Parent / Student
Course Information
ENGLISH
EFFECTIVE READING SKILLS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Counselors are available to assist parents and students with course selections and career planning. Parents may arrange to meet
with the counselor by calling the school's guidance department.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students are recommended for placement in this course based on multiple criteria which include results from prior
Standards of Learning and other standardized testing. Students will receive instruction in the use of word
recognition and context to build vocabulary; conventions of print and non-print to increase understanding and
comprehension of text; strategic reading to increase comprehension and enhance learning and retention; and writing
in response to text. Nonfiction selections will be used extensively to assist students in building success in reading
content-area textbooks. Independent reading will be incorporated into the class to build fluency, expand vocabulary,
provide practice, and increase the enjoyment of reading. Students may enroll for a second semester unless results
from mid-year assessments indicate that the student is ready to exit the program.
PREREQUISITE
None
OPTIONS FOR NEXT COURSE
None
REQUIRED STUDENT TEXTBOOK
None
THE OBJECTIVES FOR THE COURSE FOLLOW.
RS 9.1 The student will develop an awareness of the conventions of print and non-print text.
RS 9.1.1 Develop awareness that print and non-print text carry meaning.
RS 9.1.2 Analyze text features or structural elements (i.e., paragraph structure, section and chapter
titles, headings, sub-headings, annotations, font changes, appendices, etc.) to gain meaning
from textbooks.
RS 9.1.3 Interpret visual graphics effectively including graphs, charts, cartoons, tables, diagrams,
illustrations, etc.
RS 9.1.4 Analyze content area texts using different study systems (i.e., SQ3R, SQRC, QAR, PLAN).
RS 9.1.5 Learn and apply study skills including note taking, memory development, time management,
etc.
RS 9.1.6 Explore and determine the usefulness of print and non-print reference sources.
RS 9.1.7 Learn terms appropriate for Internet searches.
RS 9.1.8 Locate and evaluate information on the Internet.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools  Department of Curriculum and Instruction
CIS-0002 (Revised 8-12)
RS 9.2 The student will develop appropriate word recognition skills (i.e., decoding, recognizing prefixes,
suffixes, and root words, recognizing words by sight, and using context to lead to word recognition)
to increase personal vocabulary.
RS 9.2.1 Use the letter-sound code to pronounce unknown words.
RS 9.2.2 Learn and use specific roots and affixes to increase word recognition and meaning.
RS 9.2.3 Develop and expand a personal list of sight words.
RS 9.2.4 Learn, recognize, and use context clues including definition/explanation clues,
restatement/synonym clues, contrast/antonym clues, and gist clues.
RS 9.2.5 Use a dictionary to confirm the meanings of words.
RS 9.3 The student will develop and apply advanced reading strategies to increase comprehension and
enhance learning and retention.
RS 9.3.1 Set the purpose for reading and adjust reading rate.
RS 9.3.2 Use pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading strategies to develop comprehension.
RS 9.3.3 Learn and apply the strategies independent readers employ successfully when reading
expository and narrative text: clarifying, comparing and contrasting, connecting to prior
experience, inferencing, predicting, questioning the text, recognizing author’s purpose, seeing
causal relationships, summarizing, and visualizing, etc.
RS 9.4 The student will respond to text through writing and discussion to express opinions, ideas, and
literary criticism that deepen understanding.
RS 9.4.1 Write for him/herself (i.e., personal response logs, diaries).
RS 9.4.2 Write in response to others (i.e., notes to a trusted friend, online discussions).
RS 9.4.3 Write for an unknown audience (i.e., teacher, critic).
RS 9.4.4 Adapt to a variety of roles appropriate to a literary discussion.
RS 9.4.5 Participate in discussions in response to text.
RS 9.4.6 Generate questions pertinent to text for use in writing and discussion.
RS 9.5 Read independently for enjoyment and information.
RS 9.5.1 Choose from a variety of leveled texts for independent reading.
RS 9.5.2 Participate in sustained silent reading.
RS 9.5.3 Attend, participate, and prepare book talks or other presentations.
RS 9.5.4 Analyze and evaluate information found in newspapers, magazines, and journals.
RS 9.5.5 Read to increase reading rate and accuracy.
Mission Statement
The Virginia Beach City Public Schools, in partnership with the entire community, will empower every student to become
a life-long learner who is a responsible, productive and engaged citizen within the global community.
Dr. James G. Merrill, Superintendent
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
2512 George Mason Drive • P. O. Box 6038 • Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456-0038
Virginia Beach City Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs
and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. School Board policies and supporting
regulation (Policies 2-33, 4-4, 5-7, and 6-7 and Regulation 5-44.1) provide equal access to courses, programs, counseling services,
physical education and athletics, vocational education, instructional materials, and extracurricular activities.
The following staff are designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Director of Guidance Services at (757) 263-1980 or to the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at (757) 263-1133.
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm
for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.
Alternative formats of this publication which may include taped, Braille, or large print materials are available upon request for
individuals with disabilities. Call or write The Department of Curriculum and Instruction,
Virginia Beach City Public Schools, 2512 George Mason Drive, P.O. Box 6038, Virginia Beach, VA 23456-0038.
Telephone (757) 263-1070 or (757) 263-1429; fax (757) 263-1424; TDD (757) 263-1240
Visit our website at vbschools.com your virtual link to Hampton Roads’ largest school system
No part of this publication may be produced or shared in any form without giving specific credit to Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
CIE-0005 (Revised 8/12)