Independent Reading

All humanities students are expected to read the equivalent of about 50 books over the course of the school year. We count one book as 150 pages. You get additional (or less) credit depending on the book you are reading.

In order to meet this requirement, AND to build reading stamina and work skills, all humanities students are expected to read for AT LEAST 30 minutes every single night of the week in addition to the time we spend reading silently in class. As strong independent readers we will do the following when we read:

• Log each of our reading sessions in our "daily log".
• Log each completed or abandoned book in our "yearly log".
• Choose books WISELY, that means books that are the right level and that are interesting to us. We cannot know these things if we do not take time to preview a book first.
• Read mindfully, practicing the reading strategies we learn in class. We ALWAYS think when we read.
• Ask questions to ourselves and our parents and teachers when we don't understand.

We are in the process of developing a set of online resources to support our independent reading program. In the meanwhile, check out the 8th graders' GOODREADS group here. In this group you can share ideas with each other about what you are reading and get ideas about what to read next. Check it out!

Finally, if you have any requests for books we should order or ways to improve our independent reading program, please leave a comment below!