***ATTENTION FELLOW OUTSCHOOL TEACHERS* -- This course and its materials are protected for use by the designer of this course, Jessica Ellis of Ellis Academics, LLC, and should not be copied or reproduced in any way.  Any reproduction of this class, its description, or its content will be reported. 
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Hello, Future Students and Families!

Have you ever experienced a situation where your child reads a story or passage from start to finish, but is unable to explain what they just read?  Does your child struggle to understand the meaning of words within a story, affecting their overall understanding of the text?  Research consistently shows that there is a direct correlation between deficits in vocabulary acquisition and low reading comprehension scores.  Simply put,  Stronger Vocabulary Knowledge = Stronger Comprehension Skills.   

Become a better reader and test taker by mastering vocabulary terms from the National Reading Vocabulary list.  Say goodbye to the days where students memorize vocabulary words by copying definitions from a dictionary, only to forget their meanings after the test is over!  By learning through movement and games, students will build a true understanding of words that will help them maintain strong, reliable, and lasting reading comprehension skills. 

This course is designed for intermediate elementary students (grades 3, 4, 5) to become familiar with and fluent in key academic vocabulary terms that have been researched to consistently appear on standardized assessments. Students will ultimately improve their reading comprehension and test taking skills by acquiring a true understanding of academic vocabulary words through fun and interactive games.

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Each week, students will be introduced to 5 academic vocabulary words from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade National Reading Vocabulary lists.  Each class will include a balanced combination of words from each grade level.  The goal in combining grade levels is to help expose intermediate grade students to words both above and below their grade level in order to fill in any gaps that may have been left behind from previous years.

We will begin class with an interactive introduction to each word through a Google Slides presentation.  Each word will include a physical gesture that will assist students in comprehending the meaning of each word.  Students will practice the gestures for each word, in addition to writing each word to assist in spelling acquisition.  After we practice reading, spelling, and using each word in different contexts, we will then move into our vocabulary Kahoot game where students will practice matching each word to its corresponding meaning.  This review game will include various question styles, such as matching, multiple choice, and fill in the blank.  The winner of each round will receive a Vocabulary Master Certificate to print at home.

At the end of class, students will receive a unique code that will grant them access to my personally-made Kahoot game for them to practice the vocabulary words long after our time together has ended.  This code will not have an expiration date, so students will have access to my game for as long as they need it.   

Each week will include a vocabulary practice sheet for students to work on after class if they choose.  Students may send me their completed practice sheets for me to check.  

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***In my experience as an intermediate reading teacher, I have found that vocabulary varies from student to student more so than any other area of reading.  For example, I have had 5th grade students whose vocabulary abilities reach far beyond middle school, and others who are still developing 2nd and 3rd grade skills.  This is precisely the reason why I did not design this class to meet one particular grade level, but rather a range of intermediate levels to help fill in gaps from previous grades. This is also a great way to supplement any tutoring classes your child may be receiving.***  

***I have the class listed for ages 8-11 simply because those are the average ages of students who are in grades 3-5, however, it makes perfect sense that there are students outside of the age range that need support with vocabulary acquisition.  If your child is outside of the listed age range but you feel this course could benefit them, please do not hesitate to reach out to me so we can further discuss how to best support your child's learning.***         

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This course is appropriate for students who fall into the following categories:

a)  Students who are interested in expanding their overall vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension skills

b)  English language learners (ELL) or English speakers of other languages (ESOL) looking to expand their knowledge of the English language. 
  
c)  Students who do NOT fall into the above categories, but are eager to learn and willing to put forth their best effort :)