Lesson 2 – Reading Fluency (RF) & Extensive Reading (ER)

RF
We began with Reading Fluency (RF) practice. Each time you will read a passage for speed and mark your results. You should see your time drop over the term.

RF Log

Follow the steps to set up your Reading Fluency (RF) Log:

We will use Google Sheets (spreadsheet) to keep track of our progress in extensive writing (EWr). This makes it easy me to follow your progress. It also makes it easy for you to see your own progress. You can generate a line graph from the spreadsheet.

Follow the steps:

1. Sign in / log in to Google Drive with your Rikkyo email address.
2. Click on NEW.
3. Choose GOOGLE SHEETS. 
4. In the top left box, give your spreadsheet the title: full name + RW2 + RF Log (e.g., Taro Suzuki RW2 RF Log)
5. In the top right corner, click on SHARE.
6. Share it with me. Use my Rikkyo email address.
7. In the A column, write the date of your first RF reading.
8. In the B column, write the time of your first RF reading.
9. In the C column, write the number of correct answers.
10. Repeat for each time.

Enter in your RF score every week.


Quizlet

We practiced vocabulary using Quizlet.


EWr
We will try Extensive Writing (EWr) next week. This is a way to improve our writing fluency.


EWr Log
We will use Google Sheets (spreadsheet) to keep track of our progress in extensive writing (EWr). This makes it easy me to follow your progress. It also makes it easy for you to see your own progress. You can generate a line graph from the spreadsheet.

Follow the steps:

1. Sign in / log in to Google Drive.
2. Click on NEW.
3. Choose GOOGLE SHEETS. 
4. In the top left box, give your spreadsheet the title: full name + RW2 + EWr Log (e.g., Taro Suzuki RW2 EWr Log)
5. In the top right corner, click on SHARE.

We will begin to use this log next week.

Due 10/4 23:59.

Next Week

We will begin practicing writing for fluency. Bring your B5 notebook (see the Lesson 01 post) to class.

Bring your graded reader.

Bring a computer.

Extensive Reading (ER)
We registered for M Reader. You must take and pass quizzes to get credit for your reading.

M Reader Log In

Use the code: lwOPm0Gj (copy & paste)
For your username, write GTB-your first name (eg., GTB-Taro)

To log in, you must time rikkyo- before your username (eg., 

Some information about M Reader:

• Be sure that the quiz you choose in M Reader is for the version from the same publisher as the version you read.
• You must get 6/10 to pass quiz.
• You cannot take the quiz again for that book if you fail (unless you ask me)
• You can only take one quiz every 96 hours (4 days), so don't wait until the last week to begin taking quizzes.

Video – Tom Sawyer by Rush

As I told you in my self-introduction, the Canadian rock trio, Rush, is my favorite band. Geddy Lee, the bass player, is also the singer and keyboardist; Alex Lifeson is the guitar player; Neil Peart is the drummer and lyricist (writer of the words).

Rush's best-known song is Tom Sawyer. Tom Sawyer is the name of a famous character is American literature. Mark Twain wrote a few novels with Tom as a character who observes human nature. Tom was a boy and had a friend named Huckleberry (Huck) Finn. Huck had his own novel in which he made a raft (small flat boat) and traveled down the Mississippi River with an escaped slave.

In the introduction part of the video there is an animation with characters from South Park (a popular TV show). The characters have their own rock group called Lil' Rush. They start to play Tom Sawyer, but stop to have an argument. It's because the singer confuses Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

In this song, Peart (the writer) thinks of himself as a "modern-day Tom Sawyer". So, this song is really about himself. I have included the lyrics (words) below the video if you would like to read them. Enjoy!






Tom Sawyer
Words: Peart    Music: Lee & Lifeson

A modern day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride

Though his mind is not for rent
Don't put him down as arrogant
He reserves the quiet defense
Riding out the day's events
The river

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the mist, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his skies are wide

Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the space he invades
He gets by on you

No, his mind is not for rent
To any God or government
Always hopeful yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the witness, catch the wit
Catch the spirit, catch the spit

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide

Exit the warrior
Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets by on you
And the energy you trade
He gets right on to the friction of the day

Lesson 1 – Orientation

Introductions
In our first lesson, I introduced myself with a slide presentation. You also introduced yourselves by filling in a form online.

Quizlet

Vocabulary is perhaps the most important part of learning a language. We will use the flashcard website/app called Quizlet to help us study. Click on the link below to join our class.

Quizlet Class Join Link

Download the Quizlet app from your smartphone's app store and log in using the same username and password you used today.

Next week I will tell you how to choose the right level on Quizlet.


Vocabulary Levels Test
These tests will help me to know more about your vocabulary. They will also help you to learn about your own level.


Orientation
We also looked at the syllabus for this semester.

I am looking forward to our classes together this Fall!

Next Week

1. Buy and bring a B5 Notebook (not spiral).
2. Write your full name in English on the front
3. Write "Reading & Writing 2" under your name
4. Write "Daniel Beck" below that.
5. Bring a graded reader to class.
6. Bring a computer to class.