7^th Grade Reading Course Description

Reading class in 7^th grade is an integration of reading skills instruction and reading practice. For reading practice we continue to use Accelerated Reader. With AR, students know their most current reading level and select books appropriate for their level of skill and understanding. Students read novels and then quiz on them independently, accumulating quiz points throughout the quarter. The goal points are based on students’ assessed reading levels and may change each quarter.

Reading skills will be based on the Grade Level Expectations provided by the state for 7^th grade. These focus mainly on comprehension skills and strategies and also on vocabulary development and fluency. We will use a variety of activities including word roots practice, comprehension questions, genre studies, and discussion. Skills instruction may be with the regular AR teacher or in a “skills group” with other students who need to practice that same skill. This could be with any 7^th grade reading teacher. These groups are flexible and temporary, and will change regularly throughout the year. We hope to be able to offer AR and to also do more personalized instruction, whether it be remediation or enrichment, with all kids. We will do AR three times a week and skills groups twice a week. You may contact your child’s AR teacher with any questions.

We will also spend considerable time focusing specifically on the skills students will be asked to demonstrate on the WASL in the spring. These are typical comprehension and vocabulary activities, but are designed to help students become familiar with the WASL and how responses are expected to be written.

Please let your child’s teacher know if you have any questions.

Mrs. Bowers bowersc@chelanschools.org Mrs. Jenkins jenkinsl@chelanschools.org

Mr. Johnson johnsonb@chelanschools.org Mr. Larson larsonp@chelanschools.org