The SAT Reading Remix: Skills That Stick! Build Confidence, Boost SAT Scores

This is the small class experience. Private tutoring available $160/session. Contact instructor for enrollment. 
Get $50 off my class "The SAT Reading Remix: Skills That Stick Build Confidence, Boost SAT Scores!" with coupon code SUEMASATRC5050 until Jul 21, 2025. Get started at https://outschool.com/classes/the-sat-reading-remix-skills-that-stickbuild-confidence-boost-sat-scores-HxMr6ujm and enter the coupon code at checkout.

1. Initial Assessment and Goal Setting
•	Diagnostic Test: Student takes a SAT Reading section (or a timed practice test). This will establish their baseline level, areas of strength, and weaknesses.
•	Goal Setting: Establish a target score and break it down into achievable goals for each session. For example, "Improve accuracy on passage-based questions by 10%."
•     "Be on the Lookout" and "Switchbacks"
Assignment: Read Complete Guide to SAT Reading, Meltzer, chapter 1

2. Overview of SAT Reading
•	Test Format: Explain the SAT Reading section’s format: 52 questions, 65 minutes, divided into four reading passages (prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science).
•     Rhetorical Reading
•     How to Work Through Reading Questions
•     Screen or Paper
•     Reading Prep Resources
•     Practice Reading Scientific American

3. Introduction to SAT-Style Questions
•     Poe's "The Raven"
•     5 Types of Irony
•     Practice Questions on irony, tone, and theme
Introduction to Historical Documents
•     The Gettysburg Address
•     Defining Historical and Academic Words in Context
•     Historical Academic Words  Introduction to Historical Documents and Literary Analysis
•     The Gettysburg Address
•     Defining Historical and Academic Words in Context
•     Historical Academic Words
Assignment: Reading Comprehension Practice Test 1 BlueBook app

4. Vocabulary in Context
•     Sentence Completions, p. 30-31
•     Positive, Negative and Neutral
•     Continuers, Cause-and-Effect words, Contgradictors
Assignment: exercises p. 36-48

5. The Big Picture, Chapter 4
•     Topics
•     What's the Point? 
•     So What?
•     Old Idea vs. New Idea
•     Main Point in Fiction

6. Literal Comprehension and Reading for Function
• Exercises Chapter 5 and 6

7. Text Completions
•     Use of Information to Complete an Argument
•     Breaking down challenging questions in a logical, step-by-step manner
•     Do Text Completion Exercises 
Assignment:  Take 2nd Practice Test in BlueBook app

8.  Supporting & Undermining
•     Identifying a claim/weakening a claim
Assignment: Do exercises supporting or undermining a claim 

9.  Graphs & Charts
Assignment: Do exercises in chapter 9

10. Paired Passages
•     The Most Common Relationship Between Passages is Disagreement
•     Read Text 1 and Identify Main Point
•     Read Text 2 and Identify Main Point
•     Write the relationship
•     Answer the relationship in your own words 
•     Look at the choices and select the one closest to your own words 
Assignment: Take third practice test in BlueBook App


Notes: 
Get $50 off my class "The SAT Reading Remix: Skills That Stick Build Confidence, Boost SAT Scores!" with coupon code SUEMASATRC5050 until Jul 21, 2025. Get started at https://outschool.com/classes/the-sat-reading-remix-skills-that-stickbuild-confidence-boost-sat-scores-HxMr6ujm and enter the coupon code at checkout.

A separate class is offered devoted to SAT vocabulary. Available Summer 2025.
The SAT may include excerpts from a variety of historical texts. Find, read, analyze another historical document: 
Martin Luther King Jr.: Speeches and writings, such as "I Have a Dream" and "Letter from Birmingham Jail". 
Frederick Douglass: Writings and speeches, often exploring themes of abolition and equality. 
Susan B. Anthony: Writings and speeches on women's suffrage. 
International documents: Passages may explore global conversations on governance, freedom, and human rights. 
Speeches by historical figures: Writings from leaders and figures who have shaped history. 
	
Take Practice Tests Timed


"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe 
Reading Focus: Irony, tone, and theme.
Test taking tips from The Black Book

 "The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln
Reading Focus: Rhetorical devices, purpose, and historical context.
Meltzer, 
Chapt. 2, Vocabulary in Context, p. 29-72
Academic and historic vocabulary
Literary Terms Vocabulary


Excerpts from 'To Build a Fire' by Jack London
Reading Focus: Character development, naturalism, and survival themes.
Meltzer, Chapt. 3, Making the Leap p. 73-85
Naturalism and survival theme vocabulary
Literary Terms Vocabulary

Excerpts from "The Sniper', by Liam O'Flayerty
Reading Focus:  themes of resilience and character.
See Survival Vocabulary in Week 3 To Build a Fire
Meltzer Chapt. 4 p. 86-106
Literary Terms Vocabulary

The following texts are more challenging, aligning with SAT-level reading passages, and will push students to think critically, analyze complex arguments, and improve their comprehension skills. 

 "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift
Reading Focus: Satire, tone, and rhetorical strategies.
Meltzer Chapt. 6 Reading for Function p. 119 - 138
Vocabulary - Function Words 

 "The Death of the Moth" by Virginia Woolf
Reading Focus: Themes of life, death, and human experience.
Meltzer Chapt 7 Text completions and exercise p. 139
Vocabulary - Greek and Latin

 "Civil Disobedience" (Excerpt) by Henry David Thoreau
Reading Focus: Philosophical argument, government critique, and moral duty.
Meltzer Chapt 8 Supporting and Undermining
Vocabulary Greek and Latin

Khan Academy SAT Grammar and Verbal Reasoning 

Practice Tests 

Timed Tests 

My style is friendly, encouraging, empathetic when we come to hard questions, encouraging, and motivating. Students interact with each other. 
I share my screen to show the readings, or attach to family email in advance. I learn with the students and model how I learn.