Welcome to

1. The Achieve Learning Program POWER READING! Welcome to Mrs. Clare Smith Grades 7&8 claresmith@wpcsd.k12.ny.us

2. Overview • ALP Power Reading is a support class designed to strengthen students’ reading and writing skills.  • Students meet with me every day of the cycle.

3. What is ALP Power Reading? • ALP Power Reading fosters automaticity, responsibility, and metacognition. • Automaticity • an active learner functions independently in a safe environment • Responsibility • an active learner takes responsibility and makes good decisions for himself / herself. • Metacognition • an active learner has a self-awareness about his or her own style of learning

4. ALP Power Reading: Two Classes in One! On ABC days, for example, your child might meet with me for small-group instruction… just five to eight students per group, depending on the class size.  We work on reading comprehension, writing, and grammar – pretty much anything ELA-related.   In addition,  I try to provide some science and social studies support.  Reading in the content areas can be tough because text books tend to be written at a higher level than many students’ instructional reading levels. Then on the DEF days, your child works independently on the TeenBiz3000 website.

5. ALP Power Reading: The TeenBiz Component All the TeenBiz articles are nonfiction, usually based on an Associated Press article.  And here’s the really cool part:  the article your child receives is tailored to his/her reading level! The student sitting next to your child receives the same article geared toward his or her level.  While your child works on TeenBiz, I am working with the other group of students. 

6. ALP Power Reading: Cycle Expectations All students must complete the following each A-F cycle: 3 TB Multiple Choice activities 2 TB Writing Center multiple choice activities 1 TB Thought Question

7. What you should be looking for in order to gauge your child’s TB progress: • TeenBiz provides data on each student’s performance pertaining to multiple choice activities, Writing Center multiple choice activities, and written responses, aka Thought Questions. • For the multiple choice, I analyze two things: • the number of activities completed that cycle (THREE.) • The average score for those activities (We’re looking for an average above 65%.) • For the Writing Center multiple choice activities, I look at • the number of activities completed that cycle (TWO.) • The average score for those activities (I’m looking for an average above 65%.) • For the Thought Questions: • Students are required to complete ONE TQ each cycle • TQ responses should 1)restate the question, 2) address all parts of the task, and 3) provide solid text-based support. • TQs are scored on a four-point rubric. • If the student submits more than one, I grade them both/all. The better/best grade counts.

8. Translating Lexile Levels to ApproximateNon-fiction Reading Level by Grade TeenBiz3000 uses this chart to translate Lexile levels to reading levels. Reviewing this chart can help teachers, students, and parents get a better understanding of students' approximatenon-fiction reading levels based on their Lexile levels. Note that a reading level ending with a .1 indicates beginning of the grade, while .2 indicates end of the grade.

9. More About TeenBiz3000 • When you have time, ask your child to show you around his/her TeenBiz3000 account.  • Students have access to the program from anywhere they have access to the internet.  Students are encouraged to work on TB at home. • If your child takes you to his/her PORTFOLIO, you’ll be able to see the activities she/he has completed so far in both multiple-choice and writing. • Please, peruse the TeenBiz3000 and Lexile handouts for further information, and don’t hesitate to contact me about your child’s progress in ALP Power Reading.