Dear Sixth and Seventh Grade Parents,
Saint Thomas More Cathedral School has always believed that students have unique learning styles, talents, and abilities, and that each should be challenged to excel. In that regard, our mid-year assessments caused our teachers to reflect upon the best options forward for your child. I commend Middle School teachers for their devotion to our mission and am grateful for the opportunity to partner with them in this way.
Beginning next week, you will notice that your child will be working on a novel study in reading. Not all sixth or seventh grade students will be reading the same novel–it has been appropriately tailored to their individual accuracy, comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary groupings as per their mid-year assessments. The Middle School Reading teachers and I have reviewed the data collected through the mid-year Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Reading Assessment and created groups to promote student growth and success at various stages of Middle School reading.
In Reading classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, they will work together on whole class strategies that apply to any novel and/or dive into a short story to practice a comprehension skill.
On Thursdays, students will meet in novel groups to discuss the specifics for each of their assigned readings and to share their knowledge in terms of characterization, plot structure, figurative language, making connections, symbolism, themes, author’s purpose, and/or art of persuasion, ethos, pathos, and logos. Mrs. Pacheco and Ms. Adinaro will be assisting Mrs. Morgan and Ms. Johnson in novel discussions to allow for smaller group work.
Please help us at home by ensuring that by each Thursday, your child has read all assigned chapters and completed their portion of the book talk/novel discussion assignment.
We thank you in advance for your support in making this change to better meet the needs of your particular child and look forward to seeing the difference it makes for them! Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.