Advanced Content Language Arts
There are four main components to our AC LA program:
1. Literature Circles
2. Greek and Latin Roots Word Study
3. Daily Reading and Reading Logs
4. Independent Bonus Work
1. Literature Circles
2. Greek and Latin Roots Word Study
3. Daily Reading and Reading Logs
4. Independent Bonus Work
Literature Circles
Students are divided into groups according to their choice of book. They divide their books into five sections. For each section, each student has a job to do. These can be Discussion Director, Vocabulary Enricher, Summarizer, Literary Luminary, Connector, or Illustrator.
After all students in the group have finished their reading assignments and jobs for a section, they have a meeting. The Discussion Director puts the group’s table letter on the board under “Ready to Meet.” The teacher calls a group to the small group table. The Discussion Director leads the meeting while the teacher observes. Job sheets are collected and graded, and each student gets a new job for the next session. At the end of each book, there is special culminating project.
After all students in the group have finished their reading assignments and jobs for a section, they have a meeting. The Discussion Director puts the group’s table letter on the board under “Ready to Meet.” The teacher calls a group to the small group table. The Discussion Director leads the meeting while the teacher observes. Job sheets are collected and graded, and each student gets a new job for the next session. At the end of each book, there is special culminating project.
Word study procedures
Step 1: Each group of students at their table is given an envelope with ten word cards and ten definition cards. They work together to match each word with the correct definition. When they think they have it, they call me over to check. If correct, they copy the words and definitions into their AC LA journals.
Step 2: The next day, and every day until the test, we begin class with a read-around. I pass out 12 slips of paper and students read them out loud in order. (ex. “I have the first card. Who has the roots that mean hand?” “I have the roots man and manu. Who has the word that names the handcuffs used in old movies?” “I have the word manacles. Who has…”)
Step 3: Students are given an assignment to do. This might be drawing a picture to represent each word, using each word in a sentence, writing a short story using all ten words, etc.
Step 4: When work is due, students share their work with their tablemates. They choose the best picture, set of sentences, story, etc. at their table. The winners present their work to me and I choose the best one. Everyone at their table gets a treat.
Step 5: Spelling pretest is given.
Step 6: Students get their graded pretest back and write each missed word 10 times each on the same piece of paper. They must hand this in by the next day.
Step 7: They take the vocabulary test. Anyone who did not get 100% on the pretest, takes the spelling test on the back of the vocabulary test. I only give words that were missed by someone in the class.
Step 2: The next day, and every day until the test, we begin class with a read-around. I pass out 12 slips of paper and students read them out loud in order. (ex. “I have the first card. Who has the roots that mean hand?” “I have the roots man and manu. Who has the word that names the handcuffs used in old movies?” “I have the word manacles. Who has…”)
Step 3: Students are given an assignment to do. This might be drawing a picture to represent each word, using each word in a sentence, writing a short story using all ten words, etc.
Step 4: When work is due, students share their work with their tablemates. They choose the best picture, set of sentences, story, etc. at their table. The winners present their work to me and I choose the best one. Everyone at their table gets a treat.
Step 5: Spelling pretest is given.
Step 6: Students get their graded pretest back and write each missed word 10 times each on the same piece of paper. They must hand this in by the next day.
Step 7: They take the vocabulary test. Anyone who did not get 100% on the pretest, takes the spelling test on the back of the vocabulary test. I only give words that were missed by someone in the class.
Daily Reading and Reading Logs
Students in the AC LA program are expected to read an average of 30 minutes per night. It's a great idea to make reading before bedtime a habit. Studies show that people sleep better after reading, rather than watching television or working on a computer. Each day, upon arriving in my classroom, students record the title of the book they are currently reading on their Daily Reading Log. They must bring this book to class each day and record the page number to show how much they have read. Students can bring books from home, check them out of the library, or check them out from my personal library in the classroom. This log is graded each week, but it counts as one grade in the gradebook each quarter.
INDEPENDENT BONUS WORK/READERS RALLY
Students can earn bonus points by completing bonus worksheets or donating needed items for the class. Requested items include boxes of Kleenex tissues, canisters of cleaning wipes, or bags of individually wrapped candies. These points can be spent at a "store" I set up in my classroom at the end of each quarter. Other prizes for the store can be donated as long as they are new.
Readers Rally Book List 2015 - 16
Title Author Genre AR Cdate
Absolutely Almost Graff, Lisa Realistic Fiction 5.7 2014
Butterfly Polacco, Patricia Historical Fiction 3.8 2000
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car Fleming, Ian Fantasy 6.6 1964
Frindle Clements, Andrew Realistic Fiction 5.4 1998
Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester O'Connor, Barbara Fantasy 4.7 2010
Fourteenth Goldfish Holm, Jennifer Fantasy 4.1 2014
Long Walk to Water Park, Linda Sue Realistic Fiction 5.0 2010
Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man Adler, David Biography 4.6 1997
May B. : A Novel Rose, Caroline Starr Historical Fiction 4.3 2012
Midnight for Charlie Bone Nimmo, Jenny Fantasy 4.8 2003
Mountain Dog Engle, Margarita Realistic Fiction 5.9 2014
Queen of the Falls Van Allsburg, Chris Historical Fiction 5.7 2011
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made Pastis, Stephan Realistic Fiction 3.8 2013
Ungifted Korman, Gordon Realistic Fiction 5.2 2012
Weslandia Fleischman, Paul Fantasy 4.8 2002
Readers Rally Book List 2015 - 16
Title Author Genre AR Cdate
Absolutely Almost Graff, Lisa Realistic Fiction 5.7 2014
Butterfly Polacco, Patricia Historical Fiction 3.8 2000
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car Fleming, Ian Fantasy 6.6 1964
Frindle Clements, Andrew Realistic Fiction 5.4 1998
Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester O'Connor, Barbara Fantasy 4.7 2010
Fourteenth Goldfish Holm, Jennifer Fantasy 4.1 2014
Long Walk to Water Park, Linda Sue Realistic Fiction 5.0 2010
Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man Adler, David Biography 4.6 1997
May B. : A Novel Rose, Caroline Starr Historical Fiction 4.3 2012
Midnight for Charlie Bone Nimmo, Jenny Fantasy 4.8 2003
Mountain Dog Engle, Margarita Realistic Fiction 5.9 2014
Queen of the Falls Van Allsburg, Chris Historical Fiction 5.7 2011
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made Pastis, Stephan Realistic Fiction 3.8 2013
Ungifted Korman, Gordon Realistic Fiction 5.2 2012
Weslandia Fleischman, Paul Fantasy 4.8 2002