Thomas Edison High School
2014-2015
Life Skills Reading
MYP Reading Enhancement
Michael Williams
Room 111
668-1300 ext. 34025
E-mail Address; Michaels.Williams@mpls.k12.mn.us
Webpage Address
(I commit to get back to families within 24 hours)
Course Description Reading Enhancement is a course designed to help the Life Skills student learn the
basic fundamentals of Reading, Reading Comprehension with writing and paragraph development included.
Life Skill students will develop competency in all aspects of reading enhancement, to include: Reading
Fluency/Decoding, Reading Comprehension, writing sentences/paragraphs with proper sentence structure.
Course Objectives
Improve & increase each Life Skills student’s reading, reading comprehension, writing ability and overall literacy development by
10% or get each student to develop their overall literacy development to the 5 th or 6th grade overall literacy level. Assist the
development of reading literacy appreciation among the Life Skills student and an understanding & development to appreciate the
value of reading scholarship.
MN State Standards
MYP Aims
Key Ideas and Details
1.
Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to
make logical inferences from it.
2.
Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their
development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
3.
Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and
interact over the course of a text.
Craft and Structure
4.
Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text.
5.
Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style
of a text.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
6.
Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and
media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.*
7.
Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text,
including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and
sufficiency of the evidence.
8.
Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics
in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors
take.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

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An appreciation and understanding & developing the
value of scholarship Language Arts.
●
An interest in the promotion of the ideas discussed
in class.
The motivation to participate fully in all aspects of
Language Arts & the Life Skills program at Edison
High School.
Effective communication strategies, verbal, nonverbal and written.
The skills and understanding necessary to participate
successfully in a variety of Language Arts
assignments.
The ability to reflect critically on all aspects of
Language Arts and the opportunities that are
available to the student after high school.
An understanding of intercultural perspectives in the
student’s cultural awareness of the community
around them.
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9.
Read and comprehend complex literary and
informational texts independently and proficiently.
Quarterly Overview of Units
As an IB World School, Edison Tommie units are organized around “inquiry questions” which help focus
learning, develop curiosity, and promote critical thinking. Some of the units and inquiry questions we will
study in this class include:
Unit
Inquiry Questions
Me & Myself, Weekly Reader
Current Events September –
October

Greek Mythology
Weekly Reader; Current
Events
October - November

Absolutely True Diary of a
Part-time Indian
Weekly Reader; Current
Events
December-January

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
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Global Context
Assessments
How do we tell a story about
ourselves?
What are the developments
we’re learning about in our
world?
Identities &
Relationships
Poster
Formative/Summative
Assessments
What was the purpose of
Mythology to the Greeks?
What are the developments
we’re learning about in our
world?
Personal & Cultural
Expression
Paragraph writing
Formative/Summative
Assessments
How does one living in 2
cultures survive?
What are the developments
we’re learning about in our
world?
Identities &
Relationships
Family album and
presentation
Texts and Resources
Junior Scholastic Weekly Reader; Current Events. Direct Instruction text. “Edge” Complete Reading and
Writing strategies. Various Novels.
Grading/Homework/Attendance/Academic Honesty Policies
Please refer to the Thomas Edison Student Handbook (or work with team if applicable)
Classroom Conduct Expectations
Tommie Creed and Learner Profile:
Team: I will respect myself and others by being open-minded and a good communicator.
Opportunity: I will prepare for college and the career of my choice by being a thinker and becoming
more knowledgeable.
Make a Difference: I will honor myself, my family and my school by being principled.
Make it Right: I will restore my relationships and advocate for myself. I will be caring and try to
understand others by being an inquirer.
Integrity: I will make good decisions. I will stay balanced and be reflective about my choices.
Excellence: I will do my personal best and a positive risk-taker.
*Another Option is to include the Tommie Creed and Learner Profile separately.
Tommie Creed:
Team: I will respect myself and others.
Opportunity: I will prepare for college and the career of my choice.
Make a Difference: I will honor myself, my family and my school.
Make it Right: I will restore my relationships and advocate for myself.
Integrity: I will make good decisions.
Excellence: I will do my personal best.
Another Learner Profile example with classroom expectations:
1. Caring: Be respectful to people and be respectful to our classroom supplies.
2. Principled: Come on time and be prepared with your pencil, binder, and text. Try to visit the restroom
between classes. Listen and stay seated during group discussions.
3. Inquirers: Ask questions when you are stuck and when you need to be challenged.
4. Risk Takers: Raise your hand and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
5. Open-Minded: Think positively even if you become frustrated.
6. Knowledgeable: Support your learning by completing homework and studying for assessments.
7. Communicator: Explain your [mathematical] thinking and show your work.
8. Reflective: Review your work including returned homework and assessments.
9. Thinker: Come ready to learn and challenge yourself.
10.
Balanced: Have fun, work hard, and be nice!