Outside+Reading

Dear Parents, Great News! In 7th grade we use a reading program that will help our young readers thrive. We call it Outside Reading, a program that will refocus on the joy of reading, and that will provoke real and original thought in our young readers. As parents and teachers, we know how important reading is to a child's growing knowledge base. We know the world that awaits them, so we understand that reading outside of school is important. However, there is no reason it should not be enjoyable and actually teach them something at the same time. With this being said, I am happy to replace Accelerated Reader (AR) with Outside Reading. With Outside Reading, students will no longer have to achieve a certain number of points. Your child will still be required to read, but meeting a point requirement based on a multiple-choice test will no longer be his or her assessment. In 7th grade, from this point forward, your child will have **only __two__ outside reading requirements each nine weeks**: **__one chapter book__** that is appropriately leveled for //your child// of his or her choice and **__one non-fiction book or media publication__** of his or her choice. (The student has the option to swap the one chapter book for two superhero comic books, but the thinking level and assignments that go with the comic books are of an extremely high level. So, be forewarned.) No AR points are required. Children may choose what they want to read no matter the points, no matter the type of text. If you or I believe they are under or overestimating their reading ability by choosing material that is beneath or above them, we will have them select something more appropriate, giving you more say in what your child reads. Each child’s reading tastes and reading abilities are different. What's more, our children need a media-rich environment and an escape from any preselected book-only based system. So, if your child wants to read an article from //National Geographic// to count as their Non-fiction Media Text, they can. If your child wants to read an online article about their favorite video game, they can! If your child wants to read the newspaper, they can! //Lego// //Magazine//, yes! //Teen//, yes! His or her Awana's reader, yes! If your child wants to read any book or publication, they can! How will I assess their Outside Reading? At a higher level of Bloom's Taxonomy and meta-cognitive thinking than a multiple-choice test! In 7th grade we are preparing your children for a state writing and reading test. Both tests require cognitive thought. Both are equally as important. Therefore we believe that base-leveled questioning assessments over pre-selected reading might be underserving our children’s needs. We are also preparing your children for a multi-sensory world of technology where creative ability is highly valued. Therefore, student assessment will involve: Every nine weeks your child's **chosen** Outside Reading assessments will be due on the second-to-last Friday of each 9 weeks. Your child can completely select how he or she wants to accumulate this major grade (see attached //Outside Reading Selection Sheets//). On the day that all Outside Reading is due, he or she will also need to turn in the //Outside Reading Selection Sheet// with your signature on it (additional copies can be printed from my website). Thank you so much for your support and the support of your child's all-around education. Hopefully, together we can build your child's knowledge of the world and recapture his or her love for reading and thinking once more. Thank you, Carole Hyde 7th Grade ELAR Children may feel free to participate in the library's AR incentives for books they read, but AR will not be a part of the 7th grade curriculum.
 * writing, creating, and developing original thought about what they’ve read (a total of two selected prompt submissions to Turnitin.com per 9 weeks)
 * using technology to create real-world, multi-sensory projects (a total of two selected creative tech projects, one for each reading selection per 9 weeks)



**Outside Reading STEPS (Simplified)** 1) Read a chapter book and keep a typed daily reading journal using Google Docs. 2) Submit CHOSEN Writing Assessment (Chapter Book Choice) to Turnitin.com. BE SURE TO SUBMIT IT TO THE CORRECT PROMPT LETTER! Follow instructions on Outside Reading Selection sheet. 3) Follow instructions from the Outside Reading Selection Sheet for how to turn in your CHOSEN Technology Project (if you chose to do one). 4) Read something non-fiction while planning and typing your chosen writing assessment in Google Docs. 5) Submit CHOSEN Writing Assessment (Non-fiction Choice) to Turnitin.com.
 * Part 1. **
 * Part 2. **

BE SURE TO SUBMIT IT TO THE CORRECT PROMPT LETTER! Follow instructions on Outside Reading Selection sheet. 6) Follow instructions from the Outside Reading Selection Sheet for how to turn in your CHOSEN Technology Project (if you chose to do one).

7) Turn in your signed Outside Reading Selection Sheet to the Homework Bin. 8) Have everything turned in by 3:15 on the date due! No allowances may be made for assignments you have known about all 9 weeks.
 * Part 3. **

Destiny Quest/ Library Catalogue Follett Shelf

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