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6th-8Th Grade - Reading Informational Texts

In this continuous, weekly online class, students will learn how to Close Read and analyze Informational Texts using OYLA magazine through gamification, guidance, application, and feedback.
Laura McVay B.A., M.A.
Average rating:
4.5
Number of reviews:
(11)
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per week
Mastery Evaluation
Students will take part in sharing and discussion. They will then upload their assignments to me through messaging at the end of class.
Progress Report
Parents will recieve feedback after every class once the assignment has been uploaded (PDF Scan and uploaded into messaging).

Class Experience

US Grade 6 - 8
This continuous class covers close reading and understanding informational texts. Using the fantastic STEM magazine OYLA, we will gamify close reading by embarking on a scavenger hunt. We will be shifting our mindset from working to exploring as we read wonderful articles on everything from Physics and Biology to Technology and Logic. Students will directly engage with textual features, language, ideas, and formulating their own understanding into words. All of the skills students hone in this weekly class translates beautifully into all informational text reading they need to do in school - from articles to texts books.

Every week will cover a different STEM article from OYLA. We will actively shift our mindsets from "work" to "exploration" & "play". Students will need a copy of the scavenger hunt PDF, a die (from a set of dice), and a pen or pencil. 

The class will begin with "Brain Warmer" focused on logic or idioms to prepare the students for what will be covered during the class. The class will move to PreReading skills, text features, reading, identifying the Main Idea, Author's Purpose, Summary, Making Connections, Vocabulary in Context, and Creative Mini-Project.

Every class will include a brief ice breaker, introduction to the week's article, reading, writing/verbal discussion, followed by creative mini-project and sharing (if so desired by individual students). 

Students will learn with lectures, reading, slides, printable handouts, and discussion.

Students should be in 6th-18th grade. This class does not build on previously covered material in earlier class; students can enroll in the class at any point.


Week of Oct 27th: Space
Week of November 2nd: Mathematics
Week of November 9th:Chemistry
Week of November 16th: Physics
Week of November 23rd: Medicine
Week of November 30th: Technology
Week of December 7th: Biology
Week of December 14th: Chemistry
Week of December 21st: Geography
Week of December 28th: Physics
Week of January 4th: Medicine
Week of January 11th: Mathematics
Week of January 18th: Technology
Week of January 25th:  Planet Earth

Pattern Continues

Learning Goals

Students will learn, apply, and gain foundational understanding of close reading informational texts.
learning goal

Other Details

Supply List
Printed PDF of the posted Scavenger Hunt
1 die (from a set of dice)
pen/pencil
 1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
OYLA science magazine
Joined July, 2020
4.5
11reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in English from University of Alabama Huntsville
Bachelor's Degree in English from University of Alabama Huntsville
I am a certified secondary English teacher with a BA and MA in English. I have tutored AP Human Geography, AP World History, AP US History, AP Government/Econ., AP Language, and AP Literature for over 10 years. I have also tutored ACT English and ACT Reading for several years. The materials that we use is content that I have gathered and used with all my face-to-face students.

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$24

weekly
1x per week
50 min

Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
3-12 learners per class

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