STRATEGIES:  The following are examples of the types of strategies we will utilize in the classroom this year:

Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) 

Sustained Silent reading is an opportunity for students to have a choice over what book they read.  Students will be issued a reading folder where they will keep the following:  SSR book choice, SSR Rubric, SSR Log, and Conferencing Questions.  For 15-20 minutes each day, usually in Literacy class, students will read their self selected book.  While the class reads, I will conference with students individually in order to assess comprehension.

View other  SSR Requirements.  

Students will occasionally be required to complete the following self selected reading project.  The SSR project rubric is also used to assess students' reading comprehension.

Guided Reading

In class, we often read pieces aloud, pausing for clarification, interpretation/analysis, and comprehension assessment.  Note-taking, class participation, and activity participation is expected during guided reading.

Literature Circles

Literature circles are small groups of students assembled to discuss a piece of literature.  Each member of the literature circle is assigned a role, therefore making him/her responsible for some of the group discussion and progression.  Collaboration is a key component of literature circles.  At the end of each discussion, students will complete a  Self Assessment.  Click on any of the following underlined roles to obtain the class worksheets:

- The Connector finds a connection between the reading and the outside world (life experiences, world 

   happenings, other readings, etc). 

- The Illustrator   draws a picture (sketch, diagram, cartoon, etc) that is related to the reading.

-The Discussion Director  develops a list of questions that the group can discuss.

- The Travel Tracer  tracks the setting using description, diagrams and/or maps.   

-The Summarizer prepares a summary of the reading.

-The Vocabulary Enricher provides a list of new and interesting words and their definitions.

Journaling                      

Using journals in the classroom is an important and effective assessment tool.                           

Journaling is usually used in conjunction with silent reading and read alouds and prompts students to respond creatively to a piece of literature, to reflect on a passage or complete story, to make predictions, to ask questions, to make connections to the students own life, and to evaluate and articulate the effectiveness of the reading strategies.  Some examples of journal entries that will be assigned throughout the course of this school year are:

- Describe your worst nightmare.  (making connections/creative response)

- Describe your most frightening experience with something non-human.  (making connections/creative response)

- Which of the Seven Habits of Good Reading to you find most effective or useful?  Why?                          

             (methodology reflection)

- Do you think Rainsford, the protagonist from The Most Dangerous Game, has changed his opinion of hunting from the beginning to the end of the story?  Explain.  (literature reflection)

- What is courage?  Describe a time when you or someone you know acted courageously. (making connections)

- Write a journal entry as if you are one of the major characters from the novel/play/short story.  Express your thoughts and feelings about the story's happenings. (connect to text/synthesize/make inferences)

-  What do you think the year 2070 will bring?  (creative response/prediction)