New Literature Books

   Eighth graders will have new literature books this year.  They will also have what is called a "Write-In Reader" or book that they will be able to mark-up.  In fact, there will be a lesson on how to mark them up.  I am anticipating many good sessions during Language Arts reading and discussing the stories. 

                    

Mr. Brown

Reading is TESA 1 and 2

Every 8th grader at LPMS has reading until he or she has, in the current school year, met the requirements to leave reading class and enjoy the benefits of a second elective.  Reading classes are designed to help students develop reading fluency and comprehension--which is what the state Technology Enhanced Student Assessments (TESA) are supposed to measure.  So we call our reading classes "TESA Prep 1" and "Tesa Prep 2."

Students in TESA Prep 1 are in the last stages of completing some basic requirements of fluency and comprehension.  At this level, little attention is given to test-taking skills, and all the focus is on helping kids read better and faster.

TESA Prep 2, on the other hand, is more of a mixed bag.  Some students in these classes have every reason to expect that they will do exceedingly well on the Reading TESA and move on to greener elective pastures when the trimester changes.  Some students are reading at a reasonable rate, but they need every possible help to make it over the mark on the TESA test.  So in these classes we add to the basic fluency practice an array of vocabulary-building exercises, extensions into project-based and technical reading, and practicing with sample ODE tests.  Mr. Chase's TESA II class has a blog that might be of interest as the course progresses.

Looking forward to a successful year in the classroom and continuing to astound folks around the state with our test scores in reading!

~Mr. Chase