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 - 20 Book Minimum Reading Plan, Telemedia, Reading Strategies
"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.
Telemedia
With our production date on Jan 30, this month is an intense focus on aspects of television production. This fun but challenging unit is multidisciplinary in nature. It has elements of composition, representation, interpretation, analysis and dramatic performance. There is also the opportunity to learn some technical skills through the use of studio equipment and video editing tools. Tasks include developing detailed persuasive storyboards for a given commercial product. They will write scripts with partners that will be performed live on camera. The activities are supported by instruction around how commercials work and the nature of advertising. Our production day is typically a highlight for students.
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.
Telemedia
With our production date on Jan 30, this month is an intense focus on aspects of television production. This fun but challenging unit is multidisciplinary in nature. It has elements of composition, representation, interpretation, analysis and dramatic performance. There is also the opportunity to learn some technical skills through the use of studio equipment and video editing tools. Tasks include developing detailed persuasive storyboards for a given commercial product. They will write scripts with partners that will be performed live on camera. The activities are supported by instruction around how commercials work and the nature of advertising. Our production day is typically a highlight for students.
- duplicate storyboard sheet. These are forms which can either be printed or can be filled in online and saved for later. Note the instructions
- The easiest method is with the MS Edge browser. Make your edits. Right click somewhere on the form and choose "Save as" naming each page as "page 1", "page 2" etc. With Edge, you can come back later to make new edits. To make changes/additions, right click on the saved file and "open with" Edge.
- Google Chrome - for some reason, Chrome is tricky with forms. Make your edits. Right click but choose "print". Now choose "save as pdf" naming it "page 1", "page 2" etc. Once saved, no further edits are possible without the right software.
- Firefox does not support forms
- partial sample of a completed storyboard