At Grimmer Middle School, we have a reading program of many components that combine to aid us in our commitment to excellence. Our standards-based literature program focuses on a variety of sources:  novels, poetry, selections from our textbooks, real world non-fiction, and the Accelerated Reader program.  We also have ability-level grouping of literature classes.

      Students receive vocabulary instruction from words found in-text and from a separate vocabulary series.  Teachers pre-teach vocabulary words from stories read in class.  Students also use a separate vocabulary book to learn Tier-2 and high-frequency words.

      Novels play a significant role in the literature program at Grimmer.  This year we purchased two novels for each student’s personal use.  Since students own the books, they have the luxury of taking notes in them and marking important passages. In addition, we also use class sets of novels.

      Besides novels, students also read different types of literature from the adopted textbook series.  They read and discuss genres outlined in their level’s state standards, such as short stories, non-fiction, drama, poetry, myths, and folktales.

      A big part of our literature classes is our Accelerated Reader program.  All students are enrolled in the program through Renaissance Learning.  This program differentiates to meet each student’s individual needs. Students receive an appropriate yearly goal based on their performance on the STAR test, which provides a grade equivalency for each student.  All students are expected to read for two and a half hours per week; literature teachers provide time each week in class for independent reading.  An additional twenty-five minutes for silent reading occur every week during Student Resource Time.  Students are also encouraged to carry their accelerated reader book with them to every class in order to use any extra time for reading.  Teachers count the progress toward a student’s goal in his or her literature grade; failure to achieve a goal will affect the literature grade.

      Reaching a goal in the AR program provides students with rewards.  For the past several years, we have treated students who met their goals to a bowling and pizza party fieldtrip.  This year we intend to add smaller rewards for students who meet their goals each nine-week grading period.

            In order to meet the different needs of students, Grimmer provides several levels of literature classes.  We have self-contained special education classes and other ability-leveled classes.  In sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, students are placed in collaborative, advanced, or merit classes.  Our collaborative classes are taught by both a general education and special education teacher.  The students in them are a mix of general and special education students who struggle with reading.  Advanced classes are offered at each grade level for those performing beyond the general education population, and the merit class is for those who are a level above the advanced.             Over the years, the literature teachers have worked hard as a department to strengthen our reading program.  Grimmer Middle School has many great components that contribute to the success of our students.