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 -Plot Elements, Precision and Choice in Writing, Read Aloud Response (Weekly - Airborn)
"Bad" is a dead word.
Other examples are good, pretty, big, blue, tired and fun. If a student has said the words "get" or "got" today, it was likely misused. And it's almost certain that any adjective prefaced by "very" is dead as well. Dead words are non-specific (vague), weak descriptors we use when we haven't developed a repository of richer, precise terms. All year we will focus on being purposeful about word choice. From there, we build into purposeful construction of sentences, then paragraphs and longer compositions.
Effective Writing - fiction and non-fiction writing practice will occur throughout the year. Look for copies of the assignments here.
- Airborn Vocabulary - this is a downloadable master list for Ch 1-5, These words were class work and should already be in notebooks. This is a backup.
- Prince and the Pauper - plot analysis activity (viewed in class, available online)