Lit Lab incorporates reading, writing, and peer support to improve academic performance. Lit Lab - Secondary incorporates slightly more advanced vocabulary and reading materials geared towards upper grades, as well as more complex writing tasks. Students may need to be pre-screened to ensure appropriate placement.
Reading:
The reading component of this course utilizes the Voyager Sopris REWARDS Curriculum, a structured, research-based intervention designed to improve reading skills and comprehension. The REWARDS program provides a structured, systematic approach to decoding that breaks down complex words into manageable parts, addressing the common challenges in word recognition and fluency. Key skills addressed include:
- direct and systematic instruction in decoding complex words, including syllabification methods;
- improving academic vocabulary using morphology;
- fluency development through practice and repetition;
- text-based comprehension strategies.
Writing:
Using explicit and systematic instruction, The Writing Revolution’s Hochman Method helps build foundational writing skills while also improving critical thinking. Through interactive exercises and peer collaborations, students will practice sentence expansion, revision, and real-time feedback to reinforce grammar and syntax skills, making writing tasks more manageable and accessible. Key components include:
- sentence construction to improve grammar, syntax, and clarity;
- note-taking stragegies;
- planning, outlining, and ordering skills;
- paragraph composition;
- analysis and short-essay writing (Secondary only).
Peer Support:
Students are given dedicated time to engage in guided discussions centered around their unique strengths and challenges, and will have the opportunity to collaborate on effective strategies for learning. These conversations foster self-advocacy, build confidence, and promote understanding through shared experiences and practical approaches to success.
