**Scheduling Note:
During the months of August through May, this class is offered during after school/evening hours (EST). There will be new content every week, as listed below. Drop in anytime. 

I also offer other versions of the class for June/July: 2x/week and 4x/week as summer camps.**

✅Course Overview:
In this ongoing course, students will read excerpts from intriguing literature, poetry, novels, and nonfiction texts. The teacher will guide students through focused, “bite-sized” passages and skills-based instruction. There will be a multitude of comprehension checks sprinkled throughout each class so that the teacher can ensure ALL students are getting it (demonstrating mastery), and so that students can monitor their own understanding! 

Students will learn and practice a variety of strategies to add to their reading comprehension tool box, including visualizing, using context clues, paraphrasing, summarizing, applying prior knowledge, inferencing, sequencing, and more.

The class size has been limited to 4 or 6 students to ensure a small-group experience. In this way, each student can participate more fully and receive sufficient individualized attention. Please view the section dates for class size details.

Each week, we will focus on a different text. Texts will be chosen based on reading levels and content best suited for grades 7-9. The teacher will offer differentiated instruction and questioning so that students, no matter what reading level, will have appropriate support and/or challenge. Parents may view the Lexile levels information below to determine which focus texts will be the appropriate challenge level for their learners. Of course, students are encouraged to join us for all classes, as we will be reading fun and fascinating texts! Besides developing reading comprehension, Mrs. Grysko strives to provide learners with multiple opportunities to expand their repertoire and enrich their love of reading.

According to Lexile.com's Lexile Framework for Reading, the typical "on grade-level" and challenge range per grade level is expressed as follows:
                 Grade 7 = 925L to 1235L             
                 Grade 8 = 985L to 1295L              
                 Grade 9 = 1040L to 1350L

See the focus texts below for each title's Lexile level.
*Please note: The Lexile level gives an idea of the sentence complexity (length) and vocabulary of a text, but not a full picture of the themes, conflicts, and concepts of the text. Furthermore, Lexile level does not always take into account sentences/passages that require inferencing. Therefore, it is appropriate for students to read texts with lower Lexile levels than their grade-level range. I have chosen texts that are accessible but offer challenge for grades 7, 8, and 9! 

Lesson sequence for each class:
1. Warm-Up Question
2. "Quick Facts" about the time period, setting, cultural context, etc. 
3. Focus Skills Preview
4. Guided Reading and Practice Questions
5. Success Status Board
6. Real World Connections Question (time-permitting)

------FALL 2024----
Week 1 of Sept: 
Excerpts from “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury (literature, sci-fi). 
~~~ What happens when a man travels back in time to hunt the most ferocious beast? ~~~
Lexile Level: 720L

Week 2 of Sept: 
Excerpts from “We Choose to Go to the Moon” by John F. Kennedy (historical speech). 
~~~ A speech encouraging America's journey in space exploration and facing obstacles head-on. ~~~
Lexile Level Estimate: 1200-1350L

Week 3 of Sept: 
Excerpts from "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck (literature, novella, folklore)
~~~ A parable about the love of family and the dark side of human nature. ~~~
Lexile Level: 1010L

Week 4 of Sept: 
Excerpts from "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel (literature, contemporary survival fiction)
~~~ The fantastic tale of a boy stranded on a lifeboat, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with a tiger. ~~~
Lexile Level: 860L

Week 1 of Oct: 
Excerpts from "Sixteenth Birthday Speech at the United Nations" by Malala Yousafzai (historical speech)
~~~ An empowering speech for young people, delivered by a brave young woman. ~~~
Lexile Level Estimate: 900L

Week 2 of Oct: 
Excerpts from "Pancakes" by Joan Bauer (literature, realistic fiction)
~~~ A humorous story about a waitress who learns a lesson about being kind to herself. ~~~
Lexile Level: 930L	

Week 3 of Oct: 
Excerpts from "First Inaugural Address" by Franklin D. Roosevelt (historical speech)
~~~ FDR speaks to a worried nation at a time when all seems hopeless. ~~~
Lexile Level: 1190L

Week 4 of Oct: 
Excerpts from Book 9 of "The Odyssey" by Homer (literature, epic adventure). 
~~~ Dive into the epic tale of Odysseus, Greek hero, as he uses his wits to outsmart his enemies. ~~~
Lexile Level: 1050L

Week 5 of Oct: 
Excerpts from “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs (literature, horror). 
~~~ A classic tale of "Be careful what you wish for." ~~~
Lexile Level: 880L

Week 1 of Nov:
"Caged Bird"	by Maya Angelou (poetry)
~~~ A poem about hope in the midst of limitations. ~~~
Lexile Level Estimate: 1050-1100
AND
"The Journey" by Mary Oliver (poetry)
~~~ What happens when you have the courage to pursue your life's journey? ~~~
Lexile Level Estimate: 1050-1100

Week 2 of Nov:
Excerpts from "Marigolds" by Eugenia Collier (literature, historical fiction, coming-of-age)
~~~ A Great Depression-era story of a girl learning what it means to become mature. ~~~
Lexile Level: 1140L

Week 3 of Nov:
Excerpts from "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant (literature, fiction)
~~~ A cautionary tale that explores the consequences of jealousy and vanity. ~~~
Lexile Level: 920L

Week 4 of Nov:
***HOLIDAY - NO CLASS***
																					
Week 5 of Nov:
Excerpts from "Daughter of Invention" by Julia Alvarez (literature, realistic fiction)
~~~ A student finds her voice in the new place her family calls home, the United States of America. ~~~
Lexile Level: 980L																						

Week 1 of Dec:
Excerpts from "The Giver" by Lois Lowry (literature, dystopian fiction)	
~~~ A young boy is given a special job within his community, but his work unearths hidden secrets of the past and present. ~~~																			
Lexile Level: 760L

Week 2 of Dec:
Excerpts from "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros (literature, coming-of-age)
~~~ A novel told in the voice of Esperanza, a girl finding her identify amidst challenges. ~~~
Lexile Level: 870L

Week 3 of Dec:
Excerpts from "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (nonfiction, historical speech)
~~~ A patriotic speech delivered during the time of the American Revolution. ~~~
Lexile Level Estimate: 980-1050

Week 4 of Dec:
***HOLIDAY - NO CLASS***

WINTER/SPRING 2025
Week 1 of Jan:
***HOLIDAY - NO CLASS***

Week 2 of Jan:
Excerpts from “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King, Jr. (historical speech). 
~~~ Discover the powerful language and inspiring message behind MLK's famous speech. ~~~
Lexile Level: 1120L

Week 3 of Jan:
Excerpts from "The Noble Experiment" by Jackie Robinson, as told to Alfred Duckett (nonfiction, autobiography)
~~~ An informational text about Jackie Robinson, the first African American MLB player in the modern era. ~~~
Lexile Level: 850L

Week 4 of Jan:
Excerpts from "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare (literature, play)
~~~ The classic play about two young lovers who risk everything to be together. ~~~
Lexile Level Estimate: 1350
… Topics for future weeks will be announced as the course progresses.

✅Course Format:
The format of this course will include on-screen guided reading and teacher instruction with Google slides (only as a screen-share), verbal or typed question-and-answer between students and teacher, and verbal discussion between students. Teacher assistance and feedback will be provided throughout the lesson.

✅Mrs. Grysko's Teaching Style:
I use the instructional model of “I Do, We Do, You Do.” 
*I first teach terms, definitions, and reading skills directly, all while showing exemplars and demonstrating how to apply the new knowledge (hence, “I Do” the teaching). 
*Next, in the “We Do” stage, I guide students in practicing the key skills by helping them look at a text closely. I provide immediate, in-class feedback, such as clarifying misunderstanding and assisting with correct application of skills. (When we read something new, no one is expected to be perfect, and in my class, we positively support each other while we learn!)
*Finally, it’s the “You Do” stage: Students show off what they’ve learned by trying out the reading comprehension techniques on their own. Of course, I’ll be there to help, but this part of the process is the key to retention and ownership of the learning. 
*Everyone learns at a different pace. I will work to ensure all learners are understanding the foundational skills within the class before moving on to the more advanced concepts. I will also offer support for students who need extra help and, wherever possible, more rigorous questions/options for students who are up for the challenge! 

✅Mrs. Grysko’s Class Participation Expectations:
*During class, I'll ask learners to respond to various questions and quick check-ins. This helps me 1) assess each student’s progress and 2) offer immediate help if needed. Learners may choose to respond by speaking, typing in the chat, and/or using the “reactions” feature on Zoom. 
*Zoom's video feature is very helpful for me to monitor your child’s learning and understanding. I encourage all students to keep their Zoom video on during the duration of class. Learners may, however, choose to turn their video off after an initial video check-in if they prefer. Active participation verbally and/or in the chat is required so that I know the student is working and understanding the content.
*I have so much planned for your child’s learning! Any class activities we do not get to during the live class will be assigned for homework. In most circumstances, the homework is optional (but recommended), and, unless otherwise stated, the homework should take no more than 10-15 minutes. FOR ANY WRITING HOMEWORK: I will assign the homework via Outschool student message and/or parent message. Learners should reply to the message with their homework responses, and I will give feedback within 24 hours. I highly recommend that students complete any assigned homework to get the most out of the class!

✅Required Experience/Prior Knowledge: 
For the most beneficial class experience, students' reading abilities should be on grade level or just below grade level. 
While this class is intended to strengthen students' comprehension skills, it is not suited for students who need intensive reading intervention. Please message Mrs. Grysko if you have any questions!