ELA Reading and Writing for Animal Lovers (Especially Dogs!)

In this class, students will read through Kate Dicamillo's book, "Because of Winn Dixie" and apply critical thinking skills to analyze the characters, determine the central idea and themes presented in each chapter, identify literary devices and writing techniques and give written responses to guiding reading questions. Learning goals will focus on Reading comprehensiong and the ability to craft well organized written responses to text-based questions. Students' abilities to perform the learning goals will be evaluated through in-class activities and quick assessments that are built into the class agenda. While Peardeck will be heavily utilized to track class participation, I am aware that the usage of different online learning systems is difficult for many students. For this reason, I do allow families to opt out of using Peardeck and their students may decide to print identical copies of the lessons to submit via Outschool Assignments at the end of each class period. This class is designed to help struggling readers enhance their reading and analytical skills. Students will have access to a read-aloud of chapter that also shows the book's text. Therefore, while it is helpful for students to have their own copy of the book, students can still participate without one. Students will always be able to participate in each class session regardless of whether they have pre-read the book on their own or not. We will read two chapters during each class period, discuss and then participate in a learning activity based on the recent reading. I do highly encourage kids to pre-read before each class day so that they can develop their own reading ability. Towards the end of the session, I will treat students to the "Because of Winn Dixie" movie. Parents are welcomed and encouraged to view the resources provided to preview both the book and the movie if they are unfamiliar with the storyline. Knowing what your child will learn about will allow you to communicate with your child concerning what they are learning in class, letting your kid know that you are just as involved in their learning as they are. I am also a proponent of ensuring that students receive a bit of instruction in other subject areas no matter the current topic, therefore, I will include a math, science, and geography activities that align with the book. I also look for participation from all students. I utilize a wide range of total participation techniques to ensure that all students are engaged in learning. Shy and reserved students are also taken into account when asked for participation and the use of Peardeck will cater to more reserved learners. I encourage parents and guardians to reach out if their student is reluctant to speak during classes so that I can be prepared to engage the student in a way that minimizes discomfort. If there are any questions or concerns, please reach out!