Literacy Skills Syllabus 2005-2006
by Samantha Beutler
August 22, 2005
Grade Level: 7th
Grade (Required)
Course Length: 12-Week Block Class
Instructor:
Mrs. Samantha Beutler
I. Course
Description: This is a required block course for 7th
grade students designed to improve reading, writing, organization,
and higher-order thinking skills. Students will learn techniques
and methods to get organized in order to develop effective study
skills. Students will learn how to locate, access, manage, and
utilize library and electronic resources for research design and
implementation. Students will learn effective ways to use their
organizational and informational skills to become efficient
problem-solvers when posed with research tasks.
II. Student Goals:
A. To improve
existing study skills or develop more efficient study skills.
B. To learn and
apply proper research techniques.
C. To implement
learned skills through practical demonstrations.
III. Units/Course Outline:
A. Study Skills:
1.
Getting Organized & Time Management
2. Taking Effective Notes
3.
Developing Reading Comprehension-SQ3R
4. Homework
Strategies
5. Test-Taking
Strategies
B. Information
Literacy Skills:
1. Locating/Accessing
Library Resources
2.
Utilizing Print and Electronic Resources
3. Internet
Searches/Boolean Search Strategies
4. Website
Evaluation and Internet Safety
5. Copyright
Issues and Plagiarism
6. Creating
Referencing and Bibliography Pages
7. Big
6® Organizational
Skills
8. Author Study/Book Presentation
9. PowerPoint
Development
10. Research Project
IV. Textbook:
Flanagan, A. K. (2001). Exploring the library. Milwaukee,
WI: Gareth Stevens Publishing.
V. Resources:
Textbook; Library-Media Center (Books, References, Magazines &
Periodicals, SIRS, Winnebago Spectrum Catalog, Card Catalog,
InfoTrac, NebraskAccess); Distance-Learning Room (Internet,
Microsoft 2000 PowerPoint/Word Programs, Videos, Projector,
Overhead); Internet sites for research, evaluation, and Big 6
Skills.
VI. Multicultural
Concepts:
A. Students will
appropriately interact with one another in diverse group
settings when conducting and implementing group research
projects.
B. Students will
evaluate print and electronic sources for social, gender, or
political bias to determine if sources are credible and
reliable.
C. When developing
research projects, students will be encouraged to select a person
to research that is of a different racial or cultural
background than themselves.
VII. Technology:
A. Students will
utilize computers and various programs, such as Microsoft
Word, PowerPoint, InfoTrac, and NebraskAccess to prepare and
present research projects.
B. Students will be
exposed to a variety of Internet search options and procedures.
C. Students will
utilize the library-media center and electronic library resources
to conduct research.
VIII. Grading Criteria:
The grade for this class is determined by combining earned points
from journal entries, assignments, oral or written quizzes, and
research projects. The final research projects
will weight heavily into the final points for the
class.
