8/14/2019 Syllabus Spring Literacy Intervention

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Literacy Intervention: Current Events & The Global MediaRainshadow Community Charter High School Spring 2010 Course Syllabus

Joe Ferguson *** joe@rainshadowcchs.org *** www.joerainshadow.weebly.com

Course Description: This course is designed to give students the necessary tools that they need tobecome advanced readers and explorers of the global media and to become enthusiastic aboutexploring the events affecting their world and lives today. Students will be encouraged to think

critically and to be skeptical about the global marketplace of information and ideas in order tobecome global citizens and to make appropriate decisions about their own lives. Students will beexposed to a variety of media exploration techniques and create their own timeline of current eventsthat are important to them. They will demonstrate their progress online and will be able to share theirthoughts on current events with their classmates and the rest of the world.Course Aims and Objectives for this Semester:Upon completion of this semester course of study, students will be able to

- know and use word analysis skills and strategies to comprehend new words encountered in textand to develop vocabulary

- use reading process skills and strategies to build comprehension- read expository and persuasive texts to comprehend, interpret, and evaluate for specific purposes- write a variety of texts that inform, persuade, describe, evaluate, entertain, or tell a story and

that are appropriate to audience and purpose- listen to and evaluate oral communications for content, style, speakers purpose, and audience

appropriateness- speak using organization, style, tone, voice, and media aids appropriate to audience and purpose.

Students participate in discussions to offer information, clarify ideas, and support a position.- develop global literacy skills, attitudes, and dispositions- become critical explorers of the global media marketplace of ideas and information.- create a website to communicate with classmates and the outside world

Requirements:-

Participation in classroom reading, writing, discussions, and other activities every day.- Record of notes, vocabulary, website updates, other writings and classroom projects & assignments.- Completed portfolio of projects and assignments (see requirements below).

Week / Dates Monday - Thursday

1) Jan. 25-28New semester! Intro to rules & class expectations. Intro to weebly & your own website.Current events and the global media.No School Monday (Professional Development)

2) Feb. 1-4Exploring new websites and forms of media. Foreign language news. Translating withBabel Fish. Appropriate articles to read.

3) Feb. 8-11 Writing appropriate responses to current events. Current event reading and response.

4) Feb. 15-18Building vocabulary by finding the meaning of tough words. Using online resources.Current event reading and response. No School Monday (Presidents Day)

5) Feb. 22-25 Local news. What are the outlets? What are the stories focusing on? What stories areimportant to us? Current event reading and response.

6) Mar. 1-4Regional news. What are the outlets? What are the stories focusing on? What stories areimportant to us? Current event reading and response.

7) Mar. 8-11National news. What are the outlets? What are the stories focusing on? What stories areimportant to us? Current event reading and response.

8) Mar. 15-18International / global news. What are the outlets? What are the stories focusing on?What stories are important to us? Current event reading and response. No SchoolMonday (Professional Development)

9) Mar. 22-25Website progress check. Look at other students websites and respond. Current eventreading and response.

mailto:joe@rainshadowcchs.orghttp://www.joerainshadow.weebly.com/http://www.joerainshadow.weebly.com/mailto:joe@rainshadowcchs.org

8/14/2019 Syllabus Spring Literacy Intervention

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10) Mar. 29-Apr. 1Independent news sources. Differences between the independent outlets and thecorporate outlets. Who is telling the truth? Current event reading and response.

11) Apr. 5-8Being skeptical while reading the news. Bias and perspective. Current event reading andresponse.

12) Apr. 19-22Advertisement in the news. Does the news advertise products, good, and services? Whatkinds of ads do you find on different news sites? Current event reading and response.

13) Apr. 26-29Politics in the news. Are there political agendas in different news outlets? What politicsare expressed? Current event reading and response.

14) May 3-6 Sports in the news. How much attention is paid to sports in the news? What types ofsports are the most popular? Current event reading and response.

15) May 10-13Crime in the news. How many headlines are devoted to crime, violence, and war vs.people doing good deeds? What people want to read? Current event read and respond. NoSchool Monday (Professional Development)

16) May 17-20Website progress check. Look at other students websites and respond. Current eventreading and response.

17) May 24-27The economy. What does the news say about the current economic situation? Does itdisplay a positive or negative outlook? Current event reading and response.

18) May 31-Jun. 3Coming to the end. What have we learned? Whats next for your personal exploration ofglobal media? Current event reading and response. No School Monday (Memorial Day)

19) Jun. 7-9 Last class. Course reflection. Updating your Rainshadow Portfolio.

Grading Policy and Assessment: This literacy intervention course of study is worth approximately 1500 pointsThe points earned in this class will be averaged into your core (science, social studies, English, and mathematics)classes for the semester.Point Breakdown:Attendance and Participation 700 pointsCompleted Current Events website 700 pointsCompleted Rainshadow Online Portfolio 100 pointsPortfolio Contents: You will submit components from this course into your Rainshadow portfolio that willshowcase your work for the full semester course of study. Your portfolio will contain your best work from thisclass and will be a demonstration of your skills and growth as a Rainshadow CCHS student. It will be expectedthat your major projects and several other pieces of work from this class will be components of your portfolio.

Current Events & The Global MediaNevada English Language Arts Standards

Content Standard 1.0 - Students know and use word analysis skills and strategies to comprehendnew words encountered in text and to develop vocabulary.Content Standard 2.0 - Students use reading process skills and strategies to build comprehension.Content Standard 3.0 - Students read literary text to comprehend, interpret, and evaluate authors,cultures, and times.Content Standard 4.0 - Students read expository and persuasive texts to comprehend, interpret, and

evaluate for specific purposes.Content Standard 5.0 - Students write a variety of texts using the writing process.Content Standard 6.0 - Students write a variety of texts that inform, persuade, describe, evaluate,entertain, or tell a story and that are appropriate to audience and purpose.Content Standard 7.0 - Students listen to and evaluate oral communications for content, style,speakers purpose, and audience appropriateness.Content Standard 8.0 - Students speak using organization, style, tone, voice, and media aidsappropriate to audience and purpose. Students participate in discussions to offer information,clarify ideas, and support a position.