"A book, too, can be a star, 'explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life endlessly,' a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe." - from Madeleine L'Engle's Newberry Medal Acceptance Speech

Monday, September 8, 2014

Independent Readers Create Courses of Study and Find Reading Partners/Clubs

Readers are purposeful and independent about seeking books and others to read with. Today I want to teach you that 1 way readers can be purposeful about reading is to create a course of study. This might be based on topics you are interested in, authors, series, genres, literary traditions, text-to-movie connections, world issues, etc. These courses of study change and grow constantly; no matter what, they help us have focus in our reading.

My general reading goals:

  • be more up-to-date with books that 8th graders are reading
  • read professional texts that will help me improve the teaching of reading and grammar
  • read books to help me improve fitness and physical activity
  • learn to speak French so I can pass the CLEP test

My course of study:

    1. Young Adult Books:
                                               i.     The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (a new play based on the book comes out this year!)
                                             ii.     Warriors Don’t Cry by Beals (
                                            iii.    Everyday by David Levithan
                                            iv.     The Glass Castle by Jeanette Winter
                                             v.     Monster by Walter Dean Myers
                                            vi.     Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness


    1. Books about Teaching:
                                               i.     Falling in Love with Close Reading by Kate Roberts
                                             ii.     The Power of Grammar by Mary Ehrenworth (need to get)


    1. Necessary Nonfiction:
                                               i.     Diabetic Athlete’s Handbook by Dr. Sherri Colberg

                                             ii.     French Conversations (audiobook)


Tasks:
  • Create a course of study in your notebooks. Highlight and rank the books you want to read - which ones are your priority?
  • Share and form book partnerships/clubs based on your courses of study and/or ideal bookshelf. Find 1-3 people who share common goals and interests in reading.
  • On a sheet of paper to submit, each group should write down who they want to be in a book group with.

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