Course Syllabus

                                              

                                                                                                            Natalie Morey      

First Trimester 2011

natalie.morey@maryknollschool.org

 

Reading for College Course Syllabus

 

Reading well is considered to be the # 1 predictor of success in LIFE.  Obviously, it is also of importance in an academic career.  Therefore, this class will prepare students for the challenges of college-level reading.

 

Goals:  Students are expected to meet these goals:

  1. Improve reading rate.
  2. Improve reading comprehension.
  3. Improve critical thinking ability.
  4. Learn reading strategies for success in different subject areas.

 

Expected School Learning Results:  Students are also expected to fulfill the following:

Habits of the Mind: 

1) Each student will accept responsibility for learning and value it as a lifelong process. 

2) Each student will be a creative and critical thinker and problem solver.

Habits of the Community: 

1) Each student will communicate effectively.

2) Each student will value human diversity and demonstrate understanding of other peoples, languages, cultures, and experiences.

 

Both goals and ESLR are correlated and aligned with Department Learning Expectations and National Council of Teachers of English Standards.

 

Essential Question:  What Makes a Reader?

Entry Point Questions:  What is good reading?  How do I become a better reader? 

 

Materials:

Hosseini, Khaled.  A Thousand Splendid Suns.  Riverhead Trade, 2008.

Spargo, Edward.  Timed Readings Plus/Building Reading Speed and Comprehension. 

Lincolnwood, Illinois:  Jamestown Publishers, 1998.

Book to Be Distributed for Group Projects; Book of Student Choice

Supplementary:

Barnes, Donald L., Thomas S. Schroeder and Arlene Burgdorf.  Critical Thinking: 

Readings in Nonfiction.  Portland, Maine:  Walch Publishing, 1991.

 

Grading:

90-100

A

80-89

B

70-79

C

60-69

D

 

Assessment:

During each month of the course, grades will be determined as follows:

50% Reading Rate and Comprehension Data, Paper and Presentation on Reading

25% Reading Log/Journal

25% Participation/Teacher Observation

 

Notes:

  1. Bring your Timed Readings Plus book to class every other day, or leave in the classroom.
  2. NO laptop computers or other electronic devices are allowed in this classroom, for the purposes of this class.
  3. No writing of any sort may be done in this class, with the exception of journal writing.
  4. Each student must bring reading material to class (textbook, personal reading, magazine), as time will be allotted during each meeting for SSR (Sustained Silent Reading).  The reward for doing so is minimal homework assignment!

 

Approximate Time Line:

Each week of the trimester, we will read in Timed Readings Plus, complete critical reading

exercises, and read silently. At times, the short readings, designed to improve rate and

comprehension, may seem tedious, but PRACTICE is a key component of any skills

improvement.

 

August 24-26.......................Getting Started

August 29-September 2.......... A Thousand Splendid Suns, Chapters 1-9

September 6-9................... A Thousand Splendid Suns, Chapters 10-17

September 12.....................First Summary Due

September 12-16................ A Thousand Splendid Suns, Chapters 18-26

September 19-23................ A Thousand Splendid Suns, Chapters 27-35

September 22-26.................Group Project Presentations

September 26-30................ A Thousand Splendid Suns, Chapters 36-42

October 4.........................Second Summary Due

October 4-7....................... A Thousand Splendid Suns, Chapters 43-49

October 11-14.................... A Thousand Splendid Suns Chapters 50-51

October 14........................Third Summary Due, Seminar, A Thousand Splendid Suns

October 18........................ Essay Test, A Thousand Splendid Suns

October 18-21.....................Book of Choice

October 18.........................Group Mural, A Thousand Splendid Suns

October 24-28......................Book of Choice

October 31-November 4...........Book of Choice

November 7, 9.....................Written Portion Due, Oral Presentations Begin

November 14.......................Oral Presentations Finish

November 16........................Last Day