In September of this year, the M-level classes in the International Department starting using their new textbook, myView Literacy. We had been using Reading Street for quite a long time, so this was a major change in our curriculum. This article will explain some of the new features in myView that will help our students achieve new levels of success.

★ New Systems

The biggest feature that makes myView different to Reading Street is the in-book writing exercises. These pages help students comprehend the stories they read, and give them structure to practice comprehension skills. But they also serve as a way for teachers to host class discussions. Completing the pages in class is a great chance for collaboration and sharing. In this way, myView gives students many opportunities to write and speak English in class.

The other major feature in myView is the “Close Read” sections. These are in the margins of most pages. To complete a “Close Read,” students need to find important information in the text and then either highlight or underline it. By doing this, students re-read the text several times and discuss it with classmates. Therefore, they come to understand and remember the most important details.

Students take the ideas they discussed and wrote about in the in-book exercises and use them to complete their homework. In grades 1, 2, and 3, they have workbooks. In grades 4, 5, and 6, students complete online Google Forms. The questions in both of these kinds of homework are very similar to the questions in myView, so there is a strong connection between the work students do in class and their homework.

★ Appealing to Different Types of Learners

Although we have only been using the new textbook for a few weeks, there have been noticeable changes to our students’ study habits and participation in English class. myView provides more structure to daily activities and discussions. Overall, our students are enjoying more chances to exercise the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

★ Future Success

Many parents are wondering how they can help their children at home. The answer to this question is simple. They do not need to complete in-book workshop pages, since these are done in class. Instead, parents can ask their child to read their main readings aloud, and to explain the main points. Parents can also help check their “Close Read” notes. Students may be eager to show off their work and to talk about the discussions they had with classmates.

The International Department would like to thank all the parents for their help as we transition into a new way of learning. We are excited to see how our students flourish by practicing new comprehension skills and study methods. It is an exciting time!