I hope you've been enjoying your independent book(s). Remember you need to read a minimum of 2 hours each week.
Do me a favor: could you please fill out this form and indicate the particulars of your book and your reading rate. You wrote those details in your writer's notebook, and on a not very official Post-It for me. I'd like to have something a bit more official on the books.
Beginning this week, in addition to your weekly minimum of two hours of reading, you’ll also reflect in writing on what you’ve read.
How?
Each Monday, come to class with a 1+ page personal reflection on your reading from that week. Think of this writing as an opportunity to “take stock” of important moments in the text. How will you know what moments are important? Apply the Notice and Note signposts described below. You may want to have a few sticky notes in your book that you can use to mark scenes that are worth exploring in more detail – scenes that are “worth writing about.”
Please note that if you want to write about something that is not directly related to one of the signposts, feel free! Your weekly reflections should emerge from your personal reactions to the text. Most of the time, one of the six signposts will apply since they appear in so many different stories.
The key in your reflections is to reflect in an inferential or critical manner (not literal). Do not just describe or summarize what happened; instead, explore why what happened may be significant in the story (the signposts).
Your reflections and reading progress (have you made your weekly page goal?) will be checked each Monday. Remember, your reflection is due at the beginning of class every Monday (or IR day).
Your first reflection is due Monday, October 19.
Also: I'll be checking in on your reading goal (what page your on, etc.) every three weeks. I'll be awarding 10 points for consistent reading, but less for readers who are falling behind on their goal.
Expect to give a 5-minute book talk before the end of each marking period.
So if you're keeping score, here's what you need to do:
Please watch the following short videos. These signposts will give you good ideas for moments to reflect on as you read your book. They are:
Do me a favor: could you please fill out this form and indicate the particulars of your book and your reading rate. You wrote those details in your writer's notebook, and on a not very official Post-It for me. I'd like to have something a bit more official on the books.
Beginning this week, in addition to your weekly minimum of two hours of reading, you’ll also reflect in writing on what you’ve read.
How?
Each Monday, come to class with a 1+ page personal reflection on your reading from that week. Think of this writing as an opportunity to “take stock” of important moments in the text. How will you know what moments are important? Apply the Notice and Note signposts described below. You may want to have a few sticky notes in your book that you can use to mark scenes that are worth exploring in more detail – scenes that are “worth writing about.”
Please note that if you want to write about something that is not directly related to one of the signposts, feel free! Your weekly reflections should emerge from your personal reactions to the text. Most of the time, one of the six signposts will apply since they appear in so many different stories.
The key in your reflections is to reflect in an inferential or critical manner (not literal). Do not just describe or summarize what happened; instead, explore why what happened may be significant in the story (the signposts).
Your reflections and reading progress (have you made your weekly page goal?) will be checked each Monday. Remember, your reflection is due at the beginning of class every Monday (or IR day).
Your first reflection is due Monday, October 19.
Also: I'll be checking in on your reading goal (what page your on, etc.) every three weeks. I'll be awarding 10 points for consistent reading, but less for readers who are falling behind on their goal.
Expect to give a 5-minute book talk before the end of each marking period.
So if you're keeping score, here's what you need to do:
- Read two hours every week
- Write a weekly, 1+ page reflection in your Writer's Notebook about your book.
- Give a 5-minute book talk each MP.
- Write a "letter-essay" about your book. (More info on this later.)
Please watch the following short videos. These signposts will give you good ideas for moments to reflect on as you read your book. They are:
- Memory moments
- Contrasts and Contradictions
- Aha moments
- Words of the Wiser
- Again and again
- Tough Questions
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