Foundations C Reading — Summer 2017

Room 273
Instructor Information
Instructor: Jodi Petersen
Email Address: Send me a message on Canvas
Office Hours: By appointment (ELC 226)

Course Description
This course helps students improve their reading ability by focusing on the following: comprehension of
the text, implementation of reading strategies, acquiring new vocabulary, extensive reading, and fluency.
The texts used in this course are primarily narrative and are organized in simple paragraphs.
Course Learning Outcomes
1. Understands level-appropriate texts
1. Understands explicit main ideas.
2. Understands explicit major details.
3. Understands salient minor details.
4. Identifies author’s purpose.
5. Identifies author’s point of view.
2. Effectively implements appropriate reading strategies.
1. Previews texts for topics and main idea.
2. Scans texts for details.
3. Recognizes basic organization patterns.
4. Connects content to background knowledge.
5. Makes inferences about concrete ideas.
6. Skims texts for general main idea.
3. Acquires new vocabulary words.
1. Uses context and background knowledge to infer meaning of unfamiliar words.
2. Uses common affixes to infer meaning of unfamiliar words.
3. Recognizes high frequency general vocabulary.
4. Understands high frequency general vocabulary.
4. Reads aloud with comprehensible pronunciation.
1. Uses correct stress in words and sentences.
2. Pauses when appropriate.
3. Uses correct intonation.
4. Correctly pronounces high frequency general vocabulary words.

Required Materials
Reading Power 2, 4th edition (Pearson Education), 978-0138143886
Blue Book (purchase in 103)
Pen/pencil, paper, notebook for taking notes
Vocabulary Packet Pre-AVL List #1 (purchase in 103)
Charlotte’s Web (class set available for check-out)
Number the Stars (class set available for check-out)
Grades
Proficiency (Am I good at English?)
The proficiency grade shows how well you understand and use English.
 60% Reading tests and Book Reports
 40% Vocabulary quizzes

Citizenship (Am I a good student?)

The citizenship grade demonstrates your effort, not your knowledge. Students must maintain a citizenship
score of at least 84% in all classes to continue at the ELC. The citizenship grade is based on two things:
1. Participation (50%)
 Each student receives 5 points per day (20 per week). If you come to class on time and you
participate, you will earn 5 points. However, if you are absent and it is unexcused you lose all 5
points. You will also lose points for doing the following: arriving late, doing homework for
another class, using your cell phone, sleeping, not listening, frequently leaving class, talking
when the teacher is talking, being disrespectful towards others, and not speaking English in
class. It is expected and required that you will speak English and English only while in class!
Please do not use your phone during class because you will lose points for being on your
phone.
2. Homework (50%)
 Reading Log: You are assigned to read for 30 minutes a day on Mon-Thursday and 30 minutes
total on the weekend (Fri and Sat). You are not responsible to read on holidays. Sometimes the
teacher will assign specific things to read. If nothing specific is assigned, read something that is
interesting, easy, and enjoyable. You will receive 1 point for every ten minutes you read.
However, this is a daily assignment. That means if you read extra on one day it does NOT
transfer to other days (Friday and Saturday). Late assignments will lose 3 points for every day
they are late. Finally, if the log is incomplete, it will receive a 0 until it is completely filled out.
Due: Saturday at midnight
 Weekly Reflection: You will answer certain questions. This assignment is meant to take 5-10
minutes. This assignment is worth 3 points. It must be filled out completely. Incomplete
assignments will not receive points. Also, late assignments will not be accepted. Due: Saturday
at midnight.
 Both assignments can be found under the section entitled “Assignments” or “Files” in the
“Course Files” file on Canvas. Both assignments must be uploaded and submitted on Canvas
 You will also receive a citizenship grade for taking quizzes and tests. If you take it on time, you
will receive full points. If you take it late, you will receive a 0.

Assignments & Assessments

The following is a list of assignments and tests for the class. The dates of these activities can all be seen on
the calendar at the end of this syllabus and on Canvas.
1. Reading Logs
a. Read for 30 minutes a day during the school week (Mon-Thurs) (2 hours total)
b. Read for 30 minutes total on the weekend (Fri-Sat) (30 minutes total)
2. Reading Tests
a. There will be 6 reading tests during the semester. They will be based on material that we
cover in class. These tests will be available on Canvas from 2:35 PM on Thursday through
Saturday at 11:59 PM.
 b. If you miss a test, you will have 1 week to make it up. After a week, you will get a 0
(proficiency grade).
c. You will receive a citizenship score for taking the reading tests. If you take it on time, you
will receive full points. If you take it late, you will receive a 0 (citizenship grade).
3. Book Reports
a. We will read two outside reading books as a class. You will be asked to write up a report
about the book following the guidelines I will provide you with at a later time. These reports
should be uploaded and submitted on Canvas.
4. Vocabulary Quizzes
a. There will be 6 vocabulary quizzes during the semester. These quizzes will be available on
Canvas from 2:35 PM on Thursday through Saturday at 11:59 PM.
b. Each quiz will feature words from two lists. There will be 12 words from the two lists and
you will simply need to match the word with the definition.

Level Achievement Tests (LATs)

Level Achievement Tests (LATs) are given at the end of each semester. They are used to test your progress
in English in each skill area. If you plan to continue studying at the ELC, you must take the LATs. (from
The Student Handbook) This semester, you will take your LATs on August 10th and 11th.

Attendance Policy
Consistently attending class is a central part of learning and improving your English. When you are absent
from class, you miss important information and practice opportunities that you need to improve your
English. The US Government allows each English program to establish its own attendance policy. The
following requirements reflect the ELC’s commitment to create the right environment to help you improve
your English.

ELC students must maintain 80% attendance in each and every class at all times. As soon as your
attendance drops below 80% in any one of your four classes, you will receive a warning letter. If you have
any unexcused absences before raising your attendance back to 80%, you will be dismissed. If your
attendance drops below 80% a second time in any one of your four classes, you will be dismissed from the
ELC. Once you receive your attendance dismissal letter, you must go to Anna Bailey’s office (4056 JFSB)
immediately.

The US Government states that if a student is dismissed for violation of a school's attendance policy, then
their student visa is immediately terminated and the student will need to leave the US within two weeks. If
students want to transfer to another school, they will have to reapply to be reinstated. However, attempts
to be reinstated are rarely successful. If you are sick and unable to attend class, please provide a note from
your doctor. Within two days of returning to class, the doctor’s note must be received in the ELC office
(103 UPC). Be aware that forging a doctor’s note is a violation of the BYU Honor Code and will result in
an immediate dismissal from the ELC.

If you know that you will be absent from class for any reason other than an illness (i.e., a family wedding or
a death in the family), you should notify the ELC administration in writing and deliver your letter to UPC
103. These absences will be considered on an individual basis and may not necessarily be excused. Being
absent also results in missing class participation points that are part of your citizenship grade. Whenever
you are absent from class, please contact each of your teachers to receive information on the assignments
that you missed. Students who are ill should go to the Student Health Center (see Health Care or
http://health.byu.edu for more information).
Students who are more than 10 minutes late, miss more than 10 minutes during class, or leave more than
10 minutes early will be marked as absent. (from the Student Handbook)

Preventing Sexual Discrimination & Harassment

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is intended to eliminate sex discrimination and sexual
harassment in educational contexts. Any ELC student, teacher, staff member, or administrator who
becomes aware of sexual harassment, discrimination, or misconduct of any kind, directed toward them or
any other member of the ELC community should immediately contact Dr. James Hartshorn (801-422-
4034, james_hartshorn@byu.edu) or Dr. Norman Evans (801-422-8472, norman_evans@byu.edu). If they
are unavailable, please leave a message and then contact the Equal Employment Office (801-422-5895, 1-
888-238-1062, http://www. ethicspoint.com) or the Honor Code Office (801-422-2847). (from the
Teacher Handbook, 1.2.6)

Students with Disabilities

If you suspect or are aware that you have a disability, please contact the Student Life Coordinator (801-
422-5318). After talking with her, she will help you determine what course of action will be best for you. If
necessary, the Student life coordinator will help you communicate with your teachers and university
personnel to make sure that you receive the assistance needed.

Academic Honesty
ELC students should seek to be totally honest with others. You should complete your own work and be
evaluated based upon that work. You should avoid academic dishonesty in all its forms, including cheating,
falsification, and plagiarism. (from the ELC Student Handbook)

*This syllabus can change. It is subject to change by the teacher.