ZAP Class High School

LiteracyTA's ZAP elective offers the perfect balance of skill-based instruction and character education. Students at all levels need academic support to reach their specific goals, and since all students are growing and developing as people, they also benefit from character lessons that teach strength, independence, and positivity.

Here are some of the highlights of the ZAP class.

• College and Career Readiness-aligned literacy curriculum.
• Literacy skills activities that guide students as they learn and master reading, speaking, and writing skills.
• Practical student materials for reading, speaking, and writing about texts.
• Character curriculum that teaches students how to be resilient, adaptable, gritty, solution oriented, and forward thinking.
• Team building activities with debrief questions to teach thoughtful reflection.
• Study Skills
  • Practical processes for reading and writing.
  • Habits of Mind reading and writing skill tutorials.
  • Skills for analyzing performance task prompts.
  • Skills for analyzing multiple-choice questions.
  • Approaches to note taking that help students identify and organize essential ideas during lecture and reading tasks.

Data/Results Driven curriculum: Student Growth Model

• ZAP Coaches use skill rubrics to assess student performance.
• ZAP Coaches use skill performance rubrics and other school-wide measurements to drive curricular decisions.
• Students use Success Trackers adapted from Marzano’s student growth model to track their progress.

Technology

• Online lessons that can be accessed in class, at home, and on the go on any device.
• Online study groups with Google+ Hangout.
• Mobile device friendly student materials, mini-lessons, and curriculum that support one-to-one/BYOD initiatives.
• Student-centered, project based learning with Google Apps.
• Activities and assignments that leverage technology to enhance and improve public speaking.

Implementation 
ZAP--Zero in on Attitude and Performance--is an elective class that is offered as part of the regular school day. The ZAP elective is used as a success course grades 9-10, as a Pre-AP class grades 10-11, and as a college preparation course for seniors. Additionally, schools may elect to use the ZAP elective as part of an after school program, giving much needed structure and purpose to these types of programs.

The following presentation provides additional information about the ZAP elective. Share this with your department, grade level and administrative teams.

Presentation

Teachers Enjoy

• Easy Implementation
  • Teachers gain access to the award winning online TA (Teacher Assistant). Teachers can use the online TA to access and build CCR-aligned lessons, differentiate instruction, develop project based/student centered lessons, and share skills and lessons with their students long after the school day is over.
  • Each ZAP class comes with twelve engaging lesson plans (and access to hundreds more) that follow Marzano and Danielson’s frameworks for effective instruction.
  • Lesson plans and skill mini-lessons--all part of the TA membership--connect teachers to language supports, practical student handouts, and skill rubrics to assess students’ growth.
  • The online lesson plans work seamlessly with the Literacy Skills Activity Books, giving teachers visual support for each lesson.
  • Although a certain level of autonomy exists in the ZAP class, the CCR-aligned curriculum provides a clear structure and direction for the teacher.