1st Period Intensive Language Arts

In this class, our main text is Inside, published by Cengage Learning. This text allows the students to practice reading fiction and informational text. For fictional types of text, students learn to make predictions, follow the plot of a story, and learn about how characters, setting, and story events influence each other. For informational types of text, students learn how to use text features to help improve comprehension, set a purpose for reading, and use context clues to figure out word meanings.

We will also utilize various programs and resources to improve students' writing, grammar, language, and vocabulary skills.

Reading Plus is a computer-based program that allows students to practice reading informational and fictional types of text on their own reading level. I have found this program to be highly-effective in improving students' reading comprehension, vocabulary, and reading speed. The reading comprehension portion of the program meets the students at the point of their individual level of fluency and comprehension. As the students complete the weekly assignments, the program continually assesses the students' skills and presents them with text at the speed and comprehension level that is "just right" for them. Additionally, the vocabulary component of the program aids the students in building their word knowledge. As the students master comprehension and vocabulary skills at one level, gradually they move up to the next level, and are presented with more difficult text, comprehension questions, and vocabulary. The speed of reading is also gradually increased, as students show mastery of lower-level text.

Reading Plus Assignments: Currently 1st Period students are responsible for completing 3 See Readers (articles) and 4 Read Arounds (vocabulary activities) each week. (Beginning 2nd Semester, students will be responsible for completing 4 See Readers and 4 Read Arounds). If they do not finish these assignments at school, they need to complete them at home. They have from the beginning of the week on Monday through the following Sunday at midnight to complete these assignments.

Homework: The only weekly homework for this class will be the unfinished assignments for Reading Plus. (See Above). Occasionally, students may need to finish writing or vocabulary assignments for homework if they do not finish them in class.