SIX GOLD
INDEPENDENT READING PROGRAM
Independent Reading is a significant part of a sixth grader's
development in Language Arts. This year we will be implementing the
Wachusett Regional School District's Literacy Initiative at the Middle School
Level for the first time. Most of our incoming sixth graders will be
experienced with Reader's Workshop and we will be including reading in class,
conferencing and developing habits of good readers in our daily classroom
experience.
It is our hope that this program provides all readers with enough
choices so that everyone can find something that they enjoy reading. Listed
below are the requirements for the program. Participation will be graded as
homework, class work, and writing assignments.
As we proceed through the school year, we will be providing students
the opportunity to experience a variety of genres through independent
reading. Our intention is to foster the joy of reading and to encourage
students to read more than ever before. What follows is a brief explanation
of the reading program. If you need more details about expectations now, or
at any time throughout the year, please feel free to ask us. The steps of the
program are as follows:
1. Students must choose a book that they find interesting. Making the
choice of what to read is an important part of the independent reading
process. After reading the first chapter or two, they should know if they
like a book or not. We will tell students to choose another book if they
find that what they are reading is boring. Independent reading should be an
enjoyable experience! Students may select a book from home, from the
Mountview library, or from my classroom library. We have quite an extensive
classroom library that is available to students at all times. When borrowing
a book from the classroom, be sure to record it on your borrowing card in the
file box on my desk. When you return a book, please note the date on your
borrowing card and show the book to the teacher before you return it to the
bookshelf. Let us know if you would like to donate any books to our
classroom library. We always have room for more!
All selected books, finished or not, will be recorded in their reading logs.
2. Once students have chosen a book they must bring it to read in class and
at home
every day. This will count as a homework assignment twice a week. Part of
our class time will be sustained silent reading time where everyone will read
a book of their choice. The length of the SSR time will depend on the
activities and lessons planned for that day. Reading at home for 20 minutes
each night will be strongly encouraged. Developing this lifetime habit is a
wonderful benefit!
3. When students complete a book, they may begin working on an activity of
their choice at home, but each student must continue to have another book to
read during SSR time. SSR time in class is for silent reading only.
4. Students will be required to read two books each grading period. You may
read as many books as you want each marking period, but we'll approach each
genre together. For example, our first classroom genre will be fantasy.
Students can choose to read any book in this category. Once they complete
their activity about that book, they are encouraged to read any book of their
choice. A list of which genres will be completed each term is included below:
Mrs. Knight's Classes:
Term I: Fantasy and Mystery
Term II: Realistic Fiction and Autobiography
Term III: Historical Fiction and Science Fiction
Term IV: Nonfiction and Biography
Mr. Fredette's Classes:
Term I: Realistic Fiction and Autobiography
Term II: Historical Fiction and Science Fiction
Term III: Nonfiction and Biography
Term IV: Fantasy and Mystery
Our objectives include developing an understanding of what defines each of
these genres as well as determining what type of book individual students
like to read. Developing a habit of reading and interacting with what we
read is an important goal in language arts.
5. Students will have a choice of activity to complete after they finish an
independent reading book. One writing activity and either an art project or
oral presentation will be graded each term. Additional books read will be
included in students' reading logs. Writing activities, oral reports and art
projects are found in the file box on the counter. Students may read about
them during a SSR time, or during an activity period.
6. Grades and Due Dates: Students read at different rates, so the due dates
for independent reading activities are not specifically determined in order
to create a flexible atmosphere. Each student must complete two activities
(one must be a writing activity) each term. Teachers help students budget
their time by strongly encouraging them to pass in one IR graded activity
approximately each month. Independent reading will count 20% of each marking
period.
Incentive: Developing an awareness of what the different genres contain,
experiencing them independently, and learning about ourselves as readers is a
true learning experience. Students who once hated reading found that they
discovered a real interest in true stories (nonfiction) or a love of
mysteries and adventure novels. Everyone is different, and in structuring
the program with that in mind, we will learn from each other as well as begin
to define who we are as individual readers. Have fun with reading!
