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Hello! I am glad to be working with your student this year in Read 180!
READ 180 is an intensive reading intervention program that helps educators serve students who are significantly below level in their reading abilities and special needs reading on multiple fronts, using technology, print, and professional development. READ 180 is proven to meet the needs of struggling readers whose reading achievement is below proficient level. The program directly addresses individual needs through differentiated instruction, adaptive and instructional software, high-interest literature, and direct instruction in reading, writing, and vocabulary skills.
The READ 180 Instructional Model provides a simple way to organize instruction and classroom activity. The session begins and ends with whole-group teacher-directed instruction. During the 60 minutes between the whole-group meetings, students break into three small groups that rotate among three stations--a teacher led small group, computer based instruction and independent and modeled reading. Each of these rotations lasts for 20 minutes.
20 Minutes Whole Group Instruction + 20 Minutes Interactive Computer Instruction + 20 Minutes Teacher Led Small Group Instruction + 20 Minutes of Modeled and Independent Reading +10 Minute Whole Group Wrap Up = 90 Minutes of Intensive Reading Instruction
You can get more information about Read 180 at:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/read180/research/result.asp?firstTime=no&selGrade=0_ALL&selRegion=0_ALL&selPop=10_Special%20Education&selTopic=0_ALL&selYear=0_ALL&selResults=0_ALL
How to Contact Me:
Phone: 941-361-6464 (school main line)
My planning time is from 9—10:15 am daily. I am always delighted to talk to parents about their student’s success or address any concerns. During class, I must give students my undivided attention and cannot talk on the phone. Thank you for understanding! We can set up conferences during my planning time or right after school. You may leave a message for me with the school receptionist and will call you back as soon as possible.
Classroom Expectations--All students are expected to:
1) Be prompt*
2) Be prepared*
3) Be productive*
4) Be respectful (to self, others & property)*
*possible effort grade deduction and parent contact
Rewards
1) Feel good about yourself
2) Earn better grades
3) Earn privileges
4) Earn academic game time
Consequences
When a student is keeping the teacher from teaching or others from learning,
the teacher will give a redirection.
If it not accepted, the student will earn the following:
1) Warning—rethink behavior
2) Brief 1:1 conference with teacher
3) Move to “Seat of Opportunity”
4) Move to alternative room + parent contact
5) Referral to administration or guidance counselor
*severe misbehaviors may go directly to higher steps
Ways to Help Your Student Be a Better Reader
1) Encourage them to read! Go to the library or bookstore often. Show them that you read often.
2) Read aloud to your student and have them read aloud to you. It's fun to take turns reading the pages.
3) During or after movies, TV shows or books, ask your student about what they have seen or read:
A) Why did that character act that way?
B) What do you think will happen next?
C) Has something like this ever happened to you or someone you know?
D) Tell me about what is happening?
E) Why did that event in the movie/ tv show /book happen?
F) Retell the story for me.
G) What would you tell a friend about this movie?
H) If you were to write a sequel to this movie / book / tv show, what would happen to the characters?
4) Help students pick books that are the right level so they experience less frustration.
5) Provide your student with a quiet and cozy place to read that is free of distractions (cell phone, tv, computer, siblings)
6) Talk about great books that you have read and why you enjoyed them.
7) Help your student find books, magazines or online articles/resources about topics that interest them (e.g. a skateboarding magazine or a fashion website)
8) Use books or trips to the bookstore/library as rewards
9) Have a family reading time where everywhere reads for at least 20 minutes
10) Encourage kids to read the morning 'funnies' because it is an easy way to connect them to the newspaper.
You can go to: http://www.lexile.com/findabook/Parents.aspx to find more information
Requirements for 4rd Quarter Read 180
*keep these sheets in your folder for reference
1) You must complete 1 Quiz (at home!) and 1 Book Project (at home!). You will NOT be permitted to work on projects during class. They must be completed at home. I am expecting very high quality work (neat and complete!) You need to read a book you have not previously read in my class or in any other. You will be presenting your project in front of the class and answering questions about other student’s presentations.
2) Your book must be approved by me BEFORE you begin reading and it must be within 20 points of your CURRENT SRI lexile or higher. Once your book has been approved, you may NOT change books. Changing books after approval will result in a 20 point penalty for the project.
3) You may choose a book from the Read 180 library, media center or another source. You must bring your book to class daily.
4) You will have 3 days to make a final decision on which book you will read for the requirement. If you cannot locate a book in that time, you must choose a book that is in the Read 180 room.
5) If you choose a book that does not have a Reading Counts! quiz in the classroom computer, you must write your own. (see guidelines)
6) You will present your book and project to the class on an assigned day and you must be prepared to answer ANY question your teacher asks about the book. This will require you to know your book very, very thoroughly.
7) You must read the ENTIRE 20 minutes during the reading rotation. If you finish your book, you must start another book on your CURRENT lexile level. You will be completing a form to summarize what you have read DAILY in class.
Guidelines for Creating Quiz Questions (at home):
1) The book title “QUIZ” and lexile level must be written clearly at the top of the page.
2) There must be 10 questions and each question must have 4 possible answers.
3) You must submit a ‘Key’ which shows the correct answers or highlight correct answers.
4) Quizzes must be submitted on notebook paper.
5) Questions should include references to major characters, plot events, cause and effect, outcomes, etc. Avoid obscure or opinion based questions!
6) Each question/ answer is worth 10 points.
Being prepared to answer teacher questions on presentation day:
You should be able to answer these questions and more:
1) Who are the main characters in your book?
2) Summarize your book.
3) Describe your favorite part of the book.
4) What is the conflict or problem in the book and how is it resolved?
5) What is the main character of your book like?
6) Would you suggest a friend read this book? Why?
7) If you had to change the title of book, what would you call it?
8) What question would you ask the author?
9) What is the setting of your book? Where and when.
10) What part of the book did you not enjoy and why?
4th Quarter Book Project:
You must create a poster or shoebox scene that advertises your book. Your job is to make people want to read the book.
You must have all of the following:
a) a drawing or scene from the book
b) a 4 sentence plot summary
c) list at least three main characters and describe who they are
d) the title and author of the book clearly displayed
e) the book lexile clearly displayed
Book Presentations:
You will be assigned a date to present your book to the entire class. If you are absent on the day, you are to present, you will present the next day you are in attendance. If you are not ready to present on your assigned day, you will be docked 10 points each day you are late.
During the presentation you must:
a) Tell the title, author and lexile level of the book
b) Tell who the 3 main characters are and what they are like
c) Explain your poster/shoebox
d) Read your favorite part of the book. (It must be at least one FULL page)
Read 180 March Newsletter
Hello!
We are working very hard to communicate clearly and often with our Read 180 parents! After you read this newsletter, please detach the bottom, sign it and have your student return it to us. We find the request for the signature increases the likelihood that parents get the newsletter!
We are just days away from the “big test”. Our Reading FCAT is on March 11th and the NRT (Norm Referenced Test) is scheduled for March 18th. Students will be taking these tests on team, not in Read 180. Students need to be certain they are getting plenty of sleep, exercise and nutritious meals before and during the test. So many of our students tell us they did not do well last year because they were not well rested for the test. Please start physically preparing your child now to be successful on the test.
We have been working hard to prepare our students for the test. We have been practicing our test taking strategies which include:
--Previewing the text (looking for subheadings and captions)
--Reading the questions and answers before the passage (so we know what to look for)
--Marking up the text as we read to show where answers are located
--Going back into the passage to find answers
--Marking out answers we know are incorrect
All Read 180 students should be working for at least 20 minutes on FCAT Explorer for homework every night until we take the test. If you do not have internet access, students can request and be given paper and pencil activities to work on their skills. As teachers, we log on daily to see which students have completed the assignment online.
Many of our students took advantage of the “FCAT Boot Camps” offered free of charge at the school. These were excellent opportunities for students to learn skills that can help them on the test. Students and parents who participated were pleased with the program that was offered. The last “Boot Camp” is offered on March 6th from 4:30-5:30pm in the cafeteria and will offer tips to conquer the math FCAT. Students and parents who participate will enjoy pizza and some extra credit for their classwork grade. Call the school office to make your reservation at 361-6464.
We have completed workshops 1-6 in our rBooks. We will change gears slightly for our final quarter together to keep things “fresh.” We want our students to continue to grow even after FCAT! A number of other assessments remain to help gauge student growth, including the Spring SRI (Scholastic Reading Inventory), Spring SCPT (Sarasota County Planning Tool), and Spring fluency test.
Our 4th quarter requirements are different. Each quarter, we have “raised the bar” so that our students are getting closer and closer to grade level work. This quarter, we have only one book project that needs to be completed, but it is to be done at home, not at school. We will be working to have our students maximize their reading time in class and have them read material in their lexile range. That 20 minutes of independent reading in class is critical to improving their reading skills.
In class, we will be developing literature circles and reading some books together during our small group time. Titles that will be included are: John Steinback’s The Red Pony, Robert Cormier’s I Am the Cheese, Paul Zindel’s The Pigman, Lois Lowry’s Gossamer, and M. Sobel Spirn’s Poison Plate. Different groups will be reading different books based on lexile level. Other titles may be covered as well, depending on time constraints. “Reader’s Theater” will help us continue to develop our oral fluency skills. We will use other fun and interactive techniques to keep our students learning as we work toward the end of our time together.
We know that many of our students struggle to stay focused during the 2nd half of the year. Please encourage your student to come to class prepared to learn with needed supplies (pencils, paper and reading books). A cooperative attitude and commitment to completing classwork and assignments is essential to long term success.
We enjoy working with your students and are excited for them to have the opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of material on “the big test.” Thank you for being wonderful, caring parents! Please let us know how we can serve your family!
Sincerely,
Daphne Bazenas daphne_bazenas@sarasota.k12.fl.us
Catherine Carrigan catherine_carrigan@sarasota.k12.fl.us
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Please detach here, sign and have your student return to your Read 180 teacher
I have read the March Read 180 Newsletter.
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Signature Date
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