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Literature circles, 7 independent reading assessments for high school english.
As a high school English teacher, a robust independent reading program has always been a staple of my classroom and coming up with unique independent reading assessments to make sure students have actually read was always a difficult task. Allowing students to have a say in their reading is an incredibly motivating tool. Students are much more likely to be engaged in class if they are interested in the text. This leaves teachers with a problem. If we are letting students choose their own novels, how do we know they actually read ? Here are some ideas for assessing choice reading for your secondary students!
#1: One Pagers
One Pagers are a popular form of independent reading assessment because they allow students to be creative and no two are alike. This makes it very hard for students to fabricate their knowledge because most of the included activities require students to analyze what they have read. This can include choosing theme songs for characters, illustrating a scene from the novel, or picking quotes that show the theme. The sky is the limit when coming up with the activities for your students to complete to fill their page.
One Pagers can easily be adapted for distance, 1:1, or hybrid learning if that is how you are teaching as well.
For more information about One Pagers, click here to see an in-depth blog post on the topic.
For a ready-made template with instructions, examples, and rubrics ready to go, click here to see my resource.
#2: Response to Literature Activities
Response to Literature activities make powerful independent reading assessments because they have students engaging with the text before, during, and after reading. The possibilities are endless as far as coming up with ideas that can work for any novel. Here are just a few:
- Before Reading : Set context, activate prior knowledge, make predictions, develop questions, study the time period, investigate the author, etc.
- During Reading : These activities can include anything from doodle notetaking , close reading , and more. AdLit has an impressive list of ideas on their website as well.
- After Reading : Use this blog post for 7 great ideas!
I created a resource for my own students and decided it was worth listing in my shop and sharing with all of you. Independent Reading Activities for Any Novel includes a variety of activities that allow students to demonstrate their learning. The activities are split into the three categories: before, during, and after reading. There are ten activities total and they’re completely done which means NO prep for you.
#3: Book Flat Lays
One of my more recent favorite independent reading assessments has been Book Flat Lays. You’ve probably seen these on social media and I thought they were so clever that I decided to bring them into my classroom. This type of reading project requires students to think critically about elements in the novel and stage a photo of the book with props that show different aspects of the book. Again, this is another project that is very hard to fake, so if a student didn’t read, it’s almost always very clear.
For a full blog post on Book Flat Lays, click here to read through my entire process. This project is always a crowd pleaser and one that students talk about long after the cameras are put away.
#4: Literary Field Trips
One of my favorite ideas for independent reading assessments is to have your students create a literary field trip. This works especially well if your students are reading historical fiction or books that are based on a real place. (It even works for nonfiction as well!)
The gist of the project is that students research various places from a text. So, if students were reading Born a Crime by Trevor Noah , they could make a list of locations in South Africa to research and create their field trip on. It’s a really clever way to incorporate multiple skills into one project.
To check out my pre-made version with everything you need to introduce this project today, click here .
#5: Literary Quote Books
I got the idea for Literary Quote Books while scrolling social media one evening. I thought, “What if we have students choose the most meaningful quotes from any novel they’ve read and curate a book out of them then explain how they connect to the theme?” This was the basis for the idea, but it took off from there.
Truly, this can be a really flexible project for all types of learners. Students who are more artistic can draw a quote book out. Students who like to create digitally can use a program like Canva to design their quotes. (You could even have them create a social media carousel with them.) I’ve even had students who wanted to create and stage photos of the quotes or make them on large pieces of paper.
The possibilities really are endless with this idea. Since it incorporates close reading and theme analysis, the rigor is there no matter how the information is presented.
To check out my full resource, click here or the image below.
#6: Mood Boards
A Mood Board is a visual representation of carefully selected images that seek to elicit an emotional response from a viewer. Creating a mood board to represent a book requires a lot of analysis and critical thinking from our students.
I love having students put together mood boards because, again, it combines a lot of 21st century skills like spatial design, technology use, close reading, etc.
Check out my full blog post on Mood Boards here and see my ready-to-go resource in my shop right here .
#7: Independent Reading Choice Board
Just like choice reading, students love a good choice board to pick their own assessment. I have an editable Independent Reading Choice Board already done for you. Subscribe to my newsletter below and the template will be delivered straight to your inbox!
Get the Bundle and SAVE!
Download my full Independent Reading Unit Bundle and save 20% on ONE FULL INDEPENDENT READING UNIT . From start to finish, this unit is fully stocked with engaging activities and everything you need to run an organized, meaningful choice reading unit. Check it out here !
Giving students the gift of engaging literature makes for lifelong readers. I hope you’ll consider giving your students choice in their reading picks. I know that any of these assessments will help you manage the task in an authentic, engaging way.
Happy teaching!
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Microsoft Word - IR Assignment Overview.docx. Independent Reading Assignment. Independent reading is an important part of our class. You are required to bring your independent reading book to class each day. Expectation: All students are required to read one grade-level appropriate book every four weeks. • You will be able to choose your book ...
The ILA literacy leadership brief The Power and Promise of Read-Alouds and Independent Reading identifies the following components of independent reading: Classroom time to self-select and read a large number of books and variety of text. Explicit instruction about what, why, and how readers read. Teacher monitoring and support during the in ...
Independent Reading Menu Select an assignment from the menu to complete in response to your reading by the due date. You may choose any of the assignments below, but you may not repeat assignments. Assignment Menu 1.1 Draw a picture of the setting. Label at least 5 details. Also include a 1 page summary explaining the importance of the
someone in your life? Who and how?2. How are the characters, setting, and problems lik. t. ose in other stories you have read?3. Were you reminded of anything in. ur own life w. il. reading this story? What and how?4. What does thi. ke. you think or wonder about?Setting:5. In another tim. or place, how would the story change?
Independent Reading Assignment Independent reading is an important part of our class. We will begin each class with 10-15 minutes of independent reading time. You are accountable for using this time wisely. Please read the notes below. Expectation: All students are required to read one grade-level appropriate book every four weeks.
Independent Reading Assignment Choices. Independent Reading! You are required to be reading an independent novel of your choice at all times. You will also be required to create an independent reading assignment (I.R.A.) based on your independent reading every month. Due dates for these projects will be given well in advance.
Part 2—Write "Reading is Thinking" on a chart. Today you are going to have a good block of time to enjoy your reading. Reading is thinking, and you can do your best thinking when it is quiet. When we do our independent reading, you will need to read silently without talking to the person next to.
independent reading. The purpose of the review is to provide information to policy makers, curriculum developers, parents, teachers, and librarians about the importance of independent reading and programs that support it. Section 1 defines independent reading and describes its role in learning. Section 2 surveys
Independent reading involves the full participation of the teacher. This means the teacher is instructing, scaffolding, and conferring with students (Reutzel, Fawson, & Smith, 2008) during IR time. For example, the teacher educates students in how to select appropriate books, scaffolds student understanding of specific text types, and confers ...
assignment must be completed by October 9th. Initial Independent Reading Assignment: 1) Write a 5-7-sentence summary of the overall main idea of this book. Within this summary, include 3-5 main points the author makes (most important, or ones you find most interesting). This needs to be a tight, concise, accurate paragraph of writing.
Designed to offer teachers suggestions to make independent reading an integral part of the school day, this pamphlet discusses the following topics: the importance of independent reading; motivating students to read; arranging time for independent reading; setting up the classroom library; and establishing schoolwide reading programs.
The possibilities are endless as far as coming up with ideas that can work for any novel. Here are just a few: Before Reading: Set context, activate prior knowledge, make predictions, develop questions, study the time period, investigate the author, etc. During Reading: These activities can include anything from doodle notetaking, close reading ...
Independent Reading Assignment - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. This document appears to be an assignment sheet for students to write a short independent reading response about a book they read. Students are instructed to write 5-8 sentences including details that would not be found on summary websites.
The solution, according to a new brief from the International Literacy Association (ILA), is deceptively simple: Give students control over their reading lives through independent reading. In Creating Passionate Readers Through Independent Reading, the organization draws on research that demonstrates how independent reading builds student ...
Independent Reading. Independent reading is children's reading of text — such as books, magazines, and newspapers — on their own, with minimal to no assistance from adults. It can consist of reading done in or out of school, including purely voluntary reading for enjoyment or assigned reading for homework. There are strong associations ...
Independent Reading Assignment The final product is worth 60 points! Due: 12/02/2015 (A Day) & 12/03/2015 (B Day) You will be evaluated on your independent reading each semester. You must read a minimum of two novels. Your grade will be based on the crafting of an electronic,
l levels of difficulty) in English 3. This summer reading project is designed to help you practice reading and analyzing literature; you must use all of the skills you have practiced in English 1 a. English 2 to complete this project. A One-Pager is a way of respo. ing to a book on one piece of paper. It represents your own written and graphic.
INDEPENDENT READING PROJECT OPTIONS SHEET Directions: Prepare a project based on the novel you chose for your independent reading project. Choose any one of the following possibilities OR design your own project. If you design your own, you must get the idea approved by Helms/Long BEFORE you do it! You may also modify any of these
Independent Reading Assignment (1) - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. This document outlines requirements for independent reading assignments for a high school English class. Students must read one independently chosen novel each quarter and complete an independent reading assignment (IRA) based on each book.
Through independent reading, students reinforce their reading skills and motivation to read, as well as develop confidence in their reading ability. 1 Stage 1: Before Reading. ☐ Prepare the text selection. Include texts in a variety of formats and on a variety of topics. Include levelled, non levelled, and multilevel texts.
Independent Reading Assignment_1665552791 - Free download as Word Doc (.doc / .docx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. This document provides guidance and requirements for students to complete independent reading assignments over the course of an academic year. Students must read an upper-intermediate level book each term and keep track of vocabulary.
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