Homework

                            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 :)