"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them."
Ray Bradbury
Independent Reading
As part of the 7th grade curriculum, independent reading will be incorporated into the reading grade. Reading is an important skill to develop, and just like any skill, practice makes us better and stronger. Independent reading will not only help you succeed in school, but will better prepare you for high school, college, and career. There is a strong link between reading and success beyond school. It is important to select reading material that is both interesting, yet challenging.
Independent Reading is checked on a weekly basis.
Students must read between 80 -100 pages a week. Students are assigned points based on the amount of pages they read a week.
Core 2 & 3 Honors Points for Independent Reading
5 points for reading 100 pages or more4 points for reading 80-99 pages3 points for reading 60-79 pages2 points for reading 40-59 pages1 point for reading 20-39 pages0 points for reading 0-19 pagesCore 1 College Prep Points for Independent Reading
5 points for reading 80 pages or more4 points for reading 60-79 pages 3 points for reading 40-59 pages2 points for reading 21-39 pages1 point for reading 1-20 pages0 points for not readingIR forms should be completed after students finish reading their IR book; it is best to complete the IR form within the same week of completing the book. This will help keep the story fresh in your mind, which will make the IR Form easier to complete.
Due dates for required IR forms will be posted on DAILY SLIDES, as well as on the Homework board in the classroom. Students are required to complete at least 1 IR form every month. Additional IR forms can be found in class. They are located on the bottom shelf of Mrs. Phillips' Library. You can also click the button below for a digital copy of the IR form. All IR forms will need to be printed and turned into Mrs. Phillips' on their respective due dates. When you complete an additional IR form please turn it in to your respective core's tray, also located on the bottom shelf of Mrs. Phillips' Library.
In addition to completing an IR form, students will be participating in book talks. This is an opportunity for students to meet in a group and discuss the books they have been reading independently. The purpose of book talks is to practice the art of conversation in an academic situation, as well as discuss the books students have been reading independently. This is a great way for students to learn about books they might not have considered reading.
Students should look at the DAILY SLIDES to see when Book Talks are scheduled. In order to participate in the book talk, students need to complete the written task and bring a printed copy of their book talk questions to class.
Quarter 1 IR Focus - Heroes
Please select a book from the Quarter 1 Book List to complete. Students will be completing a project after reading the book.
Completing An IR Form
2019 Hero Book List
Quarter 1 Book Project Heroes.pdfQuarter 2 IR Focus - Nonfiction & Historical Fiction
This quarter students have 2 required reads that focus on the Civil Rights Movement that happened in America during the 1960s. Students must choose 2 books from the list.
1st Required Read - Nonfiction book that will be used during the research project.
2nd Required Read - Historical Fiction from the list that also focuses on the Civil Rights Movement. Students will be completing a project after reading the book.
Quarter 2 IR Book List - Nonfiction HeroesHistorical Fiction One Pager.pdfQuarter 3 IR Focus - Classic Literature
Students will be reading classic literature during the 3rd and into the 4th Quarter. When students finish one classic, they should choose another classic from the list.
Students will incorporate their IR Classics into a culminating project towards the end of the unit.
2019-2020 Classics Book List