Literacy+and+Accelerated+Reading

Literacy and Reading Expectations

 These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but //minds// alive on the shelves. From each of them goes out its own voice... and just as the touch of a button on our set will fill the room with music, so by taking down one of these volumes and opening it, one can call into range the voice of a man far distant in time and space, and hear him speaking to us, mind to mind, heart to heart. ~Gilbert Highet

Student Responsibilities:
 * Always have at least two books ready to go: one in the backpack (or locker), one at home, just in-case you are forgetful or tend to misplace items.
 * You will need an independent reading book (IRB) in any Language Arts classroom, no matter the teacher or grade.
 * Complete 30-45 minutes of AT HOME reading each and every day (yes, even on weekends).
 * Answer reading discussion questions on my Wiki discussion page (as assigned)
 * Complete reading letters and reading logs (as assigned)
 * Manage your own AR Quizzes: when you take them, how often you take them
 * Read books (novels, fiction, non-fiction) with AR Quizzes: once you meet your goals, you are welcome to read other forms of print media (such as magazines)
 * Find books to read - stop waiting for someone to put something in your hands with the expectation that //they// know what //you// want. Only **YOU** know what satisfies your brain! We - your parents and teachers - can help, but only if you come to us and let us know how!
 * Students MUST maintain their reading portfolio (which is kept in your cubby in the classroom). If you misplace documents you run the risk of jeopardizing future assignments and conference/evaluation expectations in this course.

Parent Responsibilities:
 * Allow time for reading each day whenever it works into the family/ student schedule. Students need 30-45 minutes of reading practice each day, outside of the classroom . Encourage students to use time between after-school activities as relaxing reading time.
 * Students should be held accountable for their reading in the household. Sometimes it helps to set a timer, and many children enjoy when they have family reading time with their parents. You may even want to consider forming a book club with your student and his/ her friends (and possibly other parents!).
 * Check on your student: ask which book they are reading, or ask them to show you their most current reading-letter they wrote for class. Be inquisitive!
 * Make books accessible: plan a weekly library day or time, come into the classroom and select a book to read with your student (or help them select a book); the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores in our area have excellent sale days where books cost less than 50 cents - take advantage of these days and have fun selecting a new read with your kiddo!

Teacher Responsibilities
 * Facilitate in-class reading opportunities for students each day. These reading opportunities may be shared-reading, independent reading, passage analysis, content and comprehension reading, decoding skills, vocabulary assessment through reading (and a myriad of other tasks...)!
 * Provide opportunities for students to go to the LMC at Hill (as a class, in groups, individually)
 * Use data to inform instruction of student reading and comprehension needs.
 * Develop and maintain high expectations in conjunction with Renaissance Learning/ Carmel Hill and Accelerated Reader programs.
 * Host reading conference opportunities with students
 * Host conference opportunities with parents and families
 * Intervene and provide reading support for individual students as needed
 * Develop individual reading plans for students as needed
 * Select appropriate reading material in conjunction with the curriculum

So, what is Accelerated Reader? Click here to visit the Renaissance Learning website! [|Learn about Accelerated Reader]

Students! If you have these questions... Then click here! AR Book Find
 * How do I find out if a book I want to read has a quiz on it?
 * How do I know how many points a book is worth?
 * What if I want to know what my text's book level (BL) or Z.P.D is?
 * I'd like to read a short review on the book before I decide to commit to reading it: where do I go?

And follow these steps...
 * 1) Click on "student" or "parent" (you know who you are!)
 * 2) Use the "Quick Search" tool to type in the book title or author (make sure you spell these words correctly - double check!)
 * 3) Your result should pop up... but, if it doesn't, try ...
 * 4) "Advanced Search" and type in more specific data (by the way, the ISBN # is located on the back of the title page - the publishing page - and it's the long string of numbers looped together with some dashes in between - an example looks like: 0545139708 - and if you type this in the ISBN bar, it should pop up with //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!//)
 * 5) If you're STILL stuck, come see Ms.Saba or ask Mr. Harris, our excellent Hill Library Tech.

Now... where to FIND that perfect book? Click on these links to explore!

Barnes and Noble's Teen Website

[|The Tattered Cover (Local!)]

The Denver Library is a lot more hip than you think!

The Bookies Bookstore (Local!) Newsletter

Teens Read

Out of the Ordinary Teen Books

High School Suggested Reading List

College Bound Reading List