1. 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

2. A Look Into Our World...

3. “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

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

5. 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!

6. Opportunities and Options
Our Vision
Opportunities and Options

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

8. Community Interaction is key
College students,
Community Interaction is key

9. Personal growth is valued highly

10. Gifts and talents are celebrated

11. Career Exposure and Job Readiness emphasis

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

13. Physical Environment

14. Offering Multiple Directions

15. 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
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

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

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

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

19. Pioneer Tech High School Hamilton Community Schools, Hamilton, MI
Joy Zomer
Pioneer Tech High School
Hamilton Community Schools, Hamilton, MI
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