Welcome

                                            "College is an exercise in stepping up."

Welcome, students, to my DevComm classes. 
We're going to have fun, work hard, and learn a lot about reading, writing, and college success overall.
It is important to come prepared with all your homework done before class; we will be working together a lot with other students - collaboration -, and if you're not prepared you'll be a drag on the group (not cool). 

Get your books early, like immediately, organize your supplies, and get going.
Procrastination is a college killer.  Don't wait around.  You must use your time efficiently to succeed.

• Take our Time Management and Weekly Schedule exercise seriously.
• Get your finances/money under control.  Don't spend on stuff you don't really, actually need.
• Be careful who you hang out with; some "friends" are toxic acquaintances who can interfere with success.

Remember to complete your one hour per week minimum of Reading Lab.   ReadingPlus, which is the program we'll use, is a proven, effective way to increase your vocabulary, comprehension, and speed.  It isn't always easy - it is exercise, afterall - but done consistently over time it will work IF you work.
Remember to always write down the date and time in your RL Journal, write down your activities for the day and the time you spent on them.
[and a final note on READING LAB: if you don't do it, you will NOT pass the class.]

Remember that one of the core keys to reading well and enjoying reading is expanding your vocabulary; therefore, remember to find ten words per textbook chapter to write down in your Vocabulary Journal, get a definition for, note some synonyms and antonyms, and write an example sentence using the word correctly and illustrating to me that you know how to handle the word.