Placement in Using Language Well

Tagged: , , , , , ,

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • July 28, 2016 at 2:04 pm
    Aimee
    Participant

    I’d like to use ULW with my 4th and 6th grade boys but am unsure on placement. My 9yo 4th grader is just taking off in reading but will still need reading instruction this year. Do I go ahead and start book 1 or wait until he’s more solid in his reading?

    My 11yo 6th grader reads but is definitely a reluctant writer and speller. I feel like he could benefit from book 1 but am wondering if I should step up the pace to get through the first 2 books faster? Does that mean doing it everyday? Any advice would be appreciated!?

    July 29, 2016 at 9:30 pm
    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    Aimee, if your 6th grader is a reluctant writer, I would hesitate to step up the pace. Doing dictation every day would be challenging for many students and could be particularly frustrating with a reluctant writer.

    If you are using the rubrics in the back of the teacher book to help you evaluate his written narrations, the points on those rubrics will step-by-step cover many of the capitalization and punctuation points covered in Book 1. You could just use those guidelines as an unofficial review and make sure he understands each new point as it is added to the rubric.

    If you do, however, decide to cover the lessons in both books at a faster pace, I would encourage you to limit the number of exercises he has to prepare for dictation each week. Two per week is plenty.

    July 30, 2016 at 1:16 pm
    Aimee
    Participant

    Thanks so much, Sonya! So, to clarify, you’re saying I can start my 6th grader in book 2 and use the rubric in that to help him with the topics in book 1?

    What about my 4th grader? Start him in book 1 now or when he’s finished with reading instruction?

    Thanks so much!

    July 30, 2016 at 4:42 pm
    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    Yes, the rubrics will gently reinforce and hold the student accountable for the points covered in Book 1. They will also give you a flexible structure to review any points he needs more help with.

    If your 9yo is reading about a 3rd grade level, he should be fine with ULW Book 1. If he’s reading at lower level, hold off on ULW for now.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • The topic ‘Placement in Using Language Well’ is closed to new replies.