Reading Lab

Ms. Murungi~Period 5

It’s great seeing you!

About Me

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This is my 14th year of teaching, 7th year with DJUSD, and 3rd year at Da Vinci!

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I enjoy working enjoy working with young people because the transition years play a big role in post secondary success.

I hold a BA & have a Master of Science in Education from Kansas State University.

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Earned an Education Specialist teaching credential & English Learner certificate from California State University, Sacramento

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About me

I love to travel

I love visiting fun places!

I love getting to know people and enjoy going places with my two teenage daughters, husband and fur daughter!

I love hiking, being in nature and playing badminton

Contact Info:

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rmurungi@djusd.net

Reading Lab Curriculum

Individualized weekly plans

I believe that students should have the opportunity to receive increasingly challenging work streamlined to support growth in their reading goal.

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• Weekly word work & Wednesday workshops
• Sustained Silent Reading
• Prescriptive lesson plans
• Individualized work
• Passage reading
• Reading Circles

Connection to Reading assignments in core academic classes

Planning & Time Management

Assignment Tracking

Self-Advocacy/working with support or independently

Quarters 1.2 3 & 4

Reading Goal Planning

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• Goal Tracking
• Student choice book SSR
• Class reads for Circle time
• Lessons to support reading accuracy, decoding, fluency e.t.c

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Class Books 2024-25

Weekly Routines

• Mondays/Tuesdays:
• Word work Mini-lessons
• Individualized work
• Work time
• Wednesday

Workshop (Lessons, Group work, activities):

• Work time: 1:1 check-ins
• Fridays:
• Weekend To-Do; wrap up!

Friday agenda sample

Grading

Curricular Literacy: 40%

Learning Mindset: 30%

Professionalism: 30%

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Weekly Assignments

What is the Reading Lab ?

• Course Description: This reading lab is designed to provide specialized individualized support and strategies for students with disabilities to improve their reading skills. The course aims to create a comfortable and inclusive environment where students can develop essential reading comprehension, fluency, and critical thinking skills. Through personalized instruction and a variety of adaptive techniques, students will enhance their ability to access, understand, and engage with a range of written materials.
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Course Objectives: By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate improved reading comprehension skills by effectively summarizing, analyzing, and interpreting various types of texts.
2. Increase capacity to utilize adaptive reading strategies and assistive technologies to enhance reading fluency and engagement.
3. Apply critical thinking skills to evaluate and discuss the content, context, and implications of different reading materials.
4. Identify individual strengths and challenges in reading, and develop strategies to address specific disabilities or difficulties.
5. Build vocabulary and word recognition skills to support overall reading comprehension and communication.
6. Develop self-advocacy skills and confidence in seeking accommodations and support for reading-related tasks.

Course Schedule:

Week 1-2: Understanding Reading Profiles and Individualized Goals

• Introduction to the course, instructor, and classmates.
• Overview of different disabilities that affect reading (dyslexia, ADHD, visual impairments, etc.).
• Self-assessment of reading strengths and challenges.
• Setting personalized reading goals for the course.

Week 3-4: Building Reading Fluency and Vocabulary

• Exploring techniques to improve reading speed and accuracy.
• Vocabulary-building activities and strategies.
• Introduction to audiobooks and text-to-speech tools.
• Practicing reading aloud and improving pronunciation.

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Week 5-6 : Self-Advocacy and Support

• Navigating accommodations and resources for reading-related tasks.
• Building confidence in seeking help and advocating for individual needs.
• Developing study routines and time management strategies.
• Reflecting on progress and setting future reading goals.

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Week 7-8: Enhancing Reading Comprehension

• Strategies for active reading and annotation.
• Summarizing and paraphrasing texts.
• Identifying main ideas, supporting details, and text structures.
• Graphic organizers and visual aids to aid comprehension.

Week 9-10: Adaptive Reading Techniques

• Assistive technologies (screen readers, speech recognition software, etc.).
• Customizing digital reading experiences for different reading challenges.
• Collaborative reading tools and strategies.

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Included in Every Weeks Lessons: Critical Thinking and Analysis

• Engaging with diverse genres and types of texts.
• Developing critical analysis skills (identifying bias, evaluating sources, etc.).
• Discussing themes, author's intent, and cultural context.
• Formulating and presenting personal viewpoints based on readings.

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Assessment:

• Weekly reading response journals reflecting on strategies used, challenges faced, and progress made.
• Participation in group discussions and collaborative activities.
• Individual reading projects demonstrating fluency, comprehension and analysis.
• Self-assessment and reflection on personal growth and skill development.

Grading: Grading will be based on a combination of participation, completion of assignments, reading projects, and overall progress demonstrated throughout the course.

Learning mindset is an important part of the class.

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Weight of SLOs

Curricular Literacy

Learning Mindset

Professionalism

30%

40%

30%

Important Resources:

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Questions? Comments?

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Thank you!

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Email: rmurungi@djusd.net

Text:530-759-2191 Ext 216