Language Arts Lab 9, 10, 11, and 12

14 February 2003

 

 

Purpose:

 

  • The Language Arts Lab class is designed to meet the learning needs of high school students in grades nine through twelve.  The goal is to empower students to be successful in their regular Language Arts class.

 

Student Selection: 

 

  • Students between the 25th and 50th percentile in the areas of Reading and Language on the TerraNova or other standardized tests.

 

Class Description: 

 

  • Classes will consist of 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students.  The best scenario will be a separate Language Arts lab class for each grade level.  The next best scenario will be a class consisting of 9th and 10th grade students and another class consisting of 11th and 12th grade students.
  • The recommended number of students per class is fifteen to eighteen.

 

 

Curriculum/Standards: 

 

  • All ELA Standards:  Reading; Writing; Listening/Speaking/Viewing; Conventions/Grammar/Usage; Literature; Public Documents; and Functional Documents
  • Scholastic Reading Inventory Lexile Score
  • The Write Path for English Language Arts, Grades 9-12
    • Scaffolded Reading Instruction (Connecting to Prior Knowledge, Understanding Text Structure, and Text Process Strategies) to assist students in becoming more effective readers when used strategically with a rich and varied curriculum
    • Multiple strategies for connecting students to text in literature (from young adolescent literature to the classics) organized as foundational, intermediate, and advanced levels.
    • Utilization of the Writing Process:  Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Publishing
    • Multiple opportunities for students to engage in both formal and informal oral presentations

 

 

 

Training:

 

·        Summer training for LA Lab Teachers/Specialists.  Place TBD

·        Follow-up training at area/district levels

 

 

 

Suggestions:

 

  • Students’ scores on the TerraNova, Performance Assessment Communication Arts, and English grades should be reviewed prior to the end of the school year.  Collaboration between the English Department and Counselor(s) would assist in determining student selection.

 

 

 

Point of Contact:

Susan M. Karlesses

Telephone: 

703 696-4471

ext.

1956

FAX: 

703 696-8924

 

 

Tips for Counselors

Language Arts Lab 9, 10, 11, and 12

 

 

·         Students targeted for the Language Arts Lab class are those with recent TerraNova or other standardized reading and/or language scores between the 25th to the 50th percentile.

 

·        Course codes and course titles for Language Arts Lab classes are:

 

Grade 9:    LAE305

Grade 10:  LAE405

Grade 11:  LAE505

Grade 12:  LAE605

 

·        The lab classes will carry elective credit only; they will not fulfill graduation requirements for Language Arts.

 

·        Students cannot be mandated to take a lab class.  However, we must do everything we can to make sure that students and parents understand the benefits of enrolling in these classes.

 

·        Attached is a sample letter to use for parents and students for enrollment in a support class.  Use of this letter will allow schools to keep a record of students who decline to enroll in support classes.  The letter will have to be personalized for each school and support class.

 

·        Standardized test scores need to be reviewed for all new students enrolling for SY 03/04.  If test scores are not available, grades can be reviewed for an indication of support needs and/or a Scholastic Reading Inventory can be administered for a Lexile level.  When necessary, a call to the previous school should be made to determine if a newly enrolled student would be a candidate for a lab class.

 

·        Students with active Individual Education Plans (IEP) may be enrolled in lab classes as appropriate.

 

·        Student enrollment should be limited to approximately 15-18 students per class.

 

·        Principals should assign Language Arts teachers to the Language Arts classes.  Instruction in the Language Arts class should offer students alternative paths to understanding concepts and skills acquired in the regular Language Arts class. 

 

·        Teachers should use the regular grading scale for students in the Language Arts Lab class.

 

 

·        All Language Arts Lab teachers will attend training sessions planned for the summer, fall, and spring of SY 2003-2004.

 

 

Point of Contact:

Susan M. Karlesses

Telephone: 

703 696-4471

ext.

1956

FAX: 

703 696-8924