others.

Shared Inquiry enhances all foundational language arts skills—reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, speaking, and listening—and enables participants to learn more across all areas and to become active thinkers and participants in their educational and professional communities.

Our online trainings teach you:

  • Leading online discussions with students and adults
  • The Power of Student Questions
  • The Close-Reading Process
  • Shared Inquiry Advanced Review
  • Interpretive Thinking for Grades K–2
  • The Reading-Writing Connection
  • The importance of selecting complex texts
  • How to lead a student-driven Shared Inquiry discussion
  • How to assess student performance with our critical thinking rubric
  • How to plan an effective implementation

JGB Educators
Discussion Leader Training

Our training for educators prepares participants to begin using the Great Books Foundation's Shared Inquiry™ method of learning through reading and discussion with students at all levels. We'll share our tips and tricks for using inquiry-based learning to keep students engaged online!

Learn questioning strategies that keep discussions lively and focused while improving students':

  • Reading comprehension
  • Critical thinking strategies
  • Writing skills
  • Verbal communication

Through a variety of training courses, educators develop the craft of writing interpretive questions and using follow-up questions to involve students of all ages and proficiency levels. Learn how interpretive activities support student learning and meet state and district standards.

Introductory Online Training

  • This training will prepare you to implement a Junior Great Books program with your students. The course includes two 2-hour interactive webinar sessions and 4 hours of self-paced online learning modules.
  • Duration: 4 hours live + 4 hours independent learning
  • Cost: $275 per person

Intermediate and Advanced Online Training

  • Increase the effectiveness of inquiry-based teaching and learning. Offered courses: The Power of Student Questions, The Close-Reading Process, Shared Inquiry Advanced Review, and more. We also arrange custom courses to meet your needs!
  • Duration: 90 minutes
  • Cost: $85 per person2

Parents & Adults
Discussion Leader Training

We offer training for parents, volunteers, and adult program leaders conducting group discussions.

Workshops are interactive and hands-on, and they include:

  • Demonstrations of inquiry-based reading strategies and discussions
  • Reflection on the elements and benefits of the Shared Inquiry activity sequence
  • Introduction to and practice with using follow-up questions to deepen students’ thinking
  • Time for questions about implementation and troubleshooting

How to Lead Online Discussions

  • This two-part webinar prepares participants to begin conducting Shared Inquiry™ discussions as volunteer Great Books leaders. This course is not open to teachers. This webinar prepares participants to lead discussions online and in-person.
  • Duration: 4 hours (two 2-hour sessions)
  • Cost: $99 per person

1According to a new report by the Northwest Evaluation Association, students could be losing up to 30% of reading gains made during the past year due to coronavirus-related school closures.
2Costs for custom courses may differ. Please contact your Great Books educational consultant to arrange your custom course.