DAILY HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Homework for this class is very predictable and somewhat flexible at
the same time. The daily requirement of 20 minutes of reading and
completing a weekly assignment based upon the reading hardly ever changes.
The "flexible" portion of the homework lies in the fact that for the most
part, each student is free to choose his or her own book for reading.
Although it will be done mostly in class, daily writing will be an important
part of this class as well. All writing (with the exception of final drafts)
will be done in the writer's notebook, a composition notebook which will
nearly always stay in class.
These daily assignments are intended to provide a structure through
which students can develop an appreciation/enjoyment of reading and writing
and become more fluent readers and writers. It is through reading and
writing on a regular basis that this will begin to happen. In the past three
years, I've noticed a lot of growth in many of the students who have
regularly kept up with these assignments. Both their fluency in and
apparent enjoyment of reading and writing have improved significantly. For
those who show consistent and effort in their work, I suspect much of the
same progress will happen this year as well!
Knowing that openendedness and choice can be difficult for some
students, I have provided a list of websites that can be some good sources
for making choices about what to read. These, together with recommendations
from fellow students that are shared in class, should provide a good starting
point for choices. As the year goes on, it is my hope that each student will
get to know him or herself better as a reader and be able to readily identify
his or her "favorites" with regards to author, genre, etc..
Happy reading and writing!
:) Mrs. P :)
