• Reading Foundations I & II

    Syllabus and Behavioral Expectations

     

    Ms. Dianne Peterson, room L130

    Dianne.Peterson@ahschools.us

    763.506.6233

     

    Required Materials and Supplies:   

    ·         Pen and/or pencil (BLUE OR BLACK ink, please)

    ·         A folder or binder to keep your materials in (this will stay in the classroom)

    ·         Independent reading material

     Late Work/Make-up Work Policy: 

    ·         If you have an excused absence, please check to see what you missed and contact me about any make-up work.  If you miss more than three consecutive days, please see me to make arrangements. 

    ·         The deadline for all work is the last Friday before the end of the trimester.

    Behavioral Expectations:

    ·         Be prepared.  Make sure you have a pen or pencil, your folder, and something to read with you EVERY DAY.  

    ·         Be respectful.  Speak positively to your peers, listen when others are speaking (including me) and treat materials (books, desks, hand-outs) appropriately. 

    ·         Be kind.  With your words and your actions. 

    ·         Be responsible.  You are responsible for your learning.  Make sure you do everything you can to take control!

     Technology Policy: All portable electronic devices may be used in the classroom only with teacher or administrator approval. If there is unapproved use, the device may be confiscated by a staff person.  (Please refer to page 99 of the student planner for a complete description of school policy).

     Assignments: 

    • Independent reading
      • Reading responses (reading log). Students will be contributing to a small group discussion as part of their reading log points.
      • Completion of two books 
    • Computer strategy
      • Achieve 3000 - Students will work to complete at least two articles a week at 75% or higher
    • Direct Instruction Work
      • Article of the Week (AoW)
      • Vocabulary
      • Strategy work: nonfiction text features, summarizing, identifying text structures (sequence, cause and effect, problem and solution, compare and contrast) and inference.

     Grading:

    Grades will be posted in Synergy every 2–3 weeks.  Grades are weighted as follows:

     
    Formative                     10%
     
    IR summative               30%
     
    Informational Text         30%
     
    Vocabulary Summative  30%

       Grading Scale:                 

                  A   =   93 - 100       C+ =  77 - 79        D-  =   60 - 62      

                  A-  =   90 - 92        C   =  73 - 76         F    =   Below 60

                  B+ =   87 - 89        C-  =  70 – 72     

                  B   =   83 – 86        D+ =  67 - 69

                  B-  =   80 – 82        D   = 63 - 66      

    Academic Support:

    I am available most days after school.  I can also be available before school if you let me know.  I will make every effort to be available if you would like to come in for additional help and/or to make up work. 

     Parent/Guardian:  If you have concerns about your student’s progress or behavior, please do not hesitate to call or email me.  I am happy to work with you and your student to ensure they have a successful school year.

    Learning Targets:  Each day we will be working to meet specific learning targets.  Each target is a reading objective we want students to master by the end of the year to help answer two essential questions:

    1.     What do I need to do to become a stronger reader?

                2.    What do I do when I don’t understand what I am reading? 

    These targets will be posted on the board and on assignments.  Some key learning targets for this trimester are:

     Comprehension:

    • I can use strategies such as - activating prior knowledge, making connections, making predictions and asking questions in order to deepen my understanding of a text.
    • I can identify the central (main) idea of a text.
    • I can distinguish between the central (main) idea and supporting details in a text.
    • I can identify important and relevant details in a text.
    • I can summarize a text.

    Vocabulary:

    • I can determine the meaning of unknown words and phrases in a text by using context clues and/or word parts.

     Independent Reading:

    • I can select text at my appropriate independent reading level.
    • I can read various texts to increase my background knowledge.
    • I can change my reading speed depending on the purpose for reading.