Syllabus 0102/0108 Developmental Reading Lab

Semester: Fall 2006
Course:  Reading Lab I (0102) and Reading Lab II (0108) (non-credit courses)
       
Course Description:      The developmental reading lab is taken in conjunction with Developmental Studies 0306/0307.  Lessons and exercises assigned in the lab course concentrate on vocabulary, basic reading skills and reading rate.  Some exercises may review higher level comprehension skills including inference and analytical reading skills, listening and study skills and secondary vocabulary.

Instructor:  Mrs. Wanda Mayes    Office LRC 237        Phone 903-675-6355   
E-mail  wmayes@tvcc.edu

Major Learning Outcomes:  Upon the completion of DEVL 0102 or 0108, the student will be able to demonstrate:
 1.      Competence in vocabulary skills including context clues, unfamiliar and uncommon words and phrases and figurative expressions.
 2.      Competence in understanding the main idea and supporting details including identifying stated and implied main ideas and distinguishing between major and minor details.
 3.      Competence in identifying a writer's purpose and point of view including stated or implied purpose for writing, audience, and using the content, word choice and method of development of a passage to determine purpose.
 4.      Competence in analyzing relationships among ideas including sequence, cause/effect, ideas in opposition and drawing conclusions or inferences from passages.
 5.      Competence in using critical reasoning skills including stated or implied assumptions, validity of a writer's argument, judging relevance of facts, analogies, fact/opinion and objectivity of written material.
 6.      Competence in study skills including organizing and summarizing for study purposes, following written instructions or directions and interpreting information in charts, graphs or tables.
 7.      Competence in reading comprehension and rate demonstrated by an improved reading level and an increased rate.

Placement and Completion Requirements:  The following outlines the developmental courses a student must take based on official THEA or quick-Thea scores in reading:
          Reading Test Scores                        Required Developmental Courses
          230 or over                                        None
185 – 229                                           DEVL 0307 and DEVL 0108
Below 185                                          DEVL 0306 and DEVL 0107

Students are placed in developmental courses based on initial THEA or approved alternative test scores.  Students must then complete the specified developmental course sequence or present passing THEA scores.

Advancement:  Completion of Reading I course with a grade of A, B, OR C allows the student to move to the next course.  A grade of IP (In Progress) requires the student to re-enroll for the same class the following semester.

Methods of Evaluation:  Students receive one course grade at the end of the semester.  The course grade is a combination of the lecture grade (60%) and the lab grade (40%). 

          TVCC’s grading scale is the following:
          A =  90 - 100
          B =  80 - 89
          C =  70 - 79
          D =  60 - 69         Reading I students will be given an IP (In Progress)
          F =  59 or below  Developmental students may be given an F.
         
The grade on the exam is not the only factor in determining whether a student passes or fails the course.  The final grade is assigned by the lecture instructor based on daily performance and grades.
 
Students may choose to work at their own pace and receive an "IP" (in progress).  However, students who are not attempting to complete work may receive a failing grade.

Lab Grade:  Students must spend 2 hours per week in the lab. Students will receive 1 point for every lesson completed with a score of 60 or better.   The following scale will be used for the course grade:

• A-----(90-100 passing lessons)
• B-----( 80-89 passing lessons)
• C-----( 70-79 passing lessons)
• IP/D--(60-69 passing lessons)
• F------(Students who have less than 60 lessons may be given an F)

Attendance Requirements:  Attendance requirements in developmental courses at TVCC have been established to encourage students to take advantage of the instructional opportunities provided.  Upon accumulating 9 hours of absences in a 3 hour course, 6 hours of absences in a 2 hour course, or 3 hours of absences in a 1 hour course, the instructor may withdraw the student from the course.  If the student is in the course based on THEA requirements and if this is the only developmental course in which the student is enrolled, the student will be withdrawn from the college by the appropriate administrative officer. 

Students will be withdrawn from developmental classes for non-attendance until the official drop date specified in the college catalog.  After this date, the student will receive the grade earned in the course.

Absences are counted from the day the student is enrolled. Students may be allowed to makeup three lab absences if documentation can be provided for a valid reason for the absence. If you arrive late, you may be counted absent.  It is the student's responsibility to keep track of the number of absences accumulated.

Early Exit:  Students who present passing THEA scores in any skills area during the semester may exit the corresponding course with the grade earned to that point in the semester, may continue the course to completion, or may choose to exit the course with a grade of IP.

Withdrawal:  Students enrolled in developmental studies classes because of pre-THEA or certified THEA scores will not be allowed to drop developmental courses unless withdrawing from school.  However excessive absences in developmental classes may result in withdrawal from school.  The last day to drop a course this semester is November 17.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT NO TRANSFER OR GRADUATION CREDIT IS GIVEN FOR ANY DEVELOPMENTAL COURSE IN ANY STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

PLEASE TURN CELL PHONES OFF DURING CLASS.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING CHILDREN OR VISITORS TO CLASS.

Student Discipline:
It is important that the learning environment for developmental students be as positive as possible and free from distracting and disruptive influences.  Instructors should not tolerate disruptive and disrespectful behavior in their classes.  In most instances, warning a student about inappropriate behavior will be sufficient to solve the problem.  However, should a student’s behavior warrant being expelled from a class, the following procedures should be followed:

• The instructor should request that the student leave the class.  Should the student refuse to comply with this request, the instructor may contact security and have the student removed.

• The instructor should inform the student that he/she must arrange a conference with the faculty member and the appropriate division chairperson and/or dean in order to be readmitted to the class.  The student should be counted absent on the day he/she is expelled from class, and absences will continue to accumulate until reinstatement occurs.  Whether these absences will be used to withdraw the student from college will be determined on an individual basis.
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• The instructor should submit a written statement describing the incident to the appropriate division chairperson and/or dean.  This statement will be read and discussed with the student in the conference.
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• If the instructor agrees to readmit the student, a “Notice of Concern” will be prepared which the student will sign.  This notice will inform the student that he/she will be permanently removed from the class should another incident occur. This would also mean the student would probably be withdrawn from the college.
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• If the instructor is not willing for the student to be readmitted to the class, the matter will be referred to the Vice President for Student Services with a request that the matter be submitted to the Discipline Committee.