Course Overview
Reading
Lebanon Middle School
Jeannette Picard jeannette.picard@lebanonct.org Erik Nielsen erik.nielsen@lebanonct.org
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body”
-Sir Richard Steele
“A room without books, is like a body without a soul.”
-G.K. Chesterton
Reading is a life-long skill, necessary for survival in our modern world. It feeds our souls and our imaginations, expands our knowledge, and prepares us for new adventures. Through this course, you will expand your skills and abilities. Using your needs and abilities as a starting point, we will work together to help you grow as a reader.
Course Content
Grade 5 – Fifth graders will work using the Trophies program and other materials to improve their reading skills. You will learn ways to help yourself to understand when reading and will learn how to attack words that are hard for you. We will work together to help you feel more sure of yourself as read and to help you find reading material that is enjoyable for you.
Grade 6 – Sixth graders will receive an extra boost to their reading instruction through small group sessions once or twice a week. Materials will be designed to meet the needs of the individual group to develop decoding and comprehension skills.
Grade 7 – Seventh graders will work to develop comprehension and learn to apply reading and study skills to their assignments in other classes. Topics covered will include vocabulary development, comprehension strategies, content area reading and general study skills.
Grade 8 – Eighth graders will work to hone their skills in preparation for the challenges of high school. Individual comprehension strategies, vocabulary development, content area reading, general study skills, and transition of strategies to subject area coursework will be the focus as students prepare to move to the world beyond middle school.
Materials
Some specific materials will be necessary for you to do your best in school. Many of these materials are required by your grade level team.
-Trapper Keeper or similar organizer
- separate notebook for each class or a labeled multi-subject notebook
-storage area for pens and pencils
-assignment book or planner (provided by the school for each middle school student)
-pocket folder for each class
-dictionary and thesaurus (for home use)
-art materials, like markers, colored pencils, ruler, glue stick (for home use)
-an area within the home set aside for regular study. This can be set up in your
bedroom, a section of the living room, or some other quiet area of the house.
In order to be prepared for class, you must bring your notebook, folder, pen and pencil, book, and homework.
Grading
Students will be assessed based upon their effort and participation. Assignments will include regular reading assignments from a pleasure reading book or class tradebook, tests and projects, short quizzes, and regular homework. Some type of homework will be assigned each night in order to help students develop responsibility for their work – the “homework habit”. Grading is explained in more detail on the grading policy sheet.
Expectations
Respect and responsibility are the key words for each Reading class. You will be expected to take responsibility for your own work and your teachers, in turn, will fulfill their responsibility to be prepared to help you learn and grow. In addition, you will be expected to show respect for yourself and others. This means using words of politeness, coming to class on time and ready to learn, following directions, and giving your best effort. It also means supporting classmates as they try new or difficult activities. For your teachers, it means showing you respect as you try new challenges and work to improve your skills. These ideas are explored more fully in the class expectation sheet.
Support
Classroom activities are designed to meet students’ needs. However, at times you may need a little extra help or may not quite understand an assignment. At those times it is important to let the teacher know that you are having trouble. Stop by before school starts for help with the assignment or sign up to stay after school for extra help on a late bus day. Ms. Picard will be available most Tuesdays or Thursdays for help. You may also sign up to stay after school if you would like another choice for a quiet work area.