Independent Reading Unit:
In this unit, students will spend an extended amount of time (20 minutes per day) reading fiction, building stamina with texts that interest them, and then discussing the books they have chosen. Students will participate in a reading community that involves them in an authentic reading experience, and which focuses on specific reading strategies. Students will read fiction while becoming thoughtful in their analysis of the texts they read. The unit emphasizes interaction between readers and texts; readers learn to connect with characters, infer their motivations, notice how plot lines develop, and determine themes. (Adapted from the 8th Grade ELA MAISA Units)
Unit Learning Targets:
SESSION 1: I can describe and apply the steps of choosing a "just right" book.
SESSION 2: I can evaluate my interest of different literary genres.
SESSION 3: I can compare and contrast real and fake reading.
SESSION 4: I can determine the author's characterization in my independent reading book.
SESSION 5: I can determine the author's tone my independent reading book.
SESSION 6: I can determine contrasting points of view in my independent reading book.
SESSION 7: I can identify & explain examples of literary conflict in my independent reading book.
SESSION 8: I can determine the theme of my independent reading book.
SESSION 9: I can explain the elements of plot in my independent reading book.
SESSION 10: I can compose a book review of my independent reading book.
SESSION 11: I can do a book talk of my independent reading book.
Handouts & Assignments:
Session 1:
Session 2:
Session 3:
Session 4 (Day 1):
Session 4 (Day 2) :
Session 5 (Day 1):
Session 5 (Day 2):
Session 5 (Day 3):
Session 6 (Day 1):
Session 6 (Day 2):
Session 7 (Day 1):
Session 7 (Day 2):
Session 8(Day 1):
Session 8 (Day 2):
Session 8 (Day 3):
Session 9:
Television Episode/Movie
Session 10 (Day 1):
Session 10 (Day 2):
Session 10 (Day 3):
Session 10 (Day 4):
Session 10 (Day 5):
Session 10 (Day 6):
Session 11 (Day 1):
Session 11 (Day 2):
Session 11 (Day 3):