The independent reading program provides an opportunity for sixth 
graders to read more than ever before and to enjoy it.  Another goal 
is to expose students to a variety of authors and genres.  This 
program allows students to choose books which interest and challenge 
them at their own reading level.  Independent reading is an 
important 
component of our sixth grade curriculum.  This is a brief 
explanation 
of the program:
·	Students should have an independent reading book at school 
and at home at all times.
·	Students are asked to read at home at least two hours (50 – 
100 pages) per week.  Our goal is to make reading a valued habit.
·	Students are encouraged to read as many books per marking 
period as they can.  
·	At school, Friday will be reading day.  At this time, I will 
conference individually with students to review their progress.
·	An independent reading response is due every other Friday.  
The prompts are listed below.
Independent Reading Prompts

1.	Who is the main character of your novel?  Describe this 
character in such a way that you create a “word picture” of what 
he/she looks like and what his/her personality is like.  What is the 
main character’s wish or the problem he/she is facing?

2.	Explain the title of your novel.  What meaning does it have 
in the story?  Why do you think the author chose the title?

3.	How do you feel about the novel you are reading so far?  
Would you recommend it to a friend?  Why or why not?  Give specific 
reasons and examples from the story.

4.	Identify your favorite character in the novel so far.  
Discuss why you like this character so much.  Is it because of the 
character’s actions, personality, and decisions?  Be specific.

5.	Choose the event from the story that you think is the most 
important so far.  Give specific details from the story that 
supports your reason for choosing this event.

6.	What is the setting of the novel you are reading?  Describe 
it using as many VIVID details/adjectives as possible.  Why do you 
think the author chose this particular setting?

7.	Is the author of your book a male or a female?  Do you think 
the story would be any different if it were written be a person of 
the opposite gender?  Explain why or why not using specific examples 
from the story to support your reasons.

8.	What is the genre of the story you are reading?  What in the 
story helped you to figure out what the genre was?  Give some 
specific examples from your novel.

9.	Did this book make you laugh, cry, cringe, smile, cheer, 
etc.? With details, explain why you had this reaction.

10.	Identify a major hurdle or problem a character faces in your 
novel.  How would you react under similar circumstances?  What would 
you have done differently?

11.	Select an interesting quotation from an important character 
in your novel.  Explain with details from the story what the 
importance of the quotation was to your novel.

12.	Review the different types of conflicts that can occur in a 
story.  Identify the main conflict of the novel you are reading.  Is 
it man vs. himself, man vs. man, man vs. nature, or man vs. society? 
Give details that explain how this conflict affects the story.

13.	What could the author have done to make this story even more 
interesting than it already is?  Give specific examples and explain 
why these changes would make the story even better.

14.	Change the setting of your novel to modern times in the town 
of Holden.  Explain how this would change the story.  Be specific.  
This involves comparing and contrasting the existing setting and 
Holden.

15.	Make a prediction as to what you think will happen next in 
your novel.  Give plenty of details to support your prediction.

16.	What is the most unusual thing that has happened in your 
novel so far?  Describe it in detail.

17.	What do you think the major theme of your story is?  What 
was the author trying to teach you when he/she wrote this book?  
Give examples from the story that show this theme.

18.	Compare and contrast two characters from the story.  Be sure 
to explain both similarities and differences.  

19.	Create your own interesting reading log question and answer 
it in a minimum of ten sentences. 

20.	If your story is fiction, is it believable?  Explain why or 
why not with details from the novel.

21.	Write about a time when a character shows some kind of 
strength.  This strength could be mental or physical.  How does this 
display of strength add to what is happening in the story?