Classroom Rules:
- Be on time and prepared
- Be respectful and courteous
- Homework must be on time to receive full credit
- Work productively/ Stay on task
- Follow all class procedures
- Always give your best effort
Materials:
- Pencils
- agenda book for homework
- folder
Grading Scale:
All classes are graded on a weight-based system that is comprised of class participation, tests, quizzes, essays, projects, and homework.
* Tests/Quiz/Projects: (40%)
*Participation/classwork (30%)
* Log/Journals (30%)
Read 180 Program:
Read 180 is an intense, comprehensive reading intervention program used to increase students’ reading levels. Each student receives instruction that is individually designed for their current reading level and writing skills. The program consists of whole and small group direct instruction, independent reading, writing practice, and computer-based individualized instruction.
Computers:
Students will use topics on the computer to practice reading comprehension, spelling proofreading, and word attack skills. Each topic guides the students through a variety of activities including a video, the Reading Zone, Word Zone, and Spelling Zone. Students must complete activities in each zone in order to reach the Success Zone and move to the next passage.
Reading Area:
Students read in class every day. Students will select 2-3 books and record their progress in their reading log. Writing activities accompany each book, and students complete them as they are reading. Students will also be given a study guide to use as they read and during all quizzes. When the student completes a book and its writing and study guide, she/he takes a quiz to test knowledge of the book. Students must review the study guide and retake the quiz if they score less than 70%
Homework:
Students should read 20 minutes each night and record time and pages in the reading log. See: Reading Log
Reading Goals:
The biggest goal is that students will develop a love of reading! Using an interactive notebook, we will work on the following skills
- Genre
- plot (character, setting, conflict, resolution, theme)
- fact/opinion
- compare/contrast
- sequence (flashback, foreshadowing)
- generalization
- main idea/supporting details
- authors purpose
- cause/effect
- author's purpose
- Focus/ideas
- Organization/paragraphs
- Voice
- Word choice
- Sentences
- Conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization)