Literacy:  The goal of the literacy program is to enable students to develop as individuals and to equip them to be productive members of an evolving society.  Instruction develops the ability to think critically, deepen comprehension, improve writing strategies, understand relationships and varying points of view, and arrive at logical conclusions from the facts presented.  Please find below a brief synopsis of the areas of study and requirements.

INDEPENDENT READING - Marking Period 1 - Fiction

This consists of three assignments:  reading, journal, and a project with oral presentation. Students can choose a fictional book of their choice.  A hard copy will be given to each student.  See Google Classroom for additional copies.                        

Reading Journal - Participation Grade - Due: Thursday, November 2 

1.  Students need to read independently each day.

2.  While reading, students will identify Notice and Note Signposts from their novel.  Signposts include - Contrast and Contradiction, Words of the Wiser, Aha Moment, Again and Again, Tough Questions, and Memory Moment.  The journal will be completed in our Google Classroom.

3.  Five examples (periods 1/2 and 7/8) and eight examples (Advanced Literacy-period 4/5) must be completed for full credit.  Each signpost can only be used twice. The following format must be followed:

• The signpost title needs to be written.

• An example from the novel taken directly from the text needs to be provided.  This example needs to be written in MLA format (quoted with the author's name and the page number).

• A detailed paragraph response is required.   This paragraph must explain the reason why the chosen quote is the signpost.  Remember, the reader may not have read your novel, so the explanation must truly explain the meaning. 

Reading Project presented orally - Test Grade - Due Date: Friday, November 3 

Students will make a puppet of the main character from their novel.  Included with their puppet is a summary outline worksheet that needs to be completed.  Students were given this worksheet, which also contains the requirements and grading rubric.  Finally, students will present their projects orally to the class. 

READING  

Students will be reading short stories found in the textbook.  The selections can be accessed in our Google Classroom. 

• Students will review the elements of the story.

• Respond to selected questions.

• Complete open-book tests to include multiple-choice and writing responses.

• Class assignments will be collected at the completion of selection and graded.

WRITING

• All assignments are written in MLA format.  

• The first marking period focuses on Narrative Writing Tasks.  Students will be writing two district-assigned analyses.  The first one will be guided and assisted; the second one will be written independently.

• Additional narrative tasks will be written with an emphasis on correctly written dialogue.

• Writing skills will be developed and improved upon.  Emphasis is placed on revising strategies. 

• All writing assignments will be assessed as test grades.

• Writing assignments are written in our Google Classroom.  

VOCABULARY

• Vocabulary is taught while reading a selection.

• During the first marking period, Worldy Wise vocabulary lessons will be completed.  This provides direct academic vocabulary instruction that develops the critical link between vocabulary and reading comprehension. Students are introduced to vocabulary through a carefully sequenced progression of activities that develop sophisticated oral vocabulary.