English Course Descriptions for ONTOP
Subject: English
Title: Ontop English/Language Arts (grades 6-8)
Overview: This course is designed to reintroduce reading comprehension strategies, listening and writing strategies to improve student reading, writing and listening skills. We will reinforce what students already know and help them gain confidence to try what might be difficult for them so that they can eventually reintegrate back into a mainstream educational setting.
Standards: Vermont Framework: Vital Results
Communication:
Reading strategies (1.1): Students use a variety of strategies to help them read.
Reading comprehension (1.3): Students read for meaning, demonstrating both initial understanding and personal response to what is read
Writing dimensions (1.5): Students draft, revise, edit and critique written products
Listening—clarification and restatement (1.13): students listen actively and respond to communications
Information technology (1.18): Students use computers and other tools of technology to research, and represent ideas.
Content: In this class we will read and discuss stories from texts such as: Steck-Vaughn (abridged classics) Moby Dick, Red Badge of Courage, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; Great Source Sourcebooks. Skills learned include using the reading strategies: predicting, visualizing, connecting, monitoring, determining importance, and synthesizing new information. Skills learned also include using process writing to brainstorm, draft, revise, and edit written work.
Learning Opps: Reading from a variety of texts/genres. Attending Flynn performances based on reading done in class. We will write personal responses to literature, personal narratives, poetry, short essays, and personal and business letters which will be kept in a writing portfolio. We will improve our reading comprehension through the use of reading conferences and reading journals.
Assessment: Reading: standards 1.1 and 1.3: Students are able to preview readings to get in a “mind set” for the story; they are able to use prior knowledge to make sense of the story; they make predictions about the story based on what they know from it; they visualize to make sense of the story; they ask related questions to increase their understanding; they monitor their own understanding of what they are reading; they determine important information; they synthesize information from the readings to develop new understanding; they participate in discussions about readings that are on their instructional level; they make personal connections to text; and they analyze and interpret a range of genres.
Writing: standard 1.5: Students are able to brainstorm, draft, and revise their own writing; students learn to edit their own work; students continue to grow and gain confidence as writers.
Listening: standard 1.13: Students are able to focus attention on the message; they monitor the message for understanding; students ask related questions and provide appropriate feedback.
Information Literacy: standard 1.18: Students will be able to use computers and other technology to complete writing and enhance presentations.
Subject: English
Title: Ontop English/Language Arts (grades 9-12)
Overview: This course is designed to reintroduce reading comprehension strategies, listening and writing strategies to improve student reading, writing and listening skills. We will reinforce what students already know and help them gain confidence to try what might be difficult for them so that they can eventually reintegrate back into a mainstream educational setting.
Standards: Vermont Framework: Vital Results
Communication:
Reading strategies (1.1): Students use a variety of strategies to help them read.
Reading comprehension (1.3): Students read for meaning, demonstrating both initial understanding and personal response to what is read. Students use and discuss literary elements to increase understanding.
Writing dimensions (1.5): Students draft, revise, edit and critique written products. Students use literary elements to enhance their writing.
Listening—clarification and restatement (1.13): students listen actively and respond to communications
Information technology (1.18): Students use computers and other tools of technology to research, and represent ideas.
Content: In this class we will read and discuss stories from texts such as: Steck-Vaughn (abridged classics) Moby Dick, Red Badge of Courage, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; Great Source Sourcebooks. Skills learned include using the reading strategies: predicting, visualizing, connecting, monitoring, determining importance, and synthesizing new information. Skills learned also include using process writing to brainstorm, draft, revise, and edit written work.
Learning Opps: Reading from a variety of texts/genres. Attending Flynn performances based on reading done in class. We will write personal responses to literature, personal narratives, poetry, short essays, and personal and business letters which will be kept in a writing portfolio. We will improve our reading comprehension through the use of reading conferences and reading journals.
Assessment: Reading: standards 1.1 and 1.3: Students are able to preview readings to get in a “mind set” for the story; they are able to use prior knowledge to make sense of the story; they make predictions about the story based on what they know from it; they visualize to make sense of the story; they ask related questions to increase their understanding; they monitor their own understanding of what they are reading; they determine important information; they synthesize information from the readings to develop new understanding; they participate in discussions about readings that are on their instructional level; they make personal connections to text; and they analyze and interpret a range of genres.
Writing: standard 1.5: Students are able to brainstorm, draft, and revise their own writing; students learn to edit their own work; students continue to grow and gain confidence as writers.
Listening: standard 1.13: Students are able to focus attention on the message; they monitor the message for understanding; students ask related questions and provide appropriate feedback.
Information Literacy: standard 1.18: Students will be able to use computers and other technology to complete writing and enhance presentations.
Credit Credit is awarded in .25 increments up to 1 credit per year.