Reading in Unusual Places Strategies to Unleash the Reality of Stories Are Everywhere Reading and Literacy in an Alternative High School Setting Pioneer Tech High School, Hamilton, MI

A Look Into Our World...

“Offering a Flexible Learning Environment” Each student has an independent, individualized schedule No two students are treated exactly the same Program is located in a single, open space Three content area teachers= 15 students each Differentiation is the norm Students have had little success academically in the past 90% do not like reading Public school setting, Hamilton School district information

First Step: Repair Mindset Student reasons for not liking reading: slow pace, difficult/challenging text, frustration, challenges with comprehension, effects of trauma, low interest,

Second Step is to offer options. Conner’s story- hadn’t read for years, never completed a full year of school, attendance was an issue, lots of trauma...needed to pass 4 English courses. Excerpts, one page, audio text Jared- capable of reading, bored with it, didn’t want to be told what to read, offered complete choice, no directives beyond how/what he did once the book was read Ready Player One- Konner Gordon- never read another book!

Opportunities and Options Our Vision Opportunities and Options

lunchtime activities on a monthly basis connect with a local food bank to offer snacks for our students

Community Interaction is key College students, Community Interaction is key

Personal growth is valued highly

Gifts and talents are celebrated

Career Exposure and Job Readiness emphasis

The “Unusual” Inside the Classroom Create curriculum to fill the gap Reteach strategies you think may have been missed

Physical Environment

Offering Multiple Directions

Ideas: Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What you Can Do About it by Kelly Gallagher Reading Reasons: Motivating Mini-Lessons for Middle and High School by Kelly Gallagher https://blog.ted.com/8-talks-to-watch-for-book- lovers-day/ Graphic Novels: Beowulf and The Odyssey by Gareth Hind, Maus by Art Spiegelman, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Odysseus High Interest Novels: Sold by Patricia McCormick, Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, Monster by Walter Dean Myers Other Successes: Short Short Stories, audiobooks (Audible), taping short stories

The “Unusual” Classroom in the Community Purpose, opportunity, persistence, diversity

Community Involvement: Discussions, Field Trips, Activities, Joint Learning Brother I’m Dying, The Things They Carried

Reading for Their Future Careers: Mynextmove.org Onetonline.org Career Cruising

Pioneer Tech High School Hamilton Community Schools, Hamilton, MI Joy Zomer Pioneer Tech High School Hamilton Community Schools, Hamilton, MI jzomer@hamiltonschools.us nStudents often give you clues to what might motivate them, Be willing to consider ideas you never think would work, Always offer options, Never Give Up Tryingts often give you clues to what might motivate themStudents often give you clues to what might motivate them Be willing to consider ideas you never think would work Always offer options for those students who Never Give Up Trying Students often give you clues to what might motivate them