📅Parents, I'm here to work with you. Don't see any available sections or times that match your needs? Would you like your learner to take this class in a one-on-one format? Please reach out to me via Outschool message! I do my best to accommodate schedule requests, and I offer 1-1 tutoring for all of my classes!

✅Course Overview:
In this class, I will assist students in developing their independent reading skills and their sense of enjoyment in reading (and finishing!) a book. The goal is not only exposure to various works of the English language, but also discovery of how independent reading doesn't have to be difficult or boring. I strive to help students appreciate the real-life relevance of stories and have fun with it along the way. Each class, we will start with either a Chapter 1 read-aloud (for the first meeting about a new book) OR a quick review to check reading comprehension. Then we will discuss what we've read, clarifying any confusing parts and chatting about what we loved or were surprised by. I will provide direct instruction and guided learning techniques to facilitate students' reading & literature analysis skills. The class is a mixture of fun review and interactive, low-stakes reading practice and discussion. 😀

📝Lesson sequence for each class:
➡️First class meeting about a new book: 
Guided reading: Mrs. Grysko reads Chapter 1 aloud, and we pause every page to discuss and clarify what's going on!

➡️Subsequent class meetings:
1. Review game (5-10 questions)
2. Clarify any misconceptions or difficult passages
3. Discuss the book using the "Discussion Preparation Journal" worksheet

Each discussion will include reader response, reading comprehension, connections (text-to-self, etc.), and some literary analysis.

📅Schedule for Fall 2023:
****Week of October 22 through Week of November 26****
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

****Week of December 3 through Week of December 17**** 
The Pearl by John Steinbeck

...📖Future book schedule to be updated as the class progress!

🔎Here's a sneak peak of what we might read in the winter/spring and beyond:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians - The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Animal Farm by George Orwell
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Matched by Allie Condie
Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Call of the Wild by Jack London
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle


✅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 or typed 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!