This page will answer questions commonly asked by students and parents.
- What can I expect in Reading this year?
- What do I need to know for my Independent Reading Projects?
- How will my Reader's Response Journals be graded?
- Vocabulary...?
- What prompts should I include in my RRJ?
What can I expect in Reading this year?
Horton Reading Syllabus
In reading we will be working on developing our reading and analytical
skills. This means you will be asked not only to read and recall, but also to
use critical thinking in order to have in-depth discussions and write about
the literature.
Be Prepared!
You need to bring with you to class everyday:
-pen/pencil and paper
-Reading binder (can be shared with L.A.)
-any work that has been assigned or is currently being worked on, including
any books/short stories/poems that we are discussing in class
-Free reading book
Class Units
We will be reading a variety of poems, short stories, and novels that will be
organized into units. Each unit is generally focused around a central theme
and features one main piece of writing. Some of the major works we will be
reading will be: “Flowers for Algernon”, Twelve Angry Men, A Midsummer Night’s
Dream, To Kill A Mockingbird, and The Count of Monte Cristo. Assessment of
each student’s performance in the reading units will be determined by a number
of things including, but not limited to, participation in class discussions,
homework, projects, tests, and quizzes (vocabulary and reading checks).
Independent Reading
In addition to the assigned class readings, each student is required to read
three books of his or her own selection each term. These books must be
approved by Miss Horton and brought to class each day. More information and
due dates will be provided.
Grading
Grades will be based on a combination of tests, projects, quizzes, homework
completion, and class participation. Tests and Independent Reading Projects
will be weighted most heavily, followed by quizzes, and then homework and
class work. The goal of the course is to help every student improve upon
his/her analytical reading skills in order to be better prepared for high school.
Sample Week
Monday Tuesday- Thursday Friday Free Reading Monday* IRP for ten
minutes Vocabulary Unit work
*Free Reading Mondays will be scheduled as often as the calendar permits. We
probably will end up having it about twice a month, hopefully more!
What do I need to know for my Independent Reading Projects?
Independent Reading Project (IRP)- Term 1
For first term you will be choosing three independent reading books and
completing Reader’s Response Journals (RRJ)for each one. The due dates are
spread throughout the term in order to allow plenty of time for you to
organize completion of both your book and the specified number of journal
entries (approximately seven for each due date). If you feel that you may
have difficulty completing the book and all entries by the due date, you must
meet with me at least one week prior to the due date.
An RRJ is a place for you to express your opinions and reflections of what you
are reading. Passages that upset you, or make you happy, or that you can
relate to, or that you just don’t understand, can be discussed in your journal
entries. Your journal is a place for you to reflect, make predictions, and
ask questions.
In addition to your own reflections, you will be responsible for a specific
journal prompt for each entry. Journal prompts will generally be given at the
start of class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and will also be available on the
course website. You may choose to use your ten minutes of “IRP time” on those
days to either write in your journal, or continue reading in your book and
complete the journal entry at another time.
At the start of each new book the journal must include:
• Your name and class
• Assignment (i.e. RRJ #1)
• Title of the book (underlined and capitalized appropriately)
• Author
Each journal entry should include:
• The pages read for the entry (between 30-50 pages each)
• Date of entry
• Journal Entry # and prompt
• Approximately 1 ½-2 pages of thoughtful response to the section of reading
Due dates for journals:
Independent Reading Project #1 Tuesday Oct. 5, 2010
Independent Reading Project #2 Tuesday Nov. 2, 2010
Independent Reading Project #3 Thursday Dec. 2, 2010
Be prepared to talk to the class about your book on the due date. It is very
important to be able to share your experiences with others, and to be able to
listen to others’ discuss their books. Plan to talk for about a minute and a
half.
**I will be periodically checking in on RRJ progress during IRP time. Please
plan to have your RRJ with you Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays to receive
feedback.**
How will my Reader's Response Journals be graded?
Reader’s Response Journal Rubric
V+ V V- Inc.
Summary Info. Summary portion is concise, informative, and easy to understand
(no more than 1/3 of overall journal content) Summary is adequate, but may
lack some description or detail Summary portion is either too short or too
long, missing necessary details, or difficult to follow Summary information is
missing entirely
Reactions to characters, plot, and text Explained reactions in great detail
using clear explanations and examples from the text Reactions present, but did
not explain reasons or provide examples from text Gave a reaction, but little
or no explanation was given for the reaction Writer does not offer any
personal reaction to the novel
Connections- text to self, text to world, text to text, etc. Connections are
relevant and explained using details from the text Made relevant connections,
but did not fully support explanation with details Made a connection, but
little or no explanation was given; connections may be irrelevant Writer does
not offer any insightful connections to the novel
Predictions/ Reflections Realistic, relevant predictions/reflections made;
well explained and supported Some thoughtful predictions/reflections made;
explanation is attempted Made unrealistic or obvious predictions/reflections;
did not support with evidence from the text Writer does not offer any
predictions or reflections on this portion of the novel
Inclusion of Journal Prompt Thoughtful response to journal prompt is included
with details from text Response to journal prompt is attempted, may be lacking
in attention to detail Response to journal prompt is weak, with no textual
details included for support Response to journal prompt is not included
Class work • Consistently prepared; uses class time effectively
• Follows guidelines for reading journal responses (listed on assignment sheet)
• Selects material appropriate to reading level and purpose
• Often unprepared or does not use class time effectively
• Does not follow guidelines for reading journal responses
• Selected readings do not offer appropriate challenge or do not meet the
purpose of the assignment
Vocabulary...?
Although your spelling and vocabulary lists will often overlap, they are
different in purpose. You will be responsible for definition, parts of
speech, and demonstrating comprehension of the following words. We will go
over appropriate parts of speech and definitions in class, so be sure to get
the correct ones!
List 8 (Quiz Wednesday 4/13)
adroit
affront
avocation
crusade
definitive
demeanor
erudite
induct
lapse
militant
pariah
prodigy
protege
raucous
tacit
List 7 (Quiz Wednesday 3/2)
amorous
belittle
censure
deem
divulge
exorbitant
expostulate
fateful
ingrate
injunction
moribund
motif
subsidize
sumptuous
voluble
List 6 (Quiz Wednesday 2/2)
apropos
ascendancy
assess
aver
concede
deficient
dogma
embody
impart
oratory
propagate
proponent
rudimentary
sojourn
vociferous
List 5 (Quiz Wednesday 1/12)
callow
contemporary
cynical
despot
enunciate
impediment
impoverish
indolent
sagacious
secular
speculate
strife
venerate
voracious
wane
List 4 (Quiz Wednesday 12/1)
adage
camaraderie
contend
extraneous
hubbub
meander
odoriferous
paraphernalia
punctilious
recuperate
regale
sedentary
spartan
temporal
wry
List 3 (Quiz Fri. 11/12)
allude
consecrate
disseminate
dote
exhort
feckless
implicate
lament
monetary
pensive
pomp
stilted
subjugate
trauma
wanton
List 2 (Quiz Fri. 10/15)
alacrity
array
deduce
encumber
fraught
haphazard
incontrovertible
inexplicable
ingenious
laggard
sustenance
torrid
traverse
ubiquitous
zenith
List 1 (Quiz Fri. 9/24)
bewail
destitute
detract
emancipate
extol
flamboyant
impetus
insuperable
intermittent
maxim
obligatory
plumb
vagabond
visge
wheedle
What prompts should I include in my RRJ?
The following are seven prompts that should be addressed in your first RRJ.
While it is important for you to include the appropriate prompt in each
journal entry, it is also important to include connections,
predictions/reflections, reactions, and details from the segment of your reading.
RRJ #3- ALL Seven Entries Due 12/2
1) How do you learn the most about your main character? (Does the author
mainly use dialogue? Direct commentary/ description? actions?) Give cited
examples.
2) Describe a character you would like to meet and explain why you would like
to meet them. (This doesn't have to mean that you would like them, just that
you think they would be interesting.)
3) Analyze what motivates the main character's behavior and explain.
4) If you could talk with the author, what questions would you ask? Why? (At
least three thoughtful questions)
5) Pretend you get to create the musical soundtrack for what you've been
reading. What three songs would you include? Write an explanation for each
song- why would you include it? how does it connect to the events of the story?
6) Thinking about what you've just read, draw a picture of an important scene
or moment. Include a brief caption explaining your image.
7) Choose a prompt from RRJ 1 or RRJ 2 that you either liked or that you
think applies to the final segment of this book and respond to that prompt for
your 7th RRJ 3 entry.
RRJ #2- ALL Seven Entries Due 11/2
1) Compare where you live to the setting described in what you are reading.
2)Based on first impressions, which character do you like the least? Why?
3) Write a quote from this section that connects to your life. What did it
mean to what you've been reading? What did it mean to your life?
4) What you are reading is going to be made into a movie. Make a list of five
characters from your book and identify what famous actors would play each
character. Explain what about the character makes that actor the best choice
for the part.
5) Is what you are reading believable? Why or why not?
6) Pretend what you are reading is nominated for a national award. Explain
why you think it should or should not receive an award. What kind of award do
you think it should receive?
7) What is the theme (central meaning/message) of your reading? Give examples.
RRJ #!- All Seven Entries Due 10/5
1) Choose a character to describe.
2) What are you enjoying about what you are reading? Why?
3) What is the mood of what you are reading? Explain how you came to this
conclusion.
4) Select a quote from your reading that you liked. What made you pick it?
How does it make you pause and think?
5) Pretend you are a talk show host and two characters are the guests on your
show. Which characters would you choose and why? List two questions that
you, the host, would ask each character.
6) How have your feelings about the book or a character changed as you
progress through the book?
7) Now that you have finished the book, do you think the title fits the
story? Why or why not? If you do not think the title fits, do you have a
suggestion for a better title?