Post on 02-Feb-2021
Welcome to Literature
withMrs. Jones
Email me anytime at racheljones@dcsok.org
mailto:racheljones@dcsok.org
Welcome to Literaturewith
Mrs. Jones & Mrs. Smith
racheljones@dcsok.orgshareensmith@dcsok.org Email us anytime at
mailto:racheljones@dcsok.orgmailto:shareensmith@dcsok.org
Website InformationThe announcements page will have all the important information, class syllabus, upcoming parent/teacher conference sign-up links, and this presentation.
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Website InformationThe homework and assignments page will have our daily assignments (updated on Mondays for the week) with copies of class notes, activities, etc. students may need to access from home.
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Class Novels I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai *young readers edition (by Oct. 22nd) The Giver by Lois Lowry (need in January)
Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings (need after Spring Break)
Order forms due to our library by 8/29! 5
Reader’s Workshop
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What it is…Reader’s Workshop will happen each week in either the Composition or the Literature class. Reader’s Workshop will be comprised of any of the following:
● a mini-lesson focused on a specific skill ● independent reading time● conferencing in small groups or individually with
the teacher● skills practice using their own books
Reader’s Workshop
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Why the change...AR, as we have been using it, has run its course. We have seen these trends over the past few years…● Students were increasingly trying to “work the system” with AR.
Cheating - in many forms - has increased in the past few years. Answers to AR quizzes are readily available online.
● The depth of learning with AR was minimal. It was a way to hold kids accountable for outside reading, but the critical thinking and application of reading skills were not being addressed by AR. Having students take a 10 or 20-question comprehension test after reading a book does not target depth/analysis in reading.
Reader’s Workshop
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What’s the goal...● Reader’s Workshop allows for planned, dedicated
independent reading time at school. ● Reader’s Workshop shows the students that reading is
important to everyone.● Although we will be giving grades for specific skills
practiced during Reader’s Workshop, we will not be giving grades for reading/finishing a book.
● We want students to set goals, reflect and learn from what they’re reading.
Why Reading Is Important
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Middle School Book ContentKnow what your child is choosing to read! Inside the cover of his/her library book should be a label with the grade level, number of AR points and a rating: LG - Lower Grades (1st-4th grade) = G rating
MG - Middle Grades (4th-6th grade) = PG ratingMG+ - Middle Grades Plus (6th-9th grade) = PG13
UG - Upper Grades (Upper High School) = RThe rating is not about vocabulary, it is about content. A book can have a 4.0 reading level (vocabulary) and a UG rating because of content. 10