OK, I'm sure at this point you have probably heard from your child about the independent reading requirement that was given to them in class. In case you haven't heard about it yet, ask! I'd like to make sure we are all on the same page (pun intended), so here are some details about the assignment.
To start, I'd like to provide a piece of rationale for why the project exists in the first place. Reading is a skill that is vital to the success of all students whether he or she is bound for college or the work-place immediately after high school. Just like in other areas of life, the cliche - practice makes perfect - applies to reading as well. Increasing the volume a student reads in a given quarter is a way to practice their reading skills. Now, on to the project details.
The independent reading requirement consists of two components which amount to a total of 15 points. The first component is a reading log where students will document their pages read. The logs do not require parent signatures as I am trying to instill some personal responsibility for each students' learning. That being said, I would encourage you to ask to see your child's log from time to time. The purpose of the log is strictly for data gathering. Statistics are kept on just about anything that one tries to improve upon; reading is no different. We will be using the data throughout the year to set some goals. The reading log counts for a maximum of 5 out of the 15 possible point for the independent reading requirement. The grade breakdown for the page log portion is as follows:
1700 pages = 5 points
1500 pages = 4 points
1300 pages = 3 points
1100 pages = 2 points
900 pages = 1 point
less than 900 pages = 0 points
Initially I know that this seems like a lot, but according to the research I've done, 8th graders should be reading at a rate of around three-quarters of a page to one page per minute. This was the basis for the determination of the page requirement. Students may log pages any time they read - in class, in study hall, after they finish a test, at home, etc. I suggested that students may want to keep their page log folded up and use it as a book mark, that way they will always have it.
The second component, where the remaining 10 possible points come from, is the blog posting that each student will be responsible for making. I keep a separate blog - called the Independent Reading Blog where students post book reviews. All students will be required to post one book review each quarter. Students at the middle school can access these reviews when trying to develop their lists of "next books" - books they intend to read at some point in the future. In addition to the skills of writing a book review, students will also develop their technology skills through creating web links, and embedding video and audio into their blog postings. At this point your students have not seen the blog, nor do they know what has to be done for the posting. More details will come in the very near future as they've had a lot of information dumped on them all at once this past couple of weeks.
If you have any further questions regarding the independent reading requirements or need extra copies of any of the assignment handouts, please contact me or visit the Justice League website.
Happy Reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment