Saskatoon Public Schools places significant emphasis on literacy skills. Literacy is one of two core initiatives. LA consists of multiple strands. Each day one or more of them is addressed. Ongoing efforts to improve literacy skills this year will include:
- formal reading assessments
- specific instruction for reading strategies
- scheduled reading periods
- stories and novels read by me with response activities
- instruction and practice of various writing techniques such as the newspaper format, short essay, letter and poetry
Reading Requirements and Lists
Our classroom has a minimum reading requirement. All students must read and record at least 20 books, 20% of which must be non-fiction. The log is kept in the class. A sample version can be seen here. In class reading time is offered at least once, sometimes twice a week. Until the weather prevents it, we will make regular visits to Alice Turner Library. Home reading is necessary and expected.
Current Focus - Mystery Unit Materials, Read Aloud Response (Weekly - Skybreaker)
- Using "mystery" as a genre and theme, students are engaged in a series of reading and writing assignments aimed at building reading skills. A key element is finding inference or reading between the lines. Several short pieces, fiction and non-fiction are used to develop the theme. We will spend two to three weeks using the multi award winning novel, The Graveyard Book, as our primary text. The bulk of work is intended to occur in class. Slower readers may might need to finish up assigned portions at home. This book does count toward the 20 book requirement.
- Sense Impressions assignment - duplicate of 10 mark class handout
- Sense Impressions assignment - duplicate of 10 mark class handout
- Persuasive letter - Help Matt Choose a Girlfriend. In Skybreaker, the second read aloud novel in Airborn series, we're introduced to a new character, Nadira, to compete for Matt's affections. We see him confused about which direction his heart should take him. This assignment provides an opportunity to play matchmaker in the form of a persuasive letter. The activity touches on a couple of outcomes including letter composition. It also points to a tagline in my classroom, If You Have an Opinion, Have a Clue.
