Book It Program

After a month of school you should know that your daily homework is reading 20-30 minutes per day, Monday - Friday. This means at least 100 minutes for the week!
What must musicians do if they want to get better? What must basketball players do if they want to get better? Practice, practice, practice! The only way to become a better reader is to read, read, read!

Our class goal at the end of the year is for all students to have a lexile of 850+ as measured by the Performance Series Testing. Some of you might be thinking, I already have a lexile higher than 850 so I don't need to read at home. Wrong! Your goal is to ultimately increase your lexile; therefore, you should be reading not only at school, but at home as well. As part of our class mission statement, each student is encouraged to become a life-long reader. Reading daily will help you toward reaching that mission.

This year, each student has set an individual reading goal. Can you recall how many books you said you would read before October 22? In addition to the individual goal, each class set a reading goal for the year.


Yesterday we began our Book It Program, through Pizza Hut. If you read the required number of minutes for the month (October's Reading Goal is 300 minutes!) you will earn a certificate for a free, one-topping Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut.

Please respond to the following items in your comment. Be sure to use complete sentences and do your best to use correct spelling and grammar.

1. Have you participated in the Book It Program in the past? If so, what grade? Were you required to log the total minutes read or the number of book titles read for the month?



2. Describe your participation level in completing your daily homework, meaning have you honestly been reading 20 to 30 minutes a night for homework? How many average minutes have you been reading daily?
   
   a. IF SO, describe what you have been reading. Give the titles of any books or magazines you have read AT HOME since the beginning of school. Describe your perfect spot for reading at home.
   
   b. IF NOT, describe what you have done after school instead. Describe when and where you will make time to read for 20-30 minutes a night.
   
   


3. On a scale of 1-10, rate your usage of the library. For example give yourself a 10 if you check out, READ and return your materials on a regular basis. A rating of 1 would symbolize the fact that you haven't once checked out a book.
   
   


4. Desribe how can I help you become a life-long reader. Describe how might your classmates help you become a life-long reader.

Remember your Book It Goal for October 5-31, 2010 is 300 minutes, so get started reading, tonight!

An Important Reminder: When commenting on our Class Blog, NEVER include your full name or anyone else's in your comment. (for example: a student named Jane Doe should sign her name as only as Jane D.)

Happy Wednesday, Happy Blogging AND Happy Reading!

Be sure you read other comments before leaving the blog.

Banned Book Week!

Our theme for the week is Celebrate Your Freedom to Read! The last week in September marks the American Library Association's annual Banned Book Week.

The purpose of Banned Book Week is make those aware of the books that have been challenged/banned and encourgage all to understand the value of having our own CHOICE to read any book we want.

To celebrate Banned Book Week, Mrs. Y., the librarian has created a school-wide Spirit Week honoring our freedom to read!

• Monday: Lights out during reading? Don’t be in the dark about Banned Books!
  
• Tuesday: I am in the Banned! Sign the banner in the library of books you have read that have been banned.
  
• Wednesday: Patriotic Day. (Wear Red, White and Blue) Celebrate our freedom to read what we want to read.
  
• Thursday: Banned Books SPIRIT. Wear school colors to show you know.
  
• Friday: No school for students! What a perfect day to read a book, perhaps even one that was banned or challenged. Check out a list of titles at 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 1990-1999 or 100 Top Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009.

Watch this video to give you another perspective about censorship.

Think of your all time favorite book! Imagine not having the opportunity to read that book because an individual believed it to be inappropriate for ALL to read.

Describe how you would feel if you were the guy in the video above.

What is the one book that you couldn't imagine not having the chance to read? Why? Describe your reaction if someone told you that you could NOT read that book. How would it compare to the guy's reaction the video above?

Please answer these questions in COMPLETE sentences when you make a comment. NEVER include your full name or another person's full name in your comment. (for example: a student named Jane Doe should sign her name as only Jane D.)

Happy Tuesday and Happy Blogging!

Anyone Blog?

Welcome! This is the first posting of many in our Class Reading Blog. Today's goal is to get you acquainted with blogging.

Remember from our activity in class a few weeks ago, where we simulated a blog after viewing a video about cyber-bullying. Each person responded or commented on the video, which was considered a post. You exchanged papers (using the basketball hoop/basket) with a classmate and read that person's paper, after which you commented again. (We repeated this several times.)

From that activity, I hope you remember that once you enter our online class blog, you FIRST READ the posting(s) and previous comments and THEN respond by adding a comment.

Answer the following questions as you comment to this posting. Please respond in complete sentences.

1. Do you have your own blog?

2. If so, how do you use it? What is its purpose?

3. If no, what blog would you create?

4. What are you looking forward to in reading class this year?

5. Have you used a blog for another class? (in 5th grade, etc)

Please answer these questions when you make a comment. NEVER include your full name or another person's name in your comment. (for example: a student named Jane Doe should sign her name as only Jane D.)

Happy Tuesday and Happy Blogging!