Cornerstones of the Shepard Academy
Reading
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Writing
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Speaking
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Thinking
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Leading
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Quite simply, reading can and does transform lives, according to the Million Words Campaign. Numerous studies have shown that increasing students’ volume of reading is one of the most important levers in increasing their achievement.
And reading is so much more than an academic skill. Reading informs us, transports us, empowers us, and brings us joy. It is through reading that we learn about ourselves and the world around us. Every child deserves to be a reader.
Over the past several decades, researchers have consistently found a strong relationship between the volume of students’ reading and their reading achievement. According to the National Reading Panel, “The importance of reading as an avenue to improved reading has been stressed by theorists, researchers, and practitioners alike, no matter what their perspectives. There are few other ideas as widely accepted than that reading is learned through reading.”
Up to three times each semester, you will choose a work of fiction or nonfiction to read as part of a Book Club. Your independent reading will be accompanied by a reader response activity and a culminating individual or group assignment.
And reading is so much more than an academic skill. Reading informs us, transports us, empowers us, and brings us joy. It is through reading that we learn about ourselves and the world around us. Every child deserves to be a reader.
Over the past several decades, researchers have consistently found a strong relationship between the volume of students’ reading and their reading achievement. According to the National Reading Panel, “The importance of reading as an avenue to improved reading has been stressed by theorists, researchers, and practitioners alike, no matter what their perspectives. There are few other ideas as widely accepted than that reading is learned through reading.”
Up to three times each semester, you will choose a work of fiction or nonfiction to read as part of a Book Club. Your independent reading will be accompanied by a reader response activity and a culminating individual or group assignment.
What Is a Book Club?
What is a Book Club? In a book club, small groups of students meet regularly to discuss a piece of literature in depth. The discussion is guided by your response to what you have read. You may talk about events and characters in the book, the author's craft, or personal experiences related to the story. Book Clubs provide a way for you to engage in critical thinking and reflection as you read, discuss, and respond to books. Collaboration is at the heart of this approach. You reshape and add onto your understanding as you construct meaning with other readers. Finally, Book Clubs guide you to deeper understanding of what you read through structured discussion and written reader response.
Form Your Book ClubForm a group of four people who may enjoy reading the same book.
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Choose a BookAgree on a book to read that is of interest to all group members and is of an appropriate reading level. Each person is responsible for obtaining a copy of the book.
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Complete a Planning GuideAs a group complete the Planning Guide posted on Google Classroom.
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Meet with Your Book ClubComplete two tasks each week (Brief Summary & Individual Task) using the template posted on Google Classroom. Submit by 1:00 PM on the day of the meeting. One group member facilitates the discussion.
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Book Club - Expected Behaviors
I expect to see the following behaviors as I Book Club meetings:
- all members working on task and fulfilling their roles
- all members possessing the necessary materials (Completed summary/task and book)
- all of the members getting a chance to share their ideas and participate in a meaningful discussion
- all members using an appropriate, non-disruptive volume when speaking in their group.
Following the Book Club meeting, each club member completes and submits a Meeting Debrief (Google Classroom).