Literacy Strategies for the At Risk Student (Ideas and methodologies were taken from Dr. Janet Allen’s research that was shared at the Bronx High Schools.

Literacy Strategies for the AtLiteracy Strategies for the AtRisk StudentRisk Student

(Ideas and methodologies were taken from Dr. Janet Allen’s (Ideas and methodologies were taken from Dr. Janet Allen’s research that was shared at the Bronx High Schools research that was shared at the Bronx High Schools

Adolescent Literacy Conference.)Adolescent Literacy Conference.)

Instructional Team MeetingInstructional Team Meeting

January 2. 2001January 2. 2001

Facilitated byFacilitated by

Sandy Del DucaSandy Del Duca

ELA/Diversified Learning Instructional ELA/Diversified Learning Instructional SpecialistSpecialist

© 2001 by Sandy Del Duca. All Rights Reserved.

How can educators promote literacy How can educators promote literacy among at risk student populations?among at risk student populations?

Choose literature that-• corresponds to the interest level of your

students. • relates to their life experiences.

Eg. Book Surveys Attitude Surveys

Sentence Completion Activity


How can educators promote literacy How can educators promote literacy among at risk student populations? among at risk student populations?

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Adapted Strategy for Heterogeneously Grouped English Classes Containing At Risk Youth

1. Teach one novel to the class emphasizing certain elements.

2. Create a book list that contains other novels that have similar elements.

3. Break the class up into groups and have each group choose one novel they will read independently.

.



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4. Set aside time once a week or every other week for groups to get together to answer teacher made generated questions

A. Questions should be literal, interpretive, and evaluative. They should also require students to draw comparisons between the novel done in class and the books they chose to read.

Diversification of Teaching Strategies-Cooperative Learning

© 2001 by Sandy Del Duca. All Rights Reserved


(cont.)(cont.)

Teach Metacognitive SkillsI. Ask students-

• if they know people who are good readers and have them describe their behaviors.

• what teachers did in the past and why it didn’t work for them.

• what would help them become better readers.



(cont.)(cont.)

II. Teaching Strategieseg. Predicting

Asking questionsMental Imaging

Graphic OrganizersInferences

Semantic Webbing



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III. Ask students what strategies they use to help them to read better.

Adapted Strategy for Teaching Metacognitive Skills in English Classes

1. Flashcard Vocabulary Game2. Context Clue Games



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Find resources so that students can practice reading such as-

• a variety of literature.• art supplies.• tape players.

• pc connected to an overhead projector• headphones

Diversification of Teaching Strategies-Multisensory Learning



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Tips for Building Self-Esteem1. Create an environment where students can learn at

their own pace.eg. Independent Reading Time2. Plan special events for them.

eg. Guest Speakers-poets and authorseg. Field trip to a bookstore

3. Emphasize the positive by acknowledging smallimprovements that students make objectively.

eg. Checklist (This is used with independent reading activity.)



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5. Plan experiences for them to help others learn to read.

eg. Tutoring younger childreneg. Volunteering for a local literacy organization***Note-This will also help students accumulate

community service time.


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4. Decorate your room with posters, pictures, and drawings that contain positive ideas, words, messages etc..

Strive to achieve your

dreams!


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Reading StrategiesI. Read Alouds A. The teacher reads to the students but they do not have texts in front of them.

***Note-Books used for read alouds should have dialogue that is read with expression and include a great deal of action to capture the student’s interest.


(cont.)(cont.)

After the read alouds she individualizes instruction by allowing students to choose from the following activities:

1. Reread the text on their own.2. Read more books by the same author.3. Write using the reading as a prompt.



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II. Shared Reading A. The teacher reads and students follow along in their text.

Questions to Ask When Selecting Books for Shared Readings1. Is this the right book to meet the needs of the students at the time? ( Will it captures the student’s attention so they can practice become proficient readers?)***Note-This needs to happen before you start introducing the classics because they may not have strategies to attack moredifficult language.



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2. Can I read this book in such a way that students won’t see it as boring?

3. Is this a book I enjoy?

4. Does this book meet my instructional objectives? eg. Shows students words can be fun. eg. Models a writing style. eg. Helps students think critically.


?


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III. Reading With and To Others A. This was made voluntary and students were invited to engage in a variety of activities. eg. Reading ghost stories they had practiced to the class on Halloween. eg. Sharing their writing. eg. Small group reading of a novel. eg. Participating in paired reading with first graders.



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IV. Guided Reading A. A Process that helps students become active readers. B. It can be done with individual or groups of students.

Criteria for A Guided ReadingThe teacher should be aware of- 1. student interests and experiences. 2. What ideas or elements will help the student construct meaning.



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3. Challenges or words, concepts, or events that the reader needs to make sense our of the info from the text.

V. Independent Reading Time A. The teacher engages in the following behaviors during independent reading time: 1. Models reading a favorite book. 2. Observes student behaviors and records on the checklist. 3. Helps students who are having difficulties with certain passages. © 2001 by Sandy Del Duca. All Rights Reserved


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eg. If a student does not understand what he is reading because the author is using a technique such as flashback the teacher has time to explain what is going on in the text.4. Shows students how to make inferences by referring back to the text.

Adapted Strategy for English Classes1. Students who are having trouble following a certain aspect of a text, because of the style it is written in, can work with a partner on a teacher generated activity.



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Eg. To Kill A MockingBird-Students can list the names of the characters and discuss who they are in relation to Scout. ***Note-This is particularly helpful for students with learning disabilities and students who have just tested out of ESL.

Diversification of Teaching Strategies-Think/Pair/Share



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Activities for Acting Out Literacy1. Creative Dramatics

2. Improvisation3. Picture Reading

4. Interviewing Real Life Authors5. Writing with a Poet

etc.

Diversification of Teaching Strategies-Multiple Intelligences


Literacy Strategies for the At Risk Student (Ideas and methodologies were taken from Dr. Janet Allen’s research that was shared at the Bronx High Schools.

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