Major Concept/Content: To improve reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills of students not achieving at grade level.
Students will read to learn by:
· Connecting text to prior knowledge.
· Understanding text structure to analyze and respond to literature.
· Using text processing strategies "before", "during", and "after" reading to build a foundation for a text, make sense of reading as it occurs, and to synthesize, apply, evaluate, or bridge understanding.
Students will increase skill and confidence in writing by:
· Using the Writing Process.prewriting, drafting, revision, editing, and publishing.
· Practicing timed writing.
· Taking notes on literature.
· Reflecting, discussing, and evaluating writing assignments.
Students will increase confidence and ability to articulate and support ideas by:
· Engaging in both formal and informal presentations.
· Learning how to be active listeners.
Students with a failing from their previous Language Arts Class or who score below the 50 percentile in the Terra Nova test from the previous year will be required to take this class.