Instructor
Rowena Aldridge

Contact
Students should use Google Classroom for all communication. 
Parents may contact me at RowenaAldridgeWEB@gmail.com


Course desription
In Reading for Writing, you will read a variety of popular works which will serve as models for the mechanics of written communication (spelling, grammar, formatting).  Our goals include growing your comprehension and fluency as readers; and learning to use literary techniques to effectively communicate your own ideas. You will practice supporting your ideas in discussion by referencing the text, identifying themes and connecting them across texts. Projects will include writing personal narratives, imaginative narratives, informational material, and opinion pieces.


Required texts
There are two required texts per semester.  The remainder of the texts are your choice from a curated list of titles.  The free choice lists will be announced at the beginning of each study unit.

Required texts for the Fall Semester are:

  • Homesick, by Jean Fritz

  • Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition, by Margot Lee Shetterly

 

Required texts for the Spring Semester are your choice of the following paired titles.  You will choose which pair you want to read.  You will receive guidance in choosing the best pair for your interests and desired challenge.

  • Nim’s Island, Wendy Orr.  with Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe

  • The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan, with The Odyssey, Rosemary Sutcliff adaptation

  • Peter and the Starcatchers, Ridley Pearson, with Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie

  • Enter Three Witches, Caroline B. Cooney, with Macbeth, William Shakespeare

  • The Inquisitor’s Tale, Alan Gidwitz, with The Canterbury Tales, Geraldine McCaughrean adaptation

  • The Wednesday Wars, Gary D. Schmidt, with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare

 

Policies
All homework assignments are posted in the Reading for Writing Google Classroom.  You will receive a link and code by email that will allow you to sign in.  You are responsible for checking the classroom each week and submitting the required assignment on time.  You will need a Gmail address to be added to the Google Classroom.  Please assure that your email address has your name attached so that I will know who you are!  Some students choose to create a special email address just for use with Google Classroom;  I strongly recommend that if you are able.

Not all of your assignments will be graded;  most of them are for practice and for identifying areas where you need more support.  However, all assignment submissions are dated, and the number of late submissions will be recorded.

There are no exams in this course.  Your final project for each study unit will serve as an assessment tool for grading purposes.