Throughout the Year
Class Novels: This year, seventh grade will read one class novel, The Outsiders, and eighth grade will read Refugee. These class novels will be read by the whole class together, and each student will need their own class copy. With these novels, there will be many days reading in class, discussions, activities individually or with a group, quizzes, and projects.
Independent Reading: This year, AR will be an incentive, not a requirement. With this being said, the students will still be reading novels on their own throughout the year. The students will get to choose their individual novels based around their reading level and interest. With the novels they read, outside of the whole class novels, they will be required to complete projects and present one project to the class. They will not be allowed to do any of these over our whole class novels. Under the "Resources" tab, you will find more information regarding independent reading and projects.
AR: Since the students were in their early years of elementary school, they were required to complete a certain amount of points in AR. While AR has its many positives, at the junior high level, I see many other ways for students to express their understanding of books instead of a ten question test. I am a big believer in hands-on learning, creativity, and challenging themselves. Book projects and activities will be created and book conferences with me will take place instead. AR will still be available for the students, and I will encourage them to strive to read more and more and take these tests. I plan to do this as an incentive for the students, and they will receive prizes based on their AR participation. The difference now is that AR is NOT a percentage of their grade. A huge percentage of their reading grade comes from their individual and whole class novel projects, book conferences, and book presentation.
Informational/Nonfiction Texts: Students will also be reading nonfiction informational texts throughout each semester. They will be reading articles on current events, sports, etc. Articles will be included with fiction readings, writing, etc.