Welcome Landrum Lions
to Mrs. Woeppel's Website
and
Adventures in Interactive Literacy!!!!!!
*****Parents, please know that starting today, your children will be involved in the Stay on Track program which helps prevent drug and alcohol use. This program also teaches: communication skills, in order to maintain healthy relationships; perception versus reality; how to deal with stress; conflict/resolution; bullying; and much more. We will cover a couple of these lessons per week. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Welcome to Adventures in Interactive Literacy at Landrum Middle School with Mrs. Woeppel! I am thrilled for what is going to be a great year!
You're probably thinking, "what does 'Adventures in Interactive Literacy' mean, anyway?"
In English, it's a fancy title for 'Learning About the Joy and Pleasure in Reading.'
Homework: Since this is an elective course, we will be performing all of our class work and related activities during class time.
In addition, we will rarely, if ever, have homework assignments—students should concentrate on their core courses during homework time.
However, it is our hope that your child is reading for pleasure at home.
Students~because of this class, you have the opportunity to join what I call, "The Book Whisperer Movement" (which is inspired by the book, The Book Whisperer, written by Donalyn Miller). "The Book Whisperer Movement" means that through this class, you will be able to read the books of your choice.... Then books will start whispering to you, "read me," (okay, jk), but after awhile, you will be whispering to your friend(s), "you have to read this book, you will LOVE it!"
NEWSFLASH! This Just In:
Instead of doing book reports and taking quizzes.... In our class, you will have the chance to make television commercials for books that you have read.... And you will also have the opportunity to perform scenes from your beloved books, right in front of the class! (Truly, the list of fun goes on and on). In the beginning of the semester, if you're a 'shy guy or gal,' you may video tape yourself at home. However, I can guarantee that you will grow to love performing "on stage," in class.
Your Goal -
is to complete 20 books over the course of the semester. (A book over 300 pages is considered two books). Trust me, you will be given plenty of class time to read indepently. :)
I promote the concept that...
Reading has the power to change your life. Reading is able to unlock doors to worlds unknown or forgotten. Reading can take you traveling anywhere around the globe. Reading is like a time machine, taking you through time. Reading allows you to escape the walls of school, so that you can go after your own education. Through characters, both real and fictional, reading teaches you how to be a better you!
-Adapted from the book, The Book Whisperer, written by Donalyn Miller.
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
PENS
1 COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK
Mrs. Woeppel's Wishlist:
Hand Sanitizer
Paper Towels
Band Aids
Kleenex
Pens
Lysol Wipes
and....
BOOKS! (Think age appropriateness; grades 5-8)
THE MESSAGE BELOW IS PROVIDED FOR PARENTS:
For starters, thank you for your support. After all, you are your child's first teacher! In a nutshell, this class cultivates a love of reading and builds a community of lifelong readers.
More in depth, about this course--it's designed to awaken the inner reader in every student and it begins with the students choosing their own to books to read. By providing the students with this liberty, it not only empowers them, but it also enhances their self-assurance, gives merit to their interests, while promoting a positive attitude toward reading.
Enumerate research findings and federal policy documents instruct educators across the nation, that the simple act of reading is the most beneficial classroom activity. Having said that, according to Donalyn Miller (the author of The Book Whisperer, which is the inspiration behind this class), there's not one single literacy activity that has a more affirmative effect on students' reading comprehension; enhancement in vocabulary knowledge; fluency in reading; spelling; writing; and overall academic success, than a free-reading environment. This student-centric approach in teaching empowers the students, for they take ownership in their learning. In fact, Miller states in her book, "By denying students the opportunity to choose their own books to read, teachers are giving students a fish year after year but never teaching them to
go near the water, much less fish for themselves." Stephen Krashen, a well respected reading activist and researcher, found in fifty-one studies that students in a free-reading program—excel in reading; out-perform, or are equal to students in traditional reading programs.
With this freedom, I expect my students to read a large volume of books over the course of the semester. The goal is twenty books. (Any book over 300 pages is considered two books). Another expectation of the students is to read widely—to read a variety of genres. In this way, students will broaden their horizons and conceptual knowledge. It’s universally known that readers live richer lives and many more lives. Because I couldn’t say it so eloquently myself, I quote Miller, “Reading changes your life. Reading unlocks worlds unknown or forgotten, taking travelers around the world and through time. Reading helps you escape the confines of school and pursue your own education. Through characters…real or imagined—reading shows you how to be a better human being.”
At the end of the day, my goal for this course is to create a community of lifelong readers and to show the students that reading is not just an assortment of skills for school performance, but also as a way to foster the health of our nation's democracy. With that said, Dr. Ron D. Myers, the principal at Trinity Meadows Intermediate School in Keller Texas, states in Miller's book, "If we create a passion for reading within our students, they will be able to carry on the kind of inquiry that is needed to function in our democracy. Our students are shortchanged if we fail to teach reading beyond the narrow definition of a test score."
I hope to provide a foundation for your child, so that he or she will be successful not only in our class, but also across all content areas. I also hope to ensure that your child's reading and writing abilities will improve both in class and for statewide assessments.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any concerns or questions. My email address is woeppes@stjohns.k12.fl.us. Please also check the school’s website for progress monitoring dates.
DISCLAIMER--This site does not absolve the student of the responsibility of keeping up with his/her planner. This site will be periodically updated but is not meant to be a daily account of assignments given. Parents, please ask to see the planner regularly. Students are responsible for their planner. It fosters responsibility, confidence, and consistency.
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