Intensive Reading:

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to provide instruction that enables students to accelerate the development of reading and writing skills and to strengthen those skills so they are able to successfully read and write grade level text independently. Instruction emphasizes reading comprehension, writing fluency, and vocabulary study through the use of a variety of literary and informational texts encompassing a broad range of text structures, genres, and levels of complexity. Texts used for instruction focus on a wide range of topics, including content-area information, in order to support students in meeting the knowledge demands of increasingly complex text. Students enrolled in the course will engage in interactive text-based discussion, question generation, and research opportunities. They will write in response to reading and cite evidence when answering text dependent questions orally and in writing. The course provides extensive opportunities for students to collaborate with their peers. Scaffolding is provided as necessary as students engage in reading and writing increasingly complex text and is removed as the reading and writing abilities of students improve over time.

Grading Categories:

Classwork/Quizzes:  45%

Tests/Projects:        45%

Homework:            10%

Grading Procedures:

♦ Grades will be divided into categories:

♦ Averages are based on Marion County’s Grading Scale:

• A=90-100                  • B=80-89        

• C=70-79                    • D=60-69

• F = 59-below

Grades will consist of Reading Plus assignments, vocabulary tests, quizzes (vocabulary, reading, speaking and writing), reading logs, book reports, writing assignments, projects,  assessments,  and other graded assignments.

Grade Concerns:  Please feel free to see me during the 1st half of Alpha Time regarding any grade concerns - no appointment necessary.  I am available Monday through Friday.

Reading Plus: 

• By Wednesday of each week students must complete five (5) vocabulary and two (2) reading lessons. 
• By Sunday at 11:59 pm, students must complete three additional reading lessons.

      Students must complete a total of five (5) reading lessons and five (5) vocabulary lessons each week.

Class Procedures:  

To facilitate my success in Mrs. Hardy's class, I will...

Be Prompt, Prepared, Polite, and Productive!  Additionally, I will...

Enter the classroom quietly, turn off my phone, place it in my backpack, deposit my backpack in its assigned area, and immediately start working.
Remain silent and seated while the teacher is giving instruction.
Respect the classroom and textbooks by keeping them clean.
Talk quietly to my group mates during group activities.
During whole class discussions, listen intently, raise my hand and wait to be acknowledged before speaking.
Remember that only school appropriate topics can be discussed in class and that Profanity is Prohibited.
  

Make-up Work Procedures:  If you are absent, you responsible for getting your make-up work during the 1st Half of Alpha Time  (as to not interrupt class time).  Please complete and return the work in a timely manner.

 Materials Needed:

 Spiral notebook

Composition notebook 

Loose leaf paper

Pencils and pens (dark ink)