SAT PSAT ACT Unlock the Text: Ongoing Reading Comprehension Skills. Start Early!
Getting ready for the SAT can feel overwhelming for students and parents. A game plan that starts preparation in the 2nd half of sophomore year means the student will be prepared for the SAT AND the PSAT--maybe National Merit Recognition.
Miss Sue MA MLIS
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(14)
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per weekMastery Evaluation
1 hour per week. Reading Comprehension standardized practice tests will be available.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Advanced Level
Weekly Structure: We will start with a short introduction to the reading material. Students read a text (fiction or nonfiction) in class or for homework. Discussion follows with comprehension questions. End with reflective or deeper analysis questions. No End Date Structure: Each lesson is self-contained, so students can join at any time without missing essential previous material. The readings are varied (short stories, articles, poems, essays, excerpts from classic literature) to keep the content fresh and engaging. Interactive Engagement: Discussions to explore themes, tone, and deeper meaning. Activities like role-play or group annotations to develop critical thinking. Week 1 Jan. 3: "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe Reading Focus: Irony, tone, and theme. Test taking tips from The Black Book Introduction to The Complete Guide to SAT Reading by Erica Meltzer Week 2 Jan. 10: "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 Week 3 Jan. 17: 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 Week 4 Jan. 24 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. Week 5 Jan. 31: "The Metamorphosis" (Excerpt) by Franz Kafka Reading Focus: Symbolism, alienation, and existentialism. Meltzer Chapt 5 Literal comprehension p. 107-118 Literary Vocabulary Week 6 Feb. 7: "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 Week 7 Feb. 14: "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 Week 8 Feb. 21: "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 Using an ongoing schedule I will cover all the types of reading comprehension questions and strategies to answer them correctly: using context to determine meaning; main ideas, author's purpose, predictions, inferences, questions on genres, historical forms of prose, structure and meaning in poetry, point of view, figurative language, and literary devices. Please see reading focus by date. 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.
Learning Goals
1. Remembering
Goal: Students will recall essential SAT vocabulary words and their meanings, as well as key reading comprehension question types.
Vocabulary quizzes and reviews of SAT-specific question types (e.g., inference, main idea, tone, etc.2. Understanding
Goal: Students will explain the meanings of complex vocabulary words in their own words and summarize passages accurately.
Students summarize short passages to confirm comprehension of central ideas and main themes.
Other Details
Learning Needs
I am a reading specialist experienced and educated in the Science of Reading, and research-based language comprehension, word recognition, and skilled reading approaches. While not intentionally designed to support unique needs, I can help.
Supply List
Required: The Complete Guide to SAT Reading 5th edition, Erica L. Meltzer. https://a.co/d/d0f0MbM Not required: I use and recommend the SAT Prep Black Book, 3rd edition. https://a.co/d/chNAbeE Students are responsible for accessing the novels listed on the calendar by purchase, from the library, or on Project Gutenberg.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2024
5.0
14reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Washington Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
3 Degrees
Master's Degree in Information Technology from University of Washington
Master's Degree in Theatre Arts from University of Washington
Bachelor's Degree in Education from University of Washington
Are you looking for expert guidance to help your student thrive in reading, writing, or test preparation?
With 40 years of high school experience as a certified teacher and librarian, I specialize in helping K-12 students master literacy and achieve academic success. Trained in the Science of Reading and structured literacy, I provide hands-on, personalized tutoring on Zoom. Whether you're preparing for Catholic school or independent prep school admissions, boosting reading comprehension, or supporting a homeschool journey, I can help your student succeed.
Let’s unlock your student’s full potential!
Parent of 5th Grade Girl and 8th Grade Boy, Cincinnati Country Day
"Sue is an excellent tutor! Her thoughtful, insightful approach goes above and beyond in creative writing, drama, literature, and academic writing. Fabulous experience!"
Parent of 5th Grade Boy, SSAT Prep
"Ms. Sue helped my son raise his SSAT score from 1490 to 1941 in just five months! Her dedication and expertise got him into his preferred school. Highly recommend!"
Teacher, Seattle Children's Hospital School
"Sue, thank you for sharing your expertise and dedication! You truly bring out each student's strengths and motivations."
5th Grader, Washington D.C.
"Ms. Sue helped me go from below average to advanced in reading and writing! She made learning fun and gave me confidence for middle school. I wouldn’t be here without her!"
4th Grader, Texas
"Ms. Sue helped me go from struggling to confident in reading. I felt ready for the STAAR test and love how kind and fun she is!"
Reviews
Live Group Class
$80
weekly1x per week
50 min
Completed by 4 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
2-4 learners per class
