WHS Literacy Programs
Vicki Ross, Coordinator

Integrated Reading Team • Fast ForWord • Read 180 Program

         West High School offers reading and writing support classes for students of diverse needs, backgrounds, and levels. Our goals are to:

1. enhance students' academic literacy levels,
2. improve students’ reading and writing skills in content area classes,
3. provide appropriate level classes for students to earn credits towards graduation, and
4. assist students in reaching proficiency on the High School Graduation Qualifying Exit (HSGQE) Exam required for a diploma.

Students have several literacy class options, including:

1. the Integrated Reading Team (IRT) for 9th graders;
2. READ 180 (R180) English classes for 9th through 12th graders; and
3. English 9-12 Fast ForWord (FFW) for Special Education students.

Our language arts, social studies and science teachers use a variety of effective learning strategies and materials, leveled readers, differentiated instruction, and online literacy programs to develop students’ academic language skills and content area knowledge. As a result of these classes, our students in these classes have been successful in improving their reading and writing levels, earning credits, and reaching proficiency in reading and writing on the HSGQE.

We want our students to be successful at West so they graduate high school with a diploma and have occupational, career, and educational choices and options beyond high school.

For specific Literacy Program information or questions about the IRT, FFW, Achieve 3000, MY Access, or R180, please phone Vicki Ross at 742-2500 (message, front office) or e-mail: Ross_Vicki@asdk12.org

For registration, enrollment, credit, and/or graduation requirement questions, please contact the West High Counseling office at 742-2503.

Back to Top

******

     9th Grade Integrated Reading Team (IRT):  A Smaller Learning Community

         The freshman IRT smaller learning community is in its eighth successful year at West High. IRT students are enrolled in English 9, Integrated Science 9, and World History 9 classes and earn credits required for high school graduation. The focus of the IRT is to provide students with learning strategies to develop their academic reading and writing levels in language arts, science, and history.  Freshmen students are selected based on 8th gr. teacher recommendations, grades, test scores, and literacy levels.

Besides content area instruction using a variety of teaching strategies, important components of the IRT include Achieve 3000 Teen Biz, an online current events and reading comprehension program used in the history class, and Fast ForWord (FFW), an online language and literacy program.  Both Fast ForWord and Achieve 3000 are:

1. Individualized online computer programs based on the student’s initial reading assessment and level;
2. Used regularly to develop each student’s language proficiency and level;
3. Differentiated and self-paced based on the student’s literacy level; and
4. Monitored closely by and receive regular feedback from the teacher.

While Achieve 3000 is used weekly in history class to reinforce reading comprehension using current events, Fast ForWord is implemented nine weeks each semester in language arts and science classes to:

1. Develop and improve the student’s ability to pay attention, focus, remember, sequence, process information, and use language; and
2. Continues to improve spelling, vocabulary, word usage and fluency, grammar and reading comprehension from beginning through the advanced levels.

The IRT teachers communicate regularly and work together to coordinate learning strategies and activities for the IRT students throughout the school year.  To contact one of the IRT teachers by phone, please call 742-2500 (message, front office), or send an e-mail for:

• English 9 and IRT information Ross_Vicki@asdk12.org
• Integrated Science 9   Trumbull_James@asdk12.org
• World History 9   Davis_Tim@asdk12.org

Back to Top
******

  English 9, 10, & 11 READ 180

West High offers a two period block for 9th through 12th grade students who need further development in academic language and earn:

1. required English credit for English 9, English 10, or English 11, and
2. elective English credit for READ 180, Strategic Reading & Writing, and HSGQE Writing.

Students are identified, selected, and placed based upon individual student level and need, teacher recommendation, grades, attendance and motivation, and standardized and reading test scores.

This literacy block combines effective teaching and learning strategies along with two computer research-based programs: READ 180, which focuses primarily on reading, and MY Access!, which is an online writing program. Teachers interact daily with students one-on-one and in small and whole group and provide regular feedback to students. Each day, students rotate through the above reading and writing activities and stations to become better readers, writers, thinkers, and communicators. 

READ 180 includes:

1. Individualized, independent, self-selected reading based on the student’s reading assessment level;
2. Guided and shared reading with discussion in small and/or whole group; and
3. Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, usage, and spelling instruction.

MY Access!:

1. Is a writing program used by R180 teachers to support classroom writing activities (pre-writing, drafting, revising, publishing) using a writing process approach;
2. Has an extensive bank of graphic organizers, vocabulary and other resources for writing; and
3. Provides scores for a student’s writing development, focus, organization, language, mechanics, and an overall holistic score.

The READ 180 English teachers meet regularly to communicate about student needs, levels, and placement and to share teaching ideas, materials, and effective learning strategies. 

To contact one of the READ 180 teachers by phone, please call 742-2500 (message, front office), or e-mail:

• English 9 READ 180  Whaley_Michele@asdk12.org
• English 10 READ 180  Kittoe_Rachel@asdk12.org
• English 11 READ 180  Ross_Vicki@asdk12.org
• READ 180 program information  Ross_Vicki@asdk12.org

 

Back to Top
******

   Fast ForWord Special Education Students

    The West High School Special Education Program offer a two period block English class for 9th through 12th grade students who are eligible and certified to receive Special Education services according to state and federal regulation. Students are identified and placed based on student eligibility, level, need, and/or teacher referral.  Approval for placement is required from the Special Education counselor/department chair. 

Special Education students enrolled in the double block English 9-12 Fast ForWord class earn a required English credit AND an elective English credit required for high school graduation. Besides English 9-12 language instruction in reading and writing, Fast ForWord is an essential component to this block, which:

1. Is an individualized, self-paced, online language program;
2. Further develops and improves a student’s ability to focus, pay attention, remember, sequence, process information, and use oral and written language;
3. Continues to improve spelling, vocabulary, word usage and fluency, grammar and reading comprehension from beginning through advanced language levels.

To learn more and ask questions, please phone the WHS Counseling office at 742-2503
or e-mail:

Special Education Department Chair Owens_John@asdk12.org
Literacy Program Coordinator  Ross_Vicki@asdk12.org
Fast Forward Special Education Teacher Tinker_Temperance@asdk12.org


 

Back to Top