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Academic Vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning and Critical Reading
Course Objective
To develop skills that can be leveraged for success on the verbal sections of standardized exams and more broadly in English-language courses
Curricular Components
Word Lists, Root Words, Standardized Exam Sections (ISEE, SHSAT, SSAT), News Articles, Instructor-Designed Lectures, Weekly Quizzes
Class Routine
10min Quiz
10min Vocabulary & Root Word Study
30min Critical Reading Lesson & Practice
30min Verbal Reasoning Lesson & Practice
10min Current Events Article
Subject-Specific Knowledge
Academic Vocabulary, General Knowledge Commonly Tested on Standardized Exams
Skills Development
Close Reading, Verbal Reasoning, Test-Taking Strategies
About The Course
Using a systematic approach and intensive practice, Academic Vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning and Critical Reading will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for excellence on the verbal sections of standardized exams -- including the ISEE, SHSAT and SSAT. All of these exams test similar knowledge and skills, and can therefore be prepared for by using similar strategies. Ultimately, the goal of the course is to prepare students for future success on the standardized exams that determine acceptance into academic institutions. Additionally, the knowledge and skills developed are applicable more broadly to students’ work in Literature and English courses.
About The Instructor
John Dietrich
Mr. John Dietrich is a certified teacher with nearly fifteen years of education-industry experience in the US and China. He has taught small groups and tutored individuals in subjects ranging from elementary school English and middle school science through high school geography and standardized exam preparation. Mr.Dietrich holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning with a specialization in sustainable development, a Bachelors of Science in Anthropology, Certificate in Environmental Studies and a Florida Teaching License.
Lesson Components & Structure
This course is designed to provide instruction on a range of important academic, English-language and test-prep concepts, including vocabulary development, verbal reasoning, close reading and exam strategies. Each 1.5hr lesson will see students work intensively on a variety of topics inherent in standardized exams. The course activities will expose students to content and concepts from a number of different standardized exams, with the idea being to develop a broad set of skills that can be applied to different testing situations.
Each class will follow roughly the same structure from week to week. Lessons will begin with a short quiz designed to test student’s cumulative retention of vocabulary and development of specific critical reading / verbal reasoning skills. The class will then focus on new vocabulary, to include root words that can be used to more broadly decipher verbal meaning. This will be followed by a work on verbal reasoning, to include lecture and/or practice of specific concepts and skills. Relevant question types may include analogies, synonyms, vocabulary-in-context, text-heavy logical reasoning, writing conventions, grammar, etc. Next, students will transition to work on close reading strategies - by engaging in both lecture and practice. Relevant concepts include deciphering main ideas, understanding author’s tone and purpose, finding evidence, etc. The class will end with a “cool down” that involves the reading and discussion of a current events article, meant to illustrate broader application of relevant skills.
Each week, students will complete independent practice designed to reinforce knowledge and skills. This will include the memorization of vocabulary and root words, as well as the completion of specific sections from past exams. Their performance and progress will then be tracked and communicated to parents.
Course Outline
Academic Vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning and Critical Reading is a course that will evolve based on student progress through the semester and year. The course will begin with baseline testing meant to establish student strengths and weaknesses, and the course will be planned accordingly. Families should expect certain concepts to be revisited throughout the course, for the purpose of reinforcement. The fast-paced nature of the course is a definitive hallmark, and is meant to help students develop a mindset beneficial to pressurized testing situations.
Course Materials
All of the materials for this course are carefully curated by the instructor. Students will be provided with PDF versions of word lists, exam sections and news articles each week. They will also receive a copy of the instructor-designed lecture for annotating.
They will receive these documents roughly 48hrs before each class, so that they can be printed and used for notetaking. Families will receive qualitative and quantitative feedback on each week’s homework problems and vocabulary quizzes.
Deliverables
Families should expect roughly one hour of homework each week, including the completion of test sections and memorization of vocabulary. In addition to weekly quizzes, families can expect a baseline test at the start of the course and a post-test at the end of the semester.
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