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West Sylvan Middle School
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Reading

1st & 2nd Quarters

Reading Log/Projects:
The reading log is a simple tool to keep track of how much a student is reading.  Students are expected to read 1500 pages a semester—or whatever reading goal they set.  I do adjust the goal to fit the abilities of the student and I will meet with each student at least once a month to track their progress.

The “log” sheets are fairly simple.  A student only needs to fill in the title, author, and genre when s/he begins to read a book.  When the student finishes the book (or abandons it) they fill out how many pages they read and a one to two paragraph summary of the entire reading.

Students do have an alternative.  They can complete projects instead of keeping a reading log.  The projects are due at the same time as the logs.  The log and project instructions are detailed in a “Reading Log” handout I will provide the students this week.

The logs (or projects) are 25% of their overall reading grade.  Students receive an A for achieving 90-100% of their goal, a B for 80-89.9%, a C for 70-79.9%, a D for 60-69.9%, and a F for anything below 59.9%.  The reading logs/projects are due in five separate installments beginning Friday, September 27.  Three logs/projects are due each quarter.

There are 149 days from the beginning to the end of the first semester.  There are an average of 25 days between the start of the semester and the due date of each log/project.  If a student averages 10 pages of reading each day s/he will receive an “A” for his/her reading log—achieving 100% of the reading log goal.


reading log explanation [PDF]
reading log for novels [Word]
reading log for novels [PDF]

"reading log #4--bookmarks" assignment guidelines [PDF]
bookmarks student example (Davis Robbins) [PDF]

"reading log #5--book review" assignment guidelines [PDF]


Short Stories:

I will present short stories during the first semester.  Most stories are in pairs—two stories from the same author.  Author pairs are presented in successive weeks with, generally, an alternating read aloud and individual read format.  There are several “stand alone” stories.  This semester we are focusing on detective/mystery short stories. 

Students will be asked answer a question or questions about the readings in both a written and artistic format.  Written answers should be focused (not rambling) and clearly explained.  The written answers should not be first drafts.  Students should revise, edit, process, and proofread their answers.  Artistic responses should demonstrate effort but not hours of work.  The artistic side should employ a draft and a finalized product of the student’s “best” skills.  Overall, each side should take at least 30 minutes of time and effort.  Please refer to upcoming newsletters for due dates of reading journals and for authors we will be reading.

Short Story Review [PDF]
***not yet available
Short Story Review [PowerPoint]
***not yet available

reading response example--summarizing
blank reading response--summarizing [PDF]
blank reading response--summarizing [WORD]

reading response example--analysis & synthesis
blank reading response--analysis & synthesis [PDF]
blank reading response--analysis & synthesis [WORD]

reading response example--interpretation & extension
blank reading response--interpretation & extension [PDF]
blank reading response--interpretation & extension [WORD]

example student response
response #2 alexis cannard


"Suspicion" by Dorothy L. Sayers
"The Milk Bottles" by Dorothy L. Sayers


"The Speckled Band" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
"Sherlock Holmes: The Speckled Band" video
"The Red-Headed League" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
"Sherlock Holmes: The Red-Headed League" video


"The Problem of Cell 13" by Jacques Futrelle
Cell 13 story basics (due at beginning of 10/3)


"The Hands of Mr. Ottermole" by Thomas Burke
"Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Hands of Mr. Ottermole" video


"Who Killed Bob Teal" by Dashiell Hammett
"One Hour" by Dashiell Hammett


"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allan Poe
"The Purloined Letter" by Edgar Allan Poe
"The Purloined Letter" by Edgar Allan Poe audio recording


"The Avenging Chance" by Anthony Berkeley [Cox]


"The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson

3rd Quarter

Discussions:

Discussions begin second semester.  Before participating in the discussions, students will complete a job.  Novel discussions will be held at the end of every other week.  The meeting schedule is:  1/31, 2/14, 2/28, and 3/14 for the 3rd quarter.  During the 4th quarter the meetings will be 4/10, 4/25, 5/9, and 5/23.

Preliminary Discussion Groups:
3rd Quarter AM [PDF]
3rd Quarter PM [PDF]


Discussion Group Bookmarks:
3rd Quarter AM [PDF]
3rd Quarter PM [PDF]
--listing the group members, dates of discussion, jobs, and pacing.

Discussion Novel Body Biography:
Body Biography: basics and drafting handout [PDF]
Body Biography: explanation for group [PDF]

90" Film Project:
90"Film Project curriculum [PDF]
90" Film Project student handout [PDF]

JOBS:A few groups are completing individual jobs for discussions during the third quarter, but all groups will be completing them during the fourth quarter.
  • Riddler—asks thought provoking questions & leads the discussion
  • Summarizer—summarizes the assigned section of reading and presents a plot line
  • Story Elements II—keeps track of 2 major characters and how they change through the assigned reading
  • Illustrator—provides a cover and teaser for the assigned section of reading
  • Illustrator II—creates 3 drawings with captions for the assigned section of reading
  • Story Elements—draws and describes the effects of the setting on the assigned section of reading 
  • Literary Luminary—provides examples of 4 quotes with different literary techniques from the assigned section of reading

Please read and follow directions for the response and reflection sections.


literary techniques—a list and description of various literary devices to help the literary luminary

4th Quarter

Discussion Novel ABC Book:
Create an ABC Book for Your Novel student handout [PDF]

Preliminary Discussion Groups:
4th Quarter AM [PDF]
4th Quarter PM [PDF] 


Discussion Group Bookmarks:
4th Quarter AM [PDF]
4th Quarter PM [PDF] 
*each is a large file and will take a while to download
--listing the group members, dates of discussion, jobs, and pacing.


JOBS:  Each group member has the same "back side" to their reading assignment.  Each group member must come up with 2 generic and 2 specific questions; as well as list, explain, and evaluate 2 quotes from the assigned section of reading. 

Quotes & Questions for each group member [PDF]
*already on the back side of each assignment page for each job
  • Summarizer—summarizes the assigned section of reading and in written or cartoon panel form
  • Wordsmith—lists and defines 10 meaningful words or phrase from the assigned section and reading and evaluates the word choice of the novel
  • Reflector—lists and explains 3 connection for the novel: a text to self, text to text, and text to world
  • Story Mapper Map & Quotes and Questions—provides a visual mapping of the settings for the assigned section of reading (sorry, due to page layout issues it saves it as two separate pages, but they are part of the same assignment)
  • Data Digger—researches topics brought up in the assigned section of reading and presents the information to the group to help provide a context for the reading
  • Illustrator—creates 3 drawings with captions for the assigned section of reading (one from the beginning, another from the middle, and the third from the end of the section)

Please read and follow directions for the response and reflection sections.


literary techniques—a list and description of various literary devices to help the literary luminary