Reading

We have different units of study for reading throughout the school year. We begin the school year with our launching unit, and the students learn reading strategies. Next, they study the elements of fiction including characterization with an emphasis on theme. Then, the students study nonfiction followed by historical fiction book clubs and test preparation. Our last unit is reading history that focuses on the causes of the American Revolution. Throughout the year, the students meet in book club groups to discuss the novels that they are reading.

Reading homework changes throughout the school year as needed. Mostly, the students will have homework that coordinates with each unit of study. The students need to read fiction books for the first unit from the classroom library for the reading log. They will be required to read 30-40 minutes each evening (Monday - Thursday) and record the book read on the reading log. They are responsible for asking a parent to sign the log each night. They will only get credit for the homework, if a parent signs the reading log. The reading log is due at the end of the week which is usually on Friday. The students are encouraged to read every day, and I will give them extra credit for reading on the weekend. The only way to improve their reading comprehension is by making reading a priority. READ, READ, READ!

When the students have finished reading a book, they should record it on the monthly book chart that is collected at the end of each month. Students will then receive credit for reading a book. After reading 25, 50, 75, and 100 books, the students will receive a certificate.

I encourage all parents to get involved in the reading process. Ask your children questions and show interest in the books that they are reading. You'll be pleasantly surprised about their knowledge of the elements of fiction. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Reading Post-its for Homework

docs.google.com/document/d/1X1eOUli5J9-Z7Sd6N3GD5tajNxljBP4JdDZ8utU_XTA/edit

Directions: Read for 30 minutes and write 2 Post-its each night.

MP #2 - 35 minutes, MP #3 - 40 minutes)

- Select a strategy depending on what part of the book you are reading. Write a variety of Post-its each week. Do not write the same type of Post-its each night. The Post-its are placed on loose-leaf paper.

- The book title and page numbers are needed for the Post-its. Underline the book’s title. This can be written on the loose-leaf paper above the Post-it.

- Remember to write the strategy on the top line of the Post-it. Write text evidence to support your work and explain what is happening in the story. This counts as one Post-it.

Types of Post-its:

1. Setting – time and place of the story. Explain the setting using sensory words. How is the setting important to the story?

2. Mood– the feeling created in the reader when reading the story. The feeling is the result of both the tone (author’s intent) and the atmosphere of the story. Explain the mood and how it is related to the setting.

3. Problem– the conflict in the story. Explain the problem fully and how it affects the characters.

4. Character’s desires– What does the character want? What is the character doing to accomplish his/her desires? Explain.

5. Character’s feelings– Infer how the character feels based on thoughts, body language, actions, speech, and interactions with other characters. Write the specific feeling, cite text evidence, and explain why the character feels a certain way.

6. Character trait– describe the character. Write a character trait and support it with evidence from the story (speech, thoughts, actions). Explain the text evidence fully.

7. Solution– How was the major problem solved in the story? Explain with text evidence.

8. Character change– Explain how the character changed throughout the story. What was he/she like in the beginning? Middle? End? Explain with text evidence.

9. Issue– Is there a social issue in the story? (politics, civil rights, women’s rights, injustice, war) Explain the social issue and how it impacts the characters in the story.

10. Life lesson– a lesson the character learned in the story. Use text evidence to support your response and explain how the character learned the lesson.

11. Theme– What was the message of the story? (You need to infer the theme.) What does the author want us to take away from the story?

12. Point of View– What is the point of view of the story? (first or third person point of view) Write a quote from the story and explain the point of view. How does the point of view affect the way the story is being told?

13. Context clues– Use context clues to figure out the meaning of unknown words. Write the unknown word and what you think the term means based on the surrounding words. Then, look the word up in a dictionary and write the meaning on the Post-it.

14. Bold text– Write what you think should be in bold in the text in quotes. Explain why you think it is important.