Welcome and Needed Supplies
Welcome to the Seventh Grade Reading class!
You will have three teachers for this class, rotating every nine weeks through the semester. Those of you who begin with Ms. Dorsey will move on to Mrs. Fugal, then to Mrs. Tall.
Reading 7 Teachers
With Ms. Dorsey you will focus on reading for research -- especially on the Internet, learning about identifying and using useful and reliable sources.
With Mrs. Fugal you will focus on reading textbooks more effectively and efficiently. (Don't tell, but she teaches you how to read the textbook without reading the textbook!)
With Mrs. Tall you will learn how to read several different types of "texts" including photos, paintings, magazines, etc.
With all three you will learn strategies and practice skills to improve your reading.
Here are some required and suggested items.
For this reading class you will need these items each day:
Bring your own pencils and pens every day. I will have some available toloan, but you should return them at the end of class, and should only rarely need to borrow.
Bring lined paper.
Required: A thumb drive (flash drive) to be used during the section of the class dealing with reading the Internet. We are moving toward handing in all work on the Internet, but a thumb drive can be invaluable as a backup for saving and handing in work.
For every class, bring a book to read during Independent Reading. This will be something YOU want to read! You'll receive more information about how to select books.
More about computers and Internet: It is very helpful to have the Internet available at home. Our English classes use a writing program called MYAccess for several assignments during the year. We access it at school, and students can write and revise their work from home or anywhere else they can use the Internet. That also allows parents to read their student's writing and watch their progress.
Students may also need to do research on the Internet for various classes.
During one segment of Seventh Grade Reading, we will be learning about reading the Internet, and will be doing research on the Internet. In case your student does not finish the work during the times provided during class, he or she may need to finish some of the work during cave time, after school, or outside of school hours.
By the way, we have not been successful at opening ODT files on our school computers. Please use another format.
If you do not have access at home, the student could use computers in our school media center, sometimes (such as during CaveTime) our computer labs are open to students who need extra time, and the Internet is available at the public library.
Parents will need to sign a release for the student to use the Internet at school, and the student may need to have his or her Internet card (student ID card) in hand to use the Internet on the media center computers and in the other computer labs. The release form is included with registration materials or is available on the school web site under FORMS, Parents/Students.
Teacher Web Sites
Many of our teachers have web sites, blogs, and wikis where you can find much information about classes, requirements, etc. Take advantage of this resource.
If you're absent or looking for more information or maybe some extra credit, check this blog. You will most likely be required to use this blog at times.
For this segment of the Reading Class we will also have a class Edmodo (open to posting only by the teacher and classmates) where students will complete some assignments and collaborate with the teacher and other students. Parents, ask your student for the unique parent code attached to his or her account.
(revised and reposted in July and January for the 2013-2014 school year)
