Jess Woods - Excelsior Classes

Jess Woods

Instructor

Jess Woods graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s degree in English Education and from Arizona State University with a Master’s degree in English. She began her career teaching in a public high school; however, since 2013, she has been teaching middle school and high school English courses online. Jess is a life-long reader and writer. She comes alive in the company of words and music, and she has a passion for literature that reaches through every part of her being. She believes wholeheartedly that each person has a relevant voice and perspective, and she eagerly teaches her students to embrace their individual voices by exploring their own thoughts and learning to confidently articulate them. It is her desire to encourage growth in all students (regardless of their love for English courses…or lack thereof). She considers it a tremendous success if she can awaken a love of literature and/or composition in her students. Jess currently resides in Alabama with her pastor-husband, Josh and their three kids. They also have a lot of animals and plants. While reading and writing are clearly on the top of her hobby list, Jess also enjoys all things musical, cooking competition shows, gardening, hiking, and traveling.

Classes Taught By Jess Woods

Closed
Fall
Advanced Composition A – LETU ENGL 1013 or Honors
FALL - Wednesdays @ 2:00 PM ET
Spring
Advanced Composition B – LETU ENGL 1023 or Honors
SPRING - Wednesdays @ 2:00 PM ET
Closed
Fall
Creative Writing
FALL - Thursdays @ 2:00 PM ET
Closed
Full Year
English I: Introduction to Literary Analysis and Composition – GROUP 2
Thursdays @ 8:45 AM ET
Closed
Full Year
English I: Introduction to Literary Analysis and Composition – GROUP 3
Fridays @ 10:30 AM ET
Closed
Full Year
English I: Introduction to Literary Analysis and Composition – GROUP 1
Rated 5.00 out of 5
Tuesdays @ 10:30 AM ET
Closed
Full Year
English III: American Literature
Mondays @ 12:15 PM ET
Closed
Flexible
Full Year
Epsilon Kappa Epsilon English Club & Honor Society
Variable Times
Closed
Full Year
Language Arts I – GROUP 1
Mondays @ 2:00 PM ET
Closed
Full Year
Language Arts I – GROUP 2
Wednesdays @ 8:45 AM ET
Closed
Mythology – Coming SY 24-25
Rated 5.00 out of 5
Spring
Women Who Wrote the World
SPRING - Thursdays @ 2:00 PM ET

Blog Posts By Jess Woods

You Don’t Have to Agree with Your Teacher (And Other Secrets for Analyzing Literature)

The first secret of literary analysis is that you don’t have to agree with your teacher. Yep, I said it. While some people try to fit literature into tidy boxes, genres, and purposes, my favorite high school English teachers and college professors encouraged...

Women Who Wrote the World: The Importance of the Female Voice in the Study of Literature

If you’ve ever taken a traditional English/literature class, you may have noticed that many of the authors you read (particularly if the class moved in any sort of sequential order) were white males. While there are many wonderful and worthy works of literature...

Why Teen Authors Should Build a Writing Portfolio Before Self-Publishing

The publishing industry is changing, and that is a beautiful thing. Voices are emerging from cultures that have previously been silenced in print. Stories are no longer squelched by industry constraints. Genre-specific niches have a pedestal and are flourishing. With...

Love for Jess Woods

My son, who is not a highly self-motivated student looked forward to this class every week (Mythology)

A Parent

Mrs. Woods is an amazing teacher and I have learned a lot so far.

A Student

Mrs. Woods gives great explanations and I am impressed with how much my child is learning about literary elements, writing, and logical thinking.

A Parent

This is the best class I've ever been in. It's so different.

A Student

Thank you so much for class! If I could send you a great big hug I would! It was an amazing experience: writing all sorts of different things is a skill I will never regret learning. You are an amazing teacher. I always enjoyed logging into class in the morning, and I loved everything about this class!

A Student

I just wanted to thank you for being an awesome teacher over the composition year. Thanks to your help and my success at debate nationals, I’ve been offered some work writing cases and articles for debate sourcebooks this next year! This is extra special because typically they only offer this chance to really successful alumni and coaches, and I haven’t even graduated yet! You’ve done a lot for my writing skills, and it is much appreciated.

A Student

American Lit at Excelsior is simply a must for high school students! The course features the best of the Am Lit classics: a full palette of subject matter and historical eras, with exquisite authors like Poe, Hemingway, and Frost. Mrs. Woods is an experienced expert at leading her students into and through profound discussions about the literature, while also giving each individual student encouragement and feedback to improve analysis and core writing abilities. This course is a home-run and a beloved favorite of our homeschool family!

A Parent

[Student] continues to thoroughly enjoy your class, and it has been fun for us to see her grow in confidence as she commits some very intense thoughts to paper. Thank you for your encouragement.

A Parent

I'm writing to let you know how much my son is enjoying your class. Honestly, he's spending more time on it - because he likes it - than all his other subjects. Thank you for making it so much fun for him!

A Parent