AIMS stands for Alternative Instructional Management System. It is an individualized, competency-based program for basic skills. This guide applies to the reading program of AIMS. It will be your lab work for your reading class whether it be English 009ESL, ENG 20R, ENG 021, or ENG 051. Its major purpose is to assist you in improving your reading skills.
Individualized means that each student is placed at a particular level of reading skill and works through the materials at his or her own pace. Some people are fast workers; some are slow. The AIMS reading program allows you to work at your own pace.
Competency-based means that you must pass tests to move from unit to unit and level to level. The usual expectation is 80% accuracy. When you begin a particular unit, you are given a test over the unit. If you score 80% or above, you are said to have passed that unit. If you score below 80% on a unit pre-test, you then must do some assignments which will help you learn the material in that unit. When you have completed and corrected those assignments, you are to take another form of the unit test. If you score 80% or above, you then pass to the next unit. You may take the tests of a particular unit as often as you need to in order to pass that unit. If you have trouble passing a unit on a second try, you will be given special assistance by your teacher or a lab tutor.
The AIMS reading program has 13 levels lettered A through M. There are from two to seven units per level. The units cover major skill areas in reading such as vocabulary, main idea, supporting details, map and graph reading, and critical reading. The unit tests help identify your reading strengths and weaknesses. The lesson assignments help alleviate those weaknesses.
1. Unit Tests
Each of the AIMS reading units has a test which covers the skills of the unit. If the unit skill is vocabulary, for example, the test will cover the sub-skills of vocabulary such as prefixes, suffixes, and using words in context. If the unit skill is utilizing reference materials, the test will cover library usage, map reading, and related items. A student is expected to get 80% of the test items correct before moving to another unit. Unit tests may be taken in any order. For example, at Level J you may take test J-5 before you take J-1. You should, however, pass all unit tests at a particular level before moving to the next level. The AIMS Reading Checklist, which is in your folder, will provide you with the order of reading levels (M is the most difficult) and the number of units at each level.
Please remember these rules when taking AIMS unit tests:
1. Go to the Lab testing area or another area as specified by your teacher or lab tutor.
2. Leave your lab folder at the reading work area.
3. Take only a #2 pencil, test booklet, and answer card with you. Please bring your own pencil.
4. Use a dictionary with any unit except J-1, K-1, L-1.
5. Do not mark on any test booklet, only on your answer card. Each student corrects his or her own tests on the computer, which is located in the reading tutor work area. Be sure that on your answer card you have written your social security number at the top and have also included the test identification number. A tutor will help you fill you the test information blanks and will also help you type the identification information into the computer. When the printout of your test results come out, take that information to your teacher or the tutor on duty. The teacher or tutor will mark your folder appropriately and provide you with the materials for the next step. Do not correct items on a particular test unless given permission by a tutor or teacher.
2. Lesson Assignments
The lesson assignments are to be done independently although you are welcome to ask a tutor or teacher for explanation of directions or assistance with particular questions. Assignments come from the lab books or computers. The books and software can not be checked out because the lab has a limited supply of each item and many students must use the materials.
A lesson assignment sheet provides you with the number of the book or software you are to use and the page or disk numbers you are to complete. A tutor or teacher will highlight the specific assignments you are to complete. The AIMS reading books are numbered from 100-1000. The computer software is kept in a cabinet in the area marked, "Apple Computers".
You are to keep your answers on lab answer sheets and to correct your own work. The cabinet with answer keys is in the lab area. Please put answer keys and assuagement materials back right after you use them. Try your best to put each item back in its right place.
3. Folder, Aims Reading Checklist, and Time on Task Sheet
Each student will be given a folder where all work is kept and recorded. Each time a unit test is taken and assignments are given that information must be recorded by a teacher or tutor. Please leave the folder in the lab at all times. Your teacher or a tutor will check your folders often to see that you are progressing through the AIMS materials. The AIMS Reading Checklist is used as a permanent record of your reading successes and kept on file in the lab. If you move from English 009 to English 021, for example, the teacher will find your checklist and let you begin in English 021 where you left off in English 009.
You are also expected to keep the approximate number of hours that you work on lesson assignments and units. This is to be kept on the Time on Task sheet which will be given to you when you begin a new level of tests and assignments. A teacher or tutor can help you fill out the time correctly.
All reading lab work is to be done in the reading lab area. Please do not take any reading lab material to another part of the library. The tests are to be taken in the special testing room by the Learning Center Coordinator's office . Only testing materials are allowed there. No assignment books or dictionaries. Remember that the lab area and testing room are study areas and that you must work as quietly as possible.
The AIMS Reading Program can help you improve your reading if you keep working hard. Your minimum goals are as follows:
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