Full course description
Course Description
Reading 1B is the second semester in a two-semester series designed to enhance students' vocabulary, improve their reading and communication skills, and encourage exploration of literary genres and their connection to society. In Reading 1B, students will acquire a wide range of skills to expand their vocabulary and advance their organization and communication skills. The course will focus on developing essential reading skills such as analyzing text structures and building reading stamina. Students will learn to identify word parts to create meaning, organize information for communication, analyze and use graphs, tables and charts, and begin to make connections between literature and society and themselves. They will also explore a variety of literary genres in order to garner a lasting love for reading.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
UTHS courses are designed in alignment to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) which define the skills and content to be taught in each course and grade level in the state of Texas.
Semester Topics
- Unit 4: Vocabulary
- Unit 5: Informational Texts
- Unit 6: Literary Circles--Nonfiction
Course Objectives
Upon completing this course, you will be able to—
- utilize their knowledge of root words and word origins to make informed predictions about word meanings and infer the meaning of unfamiliar words encountered in their reading;
- utilize their knowledge of affixes to make informed predictions about word meanings and infer the meaning of unfamiliar words encountered in their reading;
- analyze word relationships and use various strategies such as context clues, identifying synonyms and antonyms and analogies to accurately determine the meanings of unfamiliar words;
- Students will identify, analyze and understand how text structures such as the use of sequence, description, compare/contrast, cause/effect and problem/solution in informational text contribute to the overall organization and clarity of the information presented.
- Students will identify, analyze and understand how text structures such as the use of sequence, description, compare/contrast, cause/effect and problem/solution in informational text contribute to the overall organization and clarity of the information presented.
- Students will engage in active reading and analyze and interpret texts to derive insights about oneself, others, or the world and make connections between personal experiences and the information presented in the texts.
- Students will recognize the importance of adjusting reading rate based on the purpose and demands of the text to help build stamina for silent sustained reading.
- Students will explore different genres, authors and styles to discover reading preferences to help develop a positive attitude towards reading.
Required Course Materials
Please visit the Computer Requirements page to view minimum device, internet, and application requirements for all UT High School courses. Generally, a desktop or laptop device five (5) years or newer with access to an office suite, such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, will be adequate to participate in most UTHS courses.
Unless otherwise noted, students are responsible for purchasing or securing all the following course materials:
- Textbook (eBook Included): Textbook (# ed.) by Author
- Textbook (Free Resource): Mirrors & Windows: Connecting with Literature – American Tradition (Grade 11), edited by Brenda Owens
- Textbook: Textbook (# ed.) by Author //update hyperlinked title to publisher site//
- Publisher: Carnegie Learning Inc., 2021
- ISBN#: 978-1-53383-668-7
- Novel(s)
- Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatuski Houston
- The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
- Interactive Notebook: A paper or digital composition book is acceptable. For paper composition books, please alos have the following items on hand:
- Pens or Pencils
- Tape or Glue
Course Organization
Students must complete the course in sequence: You will not be able to access the next unit until all work in the preceding unit is completed. You may take your final exam only after completing all units and submitting all graded assignments.
- Units: Each unit includes multiple lessons and graded assignments as well as ungraded practice quizzes to help you check your understanding of the material.
- Summative Assessments: Each course includes two online, virtually proctored summative assessments testing your understanding of the material presented in the preceding 2-3 Units.
- Format: Online, Multiple-choice
- Time Allowed: 1 hr 30 min
- Final Exam: Each course includes an online, virtually proctored final exam testing your knowledge of all material presented in the course.
- Format: Online, Multiple-choice
- Time Allowed: 3 hrs 20 min
Course Grade Weighting
Your final course grade is calculated by weighting the three assignment groups displayed in the table below:
| Assignment Group | Total Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Graded Assignments | 9 | 50% |
| Summative Assessments | 2 | 25% |
| Final Exam | 1 | 25% |
Online Proctored Exams
All course exams, including both summative assessments and the final exam, must be completed online. Students must test online with Proctorio and are required to add the Proctorio extension to either their Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browser—installation instructions are provided in the student's course. Proctorio uses a student's computer, web camera, and microphone to record video of both the student and their desktop during the exam. Then, UTHS instructors review the student's exam video data collected by Proctorio. Only authorized UTHS staff and instructors can view the exam recordings. Student data is not shared with any persons or organizations outside of UTHS and are deleted after one year. We encourage you to visit Proctorio's Data Security and Privacy site pages to learn more about how we protect student date.