Here's How an average day in class may look...
Every day we will have an 88 minute period. On Wednesdays, we will have approximately 20 minutes of independent reading at the end of class.
- Independent Reading - 10 minutes (M,T, TH, F) 20 minutes (W)
- Duncan's Daily Drill (DDD) - 5 minutes
- Vocabulary activity- 10-15 minutes
- Literature Lesson / Activity- 20-30 minutes
- Grammar or Writing Lesson /Activity- 20-30 minutes
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Every day except Wednesday we will begin with independent reading time. On Wednesday, the last 20 minutes of class will be reserved for independent reading. Students are expected to bring their choice novels every day. Students will also be expected to read outside of class on their own. They will have a weekly check in to complete.
The DDD is an activity designed to stimulate student thinking during the optimal learning time in class. The prompts and activities are designed to accomplish any of the following tasks: connect prior knowledge, set up the lesson, reinforce material from previous lessons, establish real-world relevance, and prime students for new concepts. These activities may vary in depth and length but will be fast-paced and limited to less than fifteen minutes of the period.
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Each week we will have a unit of vocabulary. We will complete various activities through out the week to learn and use the words. At the end of the week, we will have a short quiz to check for proficiency. At the end of two units, we will have review and a test to check for mastery.
Every day we will work with some form of literature. We will be engaged in a variety of texts including whole class novels, nonfiction articles, and poetry. Many lessons will be student-directed, but I may provide necessary background information or direction as well. Many activities will take place over several days. Ideally, we will cover five units; however, this will depend upon student growth and mastery.
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During most regular days, we will also work on grammar or writing. I will usually alternate with grammar at the beginning of the week (Monday & Tuesday) and writing in the second half (Thursday and Friday). I may provide some direct instruction or students may be working on an activity. Often activities will take place over several consecutive days with practice to be completed at home. This may vary depending on the complexity of a concept and how other areas are progressing.
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