Introducing
a proven method to engage and motivate young learners!
Our renowned Junior Great Books® program is now available online with the Junior Great Books Virtual Academy™ for grades 1–8. The JGB Virtual Academy provides much-needed English language arts content, direct teacher instructional time, and opportunities to accelerate student learning in a fun and stress-free way.
In each session, students connect with peers in an engaging and collaborative online environment, and take part in lively discussions and varied interpretive activities led by experienced Great Books trainers.
97% of parents said they would enroll their student in a future session!
Students enjoy:
- Collaborating with their peers
- Sharing their thoughts and ideas
- Learning from our expert instructors
- Participating in respectful discussions
- Working in an interactive environment
Parents enjoy the essential skills students build through:
- Voicing their ideas and thoughts with their peers
- Making and explaining inferences about a text or artwork
- Engaging in civil discourse in a collaborative environment
- Identifying evidence and explaining how it supports an answer
- Experiencing and learning from the guidance of our stellar trainers
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
Online Student Discussions
Using the Junior Great Books curriculum, the Junior Great Books Virtual Academy combines novels, nonfiction, poetry, and interactive reading activities with student-centered online discussions to help students develop their ideas, use and explain evidence, and respond constructively to their peers.
- Format: Four- and eight-week sessions where students meet for 60 minutes once a week
- Price: $149–$259
- Dates: Summer begins June 28, 2021

Summer Virtual Academy Sessions
A Wrinkle in Time
For Grades 5–7
Join us as we journey through the novel A Wrinkle in Time! This session will engage middle-grade readers in expanding their critical thinking and collaborative learning abilities through Shared Inquiry™. Together, the group will engage in a joyful exploration of the novel by reading, speaking, listening, and journaling as they develop and share their own ideas. Readers will be asked to read three chapters of the book and make entries in their reader reflection journals in preparation for each session.
Each session will be customized to readers’ interests and always include sharing of reader questions and individual explorations, a Shared Inquiry discussion, and opportunity for reflection. Expert Great Books discussion leaders will guide readers to think deeply about the complex themes of this novel while having fun.

Nonfiction Inquiry
For Grades 3–4
Join us as we read and discuss texts from the Junior Great Books Nonfiction Inquiry series, including topics in science, social studies, and STEM. Students will read about young people who invented power-generating devices, people who risked their own safety to protect and rescue those in danger during a hurricane, and more!
The Junior Great Books Virtual Academy offers an enjoyable way for students to strengthen their skills in critical thinking, reading comprehension, speaking and listening, and writing. By combining interactive reading activities with student-centered discussions, this program helps students develop their ideas, use and explain evidence, and respond constructively to their peers. Expert Great Books discussion leaders will guide students to think deeply about big ideas while having fun.

Nonfiction Inquiry
For Grades 5–6
Join us as we read and discuss texts from the Junior Great Books Nonfiction Inquiry series, including topics in science, social studies, American history, and economics. Students will learn about the opportunities and challenges of settlers in the American West, explore how the characteristics and atmospheres of different planets create surprising types of weather, and more!
The Junior Great Books Virtual Academy offers an enjoyable way for students to strengthen their skills in critical thinking, reading comprehension, speaking and listening, and writing. By combining interactive reading activities with student-centered discussions, this program helps students develop their ideas, use and explain evidence, and respond constructively to their peers. Expert Great Books discussion leaders will guide students to think deeply about big ideas while having fun.

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 of 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
- 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 three 2-hour interactive webinar sessions and 4 hours of self-paced online learning modules.
- Duration: 6 hours live + 4 hours independent learning
- Cost: $275 per person
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Intermediate and Advanced Online Training
- Increase the effectiveness of inquiry-based teaching and learning. Offered courses include The Power of Student Questions, Using Junior Great Books Online, Shared Inquiry Advanced Review, and more. We also arrange custom courses to meet your needs!
- Duration: 2 hours
- Cost: $85 per person1
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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
- An 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. Participants will learn how to lead their own discussions online and in person. This course is not open to teachers.
- Duration: 4 hours (two 2-hour sessions)
- Cost: $99 per person
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1 | Costs for custom courses may differ. Please contact your Great Books educational consultant to arrange your custom course. |