Establishing a Vital Middle Grades Reading Program

by Laura DeMasie, Reading Department Chair

South Wayne Junior High School

 

   Words like these are music to the ears of any reading teacher.  And these are words that are heard daily in the classrooms and hallways of South Wayne Junior High.  It wasn’t always this way, but in the past few years, South Wayne’s faculty and administration have made a commitment to encourage the love of books and reading among our students.  How have we done this?  Let me count the ways . . .

       1.  We established reading classes for all seventh and eighth graders.

       2.  Reading for pleasure is part of the curriculum.

       3.  Our reading teachers allow class time for independent reading.

       4. Accelerated Reader is used as a motivational tool.

       5.  We established a Sustained Silent Reading time during homeroom.

       6.  The library is an inviting and comfortable place for kids to come and read.

       7.  Books are made accessible to students through classroom libraries.

       8. Homeroom teachers have been provided with books for SSR.

       9.  The librarian and classroom teachers give regular booktalks.

     10.  Book reviews are published in the school newsletter.

     11.  The reading teachers and librarian keep abreast of what's new in adolescent literature and regularly inform students.

     12.  Our reading curriculum is literature-based, including vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency.

     13. Teachers from all content areas use read-alouds as a regular classroom practice.

      Our commitment to promoting the love of reading is an ongoing process.  We recently added an elective reading/writing class for ninth grade students.  Also this year we are piloting the Reading Is FAME Program that targets students who are reading considerably below grade level.  And for the first time, our students will have the opportunity to participate in the Young Hoosier Book Award Program.

            Great things are happening at South Wayne Junior High when it comes to reading and enjoying good quality literature.  The students get encouragement to read from everyone, from principals to custodians.  They’re not only reading, but they’re talking and writing about books, as well.  We hope all of our efforts will pay off in higher test scores.  We know our efforts have already produced what’s really important-a love of reading that will last a lifetime.

 

South Wayne Junior High School

7th GRADE MASTER SCHEDULE 2001-2002

                               ODD                                          EVEN                      

 

Teacher

Home

Room

Per. 1

Block 1

Per.  3

Block 2

Per.  5

Block 3

Per. 7

Block 4

Per.  2

Block 1

Per.  4

Block 2

Per.  6

Block 3

Per.  8

Block 4  

7-1 EXTREME (Room A154, TELE #8207)

 

Coats

 

A240

A240

7 English

A240

7 English

A240

7 English

 

Team Prep

A240

7 English

A240

7 Exc English

A240

9 enr eng

 

Prep

 

Harris

 

A250

A250

7 Math

A250

7 Math

A250

7 Pre Alg

 

Team Prep

A250

7 Math

A250

7 Math

 

Prep

A250

7 Study Sk

 

Mutz

 

C210

C210

7 Science

C210

7 Science

C210

7 Science

 

Team Prep

C210

7 Exc Sci

C210

7 Science

C210

9 Biology

 

Prep

 

Ament

 

A260

A260

7 Exc Sos

A260

7 Social St

A260

7 Social St

 

Team Prep

A260

7 Social St

A260

7 Social St

 

Travel

 

BDJH

 

Tharp

 

A230

A230

7 Reading

A230

7 Exc Read

A230

7 Reading

 

Team Prep

A230

7 Reading

A230

7 Reading

 

Prep

A230

9 Reading

7-2 twisters (Room A154, TELE #8207)

 

Miller

 

A130

A130

7 English

A130

Exc English

A130

7 Study Sk

  Prep

A130

7 English

A130

7 English

A130

7 English

  Team Prep

 

Pata

 

A140

A140

7 Math

A140

7 Math

  Prep

A140

7 Study Sk

A140

7 Math

A140

7 Math

A140

7 Pre Alg

  Team Prep

 

Jarrett

 

C220

C220

7 Science

C210

7 Science

C220

7 Study Sk

 

Prep

C220

7 Exc Sci

C220

7 Science

C220

7 Science

  Team Prep

 

Bell

 

A150

A150

7 Exc Sos

A150

7 Social St

 

Travel

 

BDJH

A150

7 Social St

A150

7 Social St

A150

7 Social St

Team Prep

 

Brown

 

A160

A160

7 Read

A160

7 Read

A160

9 Read

 

Prep

A160

7 Reading

A160

7 Exc Reading

A160

7 Reading

  Team Prep


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