A VERY UNCIVIL WAR

Famous People & Events in the War Between the States

Mrs. McAskill - Memorial Middle School - Beverly, MA

A Skill-Based Reading Anthology Series
Perfection Learning

OVERVIEW

This anthology is a compilation of selections surrounding the American Civil War. The 12 selections, running between 800 and 1700 words in length, are written at the 3^rd-7^th grade reading level, and are organized thematically into three units.

OBJECTIVES AND DIFFERENTIATION:

The anthology will be used in a way that differentiates by interest and readiness.
Each student will be allowed to choose 6 of the 12 selections that are closest to his/her own reading level. (The students will not know the reading level.) Some may choose more than 6 for ãextra creditä.

The questions and activities following each selection are similar in format and wording to those students encounter on national and state tests. The questions cover skills from simple recall to higher-level skills like inferences and generalizations, as well as open-ended response. Students will be assigned those exercises that best meet each of their needs.

Because the Civil War is a major unit in the 8^th-grade history curriculum, using this anthology in early Spring will help give those students who take Reading an expanded knowledge base to enhance their comprehension in History class, as well as improve their reading skills.

PROCEDURE:

Using standardized test scores from last year and this past September, coupled with observations and classroom performance, appropriate selection choices from the anthology will be offered to the students. They will be instructed to ãRead and Thinkä each selection as carefully as possible so as to glean as much understanding from the article as possible.

They will then each be give a guide sheet that will direct them to the appropriate questions and activities following each article.

The intent is to provide each student with an article he/she finds interesting, to provide reading that is close to his/her current reading level and to provide the students with activities that will further strengthen each of their weakest skill areas.