The new FOCUS Reading module of CARS & STARS Online centres on brief instruction and concentrated practice with targeted reading strategies that will aid readers who need additional practice. The selections in the series span curriculum content areas and each student module contains 48 selections for students to practise a specific reading strategy. These selections are followed by comprehension questions that require students to apply their focused reading strategy. FOCUS Reading is supported by current research regarding the reading instruction of English-language readers and struggling readers.
The FOCUS Reading module is designed to provide reinforcement in the six key reading strategies for on-level readers, and targeted intervention for struggling readers and English-language learners. This reading-strategy module provides practice for students who are reading at reading levels from 1.0 to 8.9.
It can be used in high-school classes as a complementary program to provide additional practice or reinforcement in the key reading strategies, whether your students are already using the CARS & STARS module or not.
If your students are already using the CARS & STARS module then classroom teachers are able to assign the same CARS & STARS level for FOCUS Reading, after students have completed their Pretests, to provide concentrated practice and reinforce essential reading strategies.
A FOCUS Reading subscription is also useful for students who have completed instruction in the highest currently available level of CARS & STARS Online, Level H, but who may require further practice or useful reinforcement.
FOCUS Reading can also be used as a stand-alone program, where you can start using it immediately by manually assigning the appropriate FOCUS Reading level for your students according to their year or class.
Each FOCUS lesson contains one reading passage, four strategy-based selected-response questions and one strategy-based constructed-response writing question. Passage Genres are both fiction and nonfiction and include personal narrative; realistic fiction; folktale; fable; legend; article; letter; book report; journal entry; biography; textbook lesson; and instructions.
The six “key” reading strategies covered are those in which students often require the most practice: Understanding Main Ideas & Details; Understanding Sequence; Recognising Cause & Effect; Comparing & Contrasting; Making Predictions; and Drawing Conclusions & Making Inferences
If you are interested in learning more about the CARS & STARS Online subscriptions and how they can help children to achieve better results, then sign up for a free trial to be an integral part of your child’s reading success.
