Reading/Writing Workshop Mrs. Bicica

Class Structure Silent Reading – Students read independently-chosen books for approximately 10 minutes daily. Their book must be brought to class every day. They should be reading these books at home as well. Ask students about their reading!   Reading Lessons include active reading strategies such as inferring, creating mental images and determining importance which are taught, stressed, and practiced. Vocabulary, elements of Literature, and characteristics of genre are additional examples of Reading lessons. Students respond to the reading, ask questions, make predictions, and use all of the active reading strategies to help them become more proficient readers.

Writing Lessons include all aspects of writing such as grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, spelling, and crafting effective introductions, transitions, and conclusions.   The Writing Workshop Management Board is used when working on writing projects to keep track of students’ progress. Students’ writing stays at school (for portfolios). If students bring work home to show you, please be sure they return it.

Types of Reading Reading Units in the text, Prentice Hall Literature, are based on questions like “How do we decide what is true?” and “What is important to know?” Students will be able to access the textbook and student resources on-line at home. Students read both fiction and non-fiction. The novels Walk Two Moons and The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 and the autobiography, Leon’s Story will be read together in class.

Types of Writing Students will write regularly during the Reading Units by responding to the reading and will also complete more extensive writing projects. Examples of the types of writing students will engage in include descriptive, informational, expository, persuasive, argumentative, and narrative writing. These writing projects include pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, conferring, and finally, writing final drafts.

Literature Circles Literature Circles (Book Clubs) will start later in the year. Groups of 4 to 5 students will meet to discuss the book that the group has chosen to read. Reading and preparation of the written work will be done partially in class, but mostly at home. Using their prepared written work, students will engage in discussions in class once or twice a week. Students will practice leadership skills taking turns acting as Discussion Directors. Anyone who is unprepared, though, will not be allowed to participate in the meeting and will lose credit.

On-line Resources Students will have access to: Google Classroom IXL Pearson Successnet (textbook) Scope Magazine

Assessments Tests and quizzes are given to assess understanding, comprehension, and analytic ability. Both multiple choice and open-ended questions (essays) are used. Oral presentations are also used for assessment purposes. Class work and homework assignments Class discussion of the reading A grade for being prepared for class is given each Marking Period.   Class work and homework are kept in student binders (Returned Work Section), and classroom writing folders.

GRADES 2/3 (Minor) 1/3 (Major) Class work Tests Homework Reading projects Participation Writing project process grades Writing project completion grades Iselin Middle School policy states that grades will be based on performance, not effort. In the event of a student absence, grades are recorded as zeroes, but are changed once the work is handed in. Missing work not handed in within a reasonable amount of time is automatically averaged into the overall grade as a zero.

IMS Grading Policy The value assigned to numerical marks shall be as follows: 92-100 Performance significantly above curriculum standards 83-91 Performance above curriculum standards 74-82 Performance at curriculum standards 65-73 Performance below curriculum standards 64 or less Performance significantly below curriculum standards (failure) If a student does not hand in an assignment on the due date, it will be graded on a late grade basis (10 points will be deducted) if it is received the following day. After the second day, the highest grade the assignment may receive is 50%. If the assignment is not received at all, the grade will be zero. If students are out sick, they have two days to make up the missed work.

Keeping current with homework, class work, and in-class projects is essential. Being present in class is a must, unless a student is sick. Taking extended trips during the school year will negatively affect your child’s learning. Reading and writing as much and as often as possible will help to ensure student success!