You Get to Choose!
For our independent reading program, you are allowed to read books of any genre and reading level as long as you meet the following requirements:
It is not a book you have read before.
It is not a graphic novel.
It is not a book that has been adapted into a movie or TV series.
You have your parent’s or guardian’s approval to read this book.
Daily Homework
Independent reading is a part of your daily homework assignment. Only prose novels will earn credit, not graphic novels or short stories published in a book.
Reading Goals
⭐ 150-249 page book
⭐⭐ 250-449 page book
⭐⭐⭐ 450+ page book
Earn at least ⭐⭐⭐ each quarter.
IR Requirements
Bring your Independent Reading (IR) book every day. Read it when you are done with the assignment(s) of the day.
You must obtain approval from your parents or guardians before starting your book.
Show consistent progress with your reading. Independent reading is a part of your daily homework assignment.
On Thursdays (IR Days), you will write about your book. When you’re done with a book, ask for a Book Analysis after filling out the Google Form.
Complete a Book Analysis (BA) paper for each book you finish. This must be done within two weeks of finishing your book. You must show Ms. Chen the book you finished and your IR Book Record when you ask for the Book Analysis. We only write about IR books on IR Days.
Any time you are done with a book before an IR Day, read your next book. Bring both books with you on IR Day until you have completed a Book Analysis for your finished book..
When you have read 75% of your current book, have another one in your possession so that you always have something to read..
What Other People Are Reading
Consider browsing Goodreads.com to find your next book. They also have a great middle school list here and here. Barnes & Noble also has a suggested middle school reading list. Another idea to look up your favorite books on Amazon and check out what other suggestions show up under "Customers who bought this item also bought...." If you want to discover books based on reading level or genre, consider doing your search through this book finder website.
School Library Hours
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – 11:45am to 2:45pm
Thursdays – 10:30am to 1:30pm
Note to Parents & Guardians
Do take the time at home to regularly discuss the books your teen is reading with you and to make sure that you approve of the novels she/he has chosen. When my kids were in middle school, I regularly took them to the library to help them discover new books. We'd walk the aisles together. If I think my child might be interested in a book I find, I'll hand it over and say, "What do you think of this one?" It's a routine that has truly fostered a love of reading in both my kids, and it has definitely helped them with their own academic successes.