George C Marshall High School - Columbian Yearbook (Falls Church, VA)

Page 82 text:

Confused by the features of a centra! idea. Sophomore Buck Payne is straightened out by Mr. Eldridge Dinky Jones, the reading lab aide. Mr. Jones himself is a classic example of the value of the Reading Lab. As a Marshall student, Mr. Jones chose to take the reading course, which wasn't required then. Mrs. Margaret Hamilton taught him, and now he is back, teaching with his former teacher a course he had trouble with in high school. Sophomores discuss the features of a central idea under the group guidance of Mrs. Margaret Hamilton. Reading specialist Mrs. Margaret Hamilton advises Cindy Guyton on which book to select from the Reading Lab's paperback collection. Uninterrupted by classroom annoyances, Marvin VVimmer gives his total concentration to an individual assignment. 72 Reading Lab

Page 81 text:

Take a break Clowning around in the math lounge, Mr. Studying is ignored by Kenny Brown, Gene Mark Peterson catches Mr. Jeff Ring raiding Nelson, Brian Zimmer, Darryl Parrish, and the refrigerator and tries to decapitate him. Russel Gates. Instead, they engage in their favorite study hall activity, talking. Ditto machines are constantly in use in the teachers' lounges. In the science lounge, Mr. Kent Logan runs off some worksheets. Her math homework is completed, and Michelle McGraw is free to enjoy a novel during her study hall period. Study Halls— Teachers's Lounges 71

Page 83 text:

Readin Problems can sometimes be too difficult to handle alone. Paul Rygiel seeks assistance from Mr. Jack Hurley. Mr. Hurley is one of the three English teachers working at the Reading Lab. The other two are Mrs. Rosalie Stewart and Ms. Bonnie Schaffer. Choices seem infinite as Mary Carroll scans through a collection of assorted stories, trying to select an interesting one. basics bound together Despite the nation-wide emphasis on learning, illiteracy is still a disturbing problem in the United States. Some students have been allowed to graduate from high school without even gaining basic skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Concern about this lack of education was evident in the recent Fairfax County School Board decision on literacy. The Class of '77 escaped the ruling, but starting in 1978, a student will have to pass an eighth-grade level proficiency exam in order to graduate from high school. Fortunately, at Marshall, the Reading Laboratory was offered to help students develop reading skills. Ninth and tenth-graders were placed in the class by a diagnostic test. The course was designed to replace regular English instruction for one quarter. Word attack and comprehension were emphasized to Freshmen. This involved understanding context clues, word structure, sentence meaning, and main ideas and supporting facts. For Sophomores, comprehension and interpretation of ideas were emphasized. This entailed making judgments and appreciating imagery. Time was also spent in sustained reading exercises. The reading specialist, three English teachers, and one reading aide worked together as a team to give individual attention to each student. Energy and effort were put into teaching the basic skills of reading, so students could have a better chance in a world where education is necessary to succeed. Reading Lab 73