Facts About Independent Reading
Independent Reading Program
2018-2019
Again this year, students will be asked to read and report on one independent reading book per month. They will earn full credit for completing a book (50 points) and graded-credit for completing a one-pager about that book (50 points). Some prompts will ask you to write about plot, others about characters, and others still about the author’s writing style and techniques. In all cases, a thorough reading of the book will be all that’s necessary to do well.
Students will complete a approximately a total of six one-pagers from September through May. Teachers will announce the date of the written assessments in advance (the first one falling on September 27th). A shorter book (or genre) is recommended for December, February and April, which contain school vacations, and for months where required books (The Outsiders and Night) are assigned.
In each trimester, students should complete one of three required genres: historical fiction, nonfiction, and multi-cultural. Thus, in the months of September, October, and November, students will read two choice genres and one of the above required ones. Then, in December, January, and February, two more choice genres and a second of the three required genres will be read. The final required genre (along with two choice ones) will be completed in the stretch of March, April, and May.
If students wish to read more than one independent book a month, that’s fine. Students will work with Ms. Farese to keep track of titles read during the month. If students choose a long book or a particularly challenging one (e.g. a classic), they might get special permission from their teacher to complete the one-pager with the book “almost” complete. This is contingent on the teacher’s observations about student commitment and planning throughout the month. Procrastinators will not be rewarded, in other words. Those who take risks and make honest efforts to read challenging books will. Please direct any further questions to your teacher.
Did you read an EXTRA independent book during this month?
Write a short, concise, QUALITY book review as a challenge for Term 3. You will need to create a short book review that HINTS at the story while NOT giving TOO much away. The theory here is that if you cannot say it in 140 characters or less, it is not worth saying. :) Pairing a review down to 140 characters with a rating really forces reviewers to get to the essential appeal or flaw of the work AND everyone LOVES a challenge.
Requirements for the review:
In keeping with SMS Social Media Culture, the four ratings are expected emoticons:
=D for Squee! I LOVED it!
=) for it was good - not GREAT!
=I for Meh...I guess it was just OK.
=( GAH! Did NOT like it a bit!
This grade will be worth 10 extra points in your term grade! It is optional and can be used throughout the rest of the year if you ever read any extra INDEPENDENT books. (Limit 2 per month.)
How do I turn this extra credit assignment in?
Email your teacher with a "logical and informative" subject line.
Include ONLY the Tweet in the body of the email. :)