|
|
|
The Companion to The Little Book On Line
for Teachers and Tutors |
Introduction
The Little Book was the product of a search for a good glossary to help prepare John Hay High School students pass the citizenship portion of Ohio's Proficiency Test. Tutors from the Church of the Covenant of Cleveland wanted a concise, practical and inexpensive resource for their students and they decided to create their own. Under the direction of one Covenant tutor, the project moved forward. The group enlisted the assistance of a retired attorney, and Allan Keller, the Chairman of the John Hay Social Studies Department.
The Little Book has been revised and is in its third edition. It is a great reference book, but has no lessons or questions to assist with instruction. A Covenant tutor suggested the need for a resource guide. The result was the first edition of The Companion. The first edition contained information about additional resources and a series of multiple choice questions to be used as vocabulary drills. This second edition of The Companion contains all that was in the first edition plus the addition of a series of lessons to be used in conjunction with The Little Book.
The second edition of The Companion has three sections. Section I lists three additional resources which can be used. Topics from the Table of Contents are matched with chapters, sections, and/or pages in those resources.
Section II provides a series of multiple choice questions tailored to each topic and its list of related words. These questions and answers, designed to challenge memory and comprehension skills, are used as spring boards for discussion. They can also be used to teach test-taking skills. The questions were developed by a Covenant tutor and a retired attorney.
Section III is a series of lessons organized into 17 units. Each unit is tied to one or more of the topics under Important Things To Remember in The Little Book. These lessons were developed and field-tested in proficiency review classes by Allan Keller.
The Proficiency Test is first and foremost a reading test. Vocabulary and basic facts must be mastered. Secondly, students must apply and recognize applications of that information. Those who master The Little Book will be well prepared. We believe that The Companion will help teachers and tutors help their students master The Little Book and, ultimately, the citizenship portion of Ohio's Proficiency Test.
Best of luck!
Allan Keller
