This unit is designed for students who are in high school. The unit will contain ideas that are high interest and age appropriate. Students placed in this class have tested at 6th grade and below on the TAP test. While the reading material is not complex, the discussions are aimed at students who are sophisticated through experience. Students who can learn best from listening and discussing will benefit. Students in this class usually have short attention spans and prefer instant gratification. The classes must move quickly. Immediate feedback and response to each student is necessary. These classes contain fifteen students. I challenge these students to think with higher level thinking skills and to feel comfortable with ambiguity.
I have taken seriously the challenge of the standardized tests that students must take at the end of the sophomore year. The unit addresses a variety of learning styles. The Connecticut Academic Performance Test has now added the reading supplemental test that looks for the best and most relevant answers to the text they introduce. The challenge is to these students not to answer quickly but concentrate and engage long enough to give a careful response. The CAPT also requires the student to communicate through open ended response. The CAPT and TAP require the students to have a grasp of general knowledge as well to as analyzes literature.