Reading
"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates' loot on the Treasure Island." Walt Disney
In Reading the students will study many different genres and styles of writing. The class will cover poetry, plays, autobiographies, short stories, and novels. As well as all the components that go with reading.
******The grading system for reading class is averaged by:
5% Book Reports
65% in class/homework
30% tests.
Reading Resources:
Reading Comprehension
Comprehension
Skill Builders
The novels that the class can choose to read are:
The Watson's go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamilla
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
One Crazy Summer by Rita Willaims-Garcia
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Book Report Menu
******Must report on 2 different books each quarter.
---------One book during the year must be nonfiction.
- Write a letter to the main character and the character's reply.
- Write a different ending for the book.
- Pretend you are a talk show host and interview the main character.
- Create a travel brochure for the setting of the story or scrapbook pages about key characters.
- Create a book jacket, including illustrations, a synopsis, author bio, and favorable reviews.
- Summarize the book into a comic or story aimed for younger students or your classmates.
- Write a news article about an important event from the book.
- Write about the decisions you would make if you were the main character in the book.
- Dramatize a scene from the story with other students or using puppets.
- Post a book review. Be sure to headline for the review and tell how many stars (out of 5) that you would give the book.
- Chose two characters from the story and write a conversation they might have.
- Write a letter or email to a close friend recommending the book you have just read.
- Make a list of 12 new, unusual, or interesting words or phrases found in your book and research their origins/meanings.
- Prepare a television commercial about your book. Act out the commercial for your classmates.
- Write ten chat room-style questions that could be used to start an online discussion about the book. (Make sure you provide a list of answers.)
- Explain why you think this book will or will not be read 100 years from now. Support your opinion by stating specific events in the story.
- Discuss one particular episode in the story that you remember most. Describe why you think it remains so clear to you.
- Write a letter/email to the author of your book. Address it to the publisher and mail it. Or, see if the author has a Web site and email it.
- Write a ballad or song about the characters and events in your story. Set the words to the music of a popular song and sing it to the class.
- Describe in detail three characters from the story. List reasons why you would or wouldn't want to get to know these people.
- Design a poster or new book cover depicting the climax of the story.
- Draw a classroom mural depicting a major scene(s) from the book.
- After reading an informational book, make a scrapbook about the topics.
- Create a YouTube video describing the book and whether or not you recommend it to others.