Welcome to Intensive Reading!

Intensive Reading Syllabus

Ms. Lynch – Welcome!

Our National Geographic EDGE program is very exciting, and I’m pretty sure you’ll like it and be successful with it. Units involve a good mix of fiction with non-fiction, and are designed to help prepare you to pass the FCAT in reading.

Beginning of Class:

As you enter the room, on time, please….pick up your folder from the bin, take it to your desk, and begin either

A) bellwork assigned or

B) Independent reading assigned.

End of Class:

Each day, a different student will be assigned to put 3 major points on the ELMO about what we discussed.

Everyone else must add these to their notebooks.

If there is a difference of opinion, write your OWN view about those three important things, but only after you’ve listened respectfully to the day’s leader.

You need to have an independent reading book for class every day, and for 100 points per week, you need to read at home, and jot down notes in your notebook about *“what happened” and what you think….once a week. It may sometimes happen that you have 2 books going at once! Sorry, but that’s what happens in real life! Use your time and make notes about what you read.

*You may start with “I think ________ is getting really _______”, or “I wonder what ………..” or “So far, _______ is having trouble _____________” . There should be a brief sense of conflict, characters, and page left off in each entry. If you hate the book you picked, after 10 pages, you may try another. But give the book a chance.

In addition, independent reading in class is often required to demonstrated your ability to find your own reading (lexile* appropriate and in book form)

that challenges you and builds your vocabulary and fluency.

In the EDGE program, you are required to read, put vocabulary words to study in your notebook as asked, and to answer questions in the notebook or in the EDGE workbook. You are also required to choose from their selections of extra independent reading. Fortunately, they’re good!

Sometimes, we have extra projects required.

More challenging books are encouraged, depending on your lexile score on the FAIR test.

You will also be asked to try an SAT hip-hop program, FLOCABULARY, to strengthen your vocabulary. It involves memorizing songs with top 500 SAT vocabulary words to help you remember.

Grading:

Notebook -25%

In-class notebook kept independently, which includes “Cornell Notes” on our readings and discussions, key vocabulary, short reading responses and “logs” for independent and group reading, bell-work, end class closure notes, etc. (This should stay in the classroom for grading.)

Workbook – 25% (This should stay in the classroom for grading.)

Independent reading in and out of class- 15%

literature circles, projects -20%

Tests – 15%

If you have met these requirements, you should have an A in this class!

Please do not ask to leave the room the first 10

minutes of class, or the last 10 minutes of class, since this time period is KEY to your success.

A break for the bathroom or quick snack in the middle will be announced.

At home, please use USA Test Prep: School ID bayshoreflhs Password is Newton54

FLOCABULARY.COM

A Rap /hip-hop song to learn vocabulary called, “Transformations”, the first of 12. These are the top 500 SAT (FCAT, too) words to learn. Or make your own! We’ll try to make this a regular part of class.