IMPORTANT HOMEWORK INFORMATION AND REFERENCE FORMS (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND KEEP IN A SAFE PLACE TO REFER TO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR) TAKE-HOME READING (THR) Dear Parents and Students, NCC fifth graders will be immersed in an exciting reading/language arts program that includes an independent reading component called Take Home Reading, otherwise known as THR. This program is designed to encourage and/or maintain a daily reading habit, increase the number of books children read, and nourish the enjoyment that reading for pleasure evokes. MCPS expects students to read at least twenty-five books outside of school during the school year, and NCC s Take-Home Reading Program will help students complete this task. Students may read fiction and non-fiction, and they should choose from a variety of genres which is listed at the bottom of their Take-Home Reading Log (included in this packet). Students are encouraged to vary their reading throughout the year. Students should read approximately THREE books per month to reach their goal of 25 books by June. In addition to their reading, students must write a written response whenever they complete a book. Please note the following forms included in this handout: 1. Take-Home Reading Log 2. Six coupons for our monthly raffle 3. Written Response forms (Fiction, Non-Fiction, Comics, Poetry) to complete with each book read (Extra copies of each of these handouts will always be available in class and on the NCC Website)
Student Directions for Nightly THR Homework 1. Read for at least twenty minutes each night (Monday through Thursday). Your reading may include fiction books, non-fiction books, magazines, newspaper articles, poetry, and comic strip books. (See Written Responses forms for details about poetry and comic strip books.) Refer to the list of genre at the bottom of your THR log in this packet. 2. After you have completed your reading, record the date, genre, title and author, and pages read on your THR log. Then, take your THR log and a pencil to your parent or babysitter, and ask them to initial the chart. This must be done EVERY NIGHT as part of your homework. If you are reading a chapter book or a lengthy non-fiction book which will require more time, you do not need to keep writing the genre, title, and author each night. Simply put ditto marks ( ) in this column, and your teacher will understand that you are continuing with the same book. If you read your book over the weekend, you should record the pages in your log, as well. There is an example of how to fill out a THR log on the back of the blank chart for you to refer to. 3. Each time you finish reading a book, you must carefully complete the appropriate Written Response form included in this packet. Directions for completing these forms will be reviewed in class. You must complete one Written Response form for each book. Written responses for fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and comics are different. Please make sure that you fill out the correct form. THERE ARE PLENTY OF COPIES OF ALL WRITTEN RESPONSES FORMS IN CLASS. 4. When you have finished the written responses, fill out one of the coupons and have it signed by a parent. Bring your responses and coupon to class and show your reading teacher. She will check it, and you will then place the Written Responses form in your special file, and your coupon in the jar. You may put in one coupon for each book you read during the month. We will hold a raffle at the end of each month in which a name will be drawn from the jar, and the student will receive a prize. Remember, the more books you read, the more coupons you will place in the jar, and the better your chances will be of winning a prize.
5. Look for the THR charts in your reading class, and find your name. Once you have filed your questions and placed your coupon in the jar, choose a small sticker from the basket and place it beside your name, one sticker for each book you read accompanied by the written response. In this way, you will keep track of your progress and watch yourself get closer and closer to the magic number 25. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE READ 25 BOOKS AND WRITTEN 25 SUMMARIES. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers 1. Question: If I finish a book and begin the Written Response, do I also have to read for twenty minutes that night? Answer: No. On the night that you have completed a book and are ready to work on your Written Responses form, simply write Written Response on your chart in the Pages Read column. 2. Question: If I read a really long book of several hundred pages, do I have to complete more than one written response? Answer: No. Since the reading abilities and interests of students do vary, some students will be selecting books which are several hundred pages in length. We realize that such books take longer to read, and only ONE written response is necessary. 3.Question: If the book I m reading is very long and takes me a few weeks to complete, I might fall behind on my stickers. What can I do to catch up? Answer: You can catch up by taking a break from your long novel a few times a month and reading a shorter news article, picture book, or nonfiction book that will only take one or two nights to complete. That way you ll be doing a variety of reading, and you ll still be able to read your novels. 4. Question: What do I do with my reading log once I have used up all of the lines? Answer: Your reading log should be filled out, initialed by a parent or babysitter, and placed back in your binder EVERY NIGHT. If you run out of room, take another log from the pile that will be in the classroom. At the end of each month, your teacher will collect your log and check it for a homework grade. She will be looking to make sure you have followed all THR
homework directions. If you have formed the habit of placing your log in your binder each night, it will be there when you need it. Good luck reaching your reading goal of TWENTY-FIVE books and written responses this year! We know you can do it! Ms. Corrigan and Ms. Kouwenberg
Written Response Letter or Summary for Fiction and Non-Fiction (Books, Magazine/Newspaper Articles) Name Title Write a letter to your teacher describing your thoughts and feelings about the book. Please refer to the handout Guidelines for Response Letters (included in this packet) for ideas. When choosing to write a summary letter, you may use the Plot Capture Sheet for fiction and the Non-Fiction Summary Graphic Organizer to help organize your ideas. Dear, (Date)
Written Response (Comic Strip Books) Throughout the year, you may read and complete written responses for FOUR (4) cartoon books only. By comic strip books, we mean a collection or anthology of comic strips, for example, Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, etc. Name Title I. On the lines below, write the names of two comic strip characters and write at least three descriptive sentences for each. Include a physical description, their personality, and be sure to explain what it is that makes them funny. 1. 2.
II. Describe one of the comic strips that made you laugh, and explain why you thought it was funny. Or Using the characters you read about, make up your own comic strip.
Written Response (Poetry) You must read at least 3 poems by the same poet and complete the following questions. It might be a good idea to choose the poetry genre when we have completed our study of poetic terms during the second quarter. Name Poet Titles of Poems I. Choose your favorite poem from the five you read and answer the following questions: 1. Write the title of the poem? 2. What is the mood and tone of the poem? 3. What is the message of the poem?
4. What are some poetic terms that the poet uses in this poem? 5. Try writing your own poem using the style or subject of the poet you chose. Write one or two stanzas.
Guidelines for Response Letters (Response Letters should be no less than ten sentences.) Ideas for Responding to Fiction 1. Write about some personal connections you made while you read. How did your connections help you understand the story? 2. Explain some of your feelings as you read the book.excitement, humor, anger, sadness, fear, surprise (be sure to use lots of examples). 3. Tell me about your favorite or least favorite character or event. What did you like or dislike about him/her/it and why? 4. Compare characters personalities and actions in the story, or compare a character with yourself or someone you know. 5. Compare your book to another story. 6. Describe an event in the story that was meaningful for you, illustrate it, and attach it to your letter. 7. Write about what you would change in the story if you could. 8. Write any questions you had about what you read. 9. Write a letter to the main character offering advice, or describing your feelings. 10. Write about the events you think might happen with the characters now that the story is over. 11. Write about the theme of the story (the lesson the story teaches or author s purpose/intent) 12. Write a summary of the book (be sure to use the Plot Capture Sheet to help you with organization) Ideas for responding to Informational Text 1. Write a summary telling some of the important things you learned from your reading (Use the Summary Graphic Organizer to help you with organizing your ideas). 2. What personal connections did you make as you read? 3. Choose one piece of information you found interesting, write about it, illustrate it on a separate sheet of paper, and attach it to your letter. 4. What fact did you enjoy learning about the most and why? 5. Is this book/article similar to any others you have read? If so, how are they alike and different? Which did you like better and why? 6. What kind of research do you think the author had to do to write the book/article? 7. What questions would you want to ask the author if you ever met him/her? 8. What more do you want to know about the topic? How will you learn more about it? 9. Would the book/article be different if it had been written 10 years ago? 100 years ago? Explain how. 10. Describe the text features in the book/article and explain how they helped you to understand what you read.
Name Month Take-Home Reader Log DATE GENRE TITLE & AUTHOR PAGES READ PARENT S INITIALS GENRES PB= picture book F= fantasy I= informational(nonfiction) RF= realistic fiction FL= folk literature B= biography, HF= historical fiction (folktales, myths, legends, autobiography, memoir SF= science fiction tall tales, fairy tales) MG= magazine/newspaper M= mystery P= poetry article GN= graphic novel (comics)
Name Month Take-Home Reader Log (SAMPLE) DATE GENRE TITLE & AUTHOR PAGES READ PARENT S INITIALS 8/27 F Charlotte s Web by E.B. White 1-15 KC 8/28 16-35 KC 8/29 35-99 KC 8/30 100-135 KC 8/31 135-175 KC 9/4 Worked on Written Response 9/5 Finished Written Response 9/6 GN Calvin and Hobbes by 1-50 Bill Waterson KC 9/7 Worked on Written Response KC 9/10 M Freddy the Detective By Walter Brooks 3-25 KC 9/11 26-50 KC 9/12 51-75 KC 9/13 76-100 KC 9/14 Worked on Written Response KC 9/17 P Where the Sidewalk Ends 7-17 Shel Silverstein KC 9/18 18-43 KC 9/19 45-77 KC 9/20 Worked on Written Response GENRES PB= picture book F= fantasy I= informational(nonfiction) RF= realistic fiction FL= folk literature B= biography, HF= historical fiction (folktales, myths, legends, autobiography, memoir SF= science fiction tall tales, fairy tales) MG= magazine/newspaper M= mystery P= poetry article GN= graphic novel (comics)
Plot Capture Sheet Graphic Organizer (Fiction Summary) Title Characters Setting Climax Rising Action Falling Action Exposition Resolution Theme
Plot Capture Sheet Graphic Organizer (Sample) Title: Little Red Riding Hood Little Red Riding Hood Mother Big Bad Wolf Grandma Huntsman Characters Setting Red Riding Hood s Home Forest Grandma s House Climax When she arrives at her Grandma s house, she wonders why Her grandma looks so different. She notices her big teeth, and the wolf jumps out of bed and swallows Little Red Riding Hood. Rising Action On her way, Little Red Riding Hood meets a Wicked Wolf who tricks her into going off the path to pick flowers while he runs to Grandma s house and eats her up. He then puts on Grandma s nightcap and climbs in bed to wait for Little Red Riding Hood. Falling Action A huntsman hears all the commotion in the house and goes inside to investigate. He sees the wolf and realizes what Happened. Exposition Little Red Riding Hood s mother asks her to take a basket of food to her sick grandmother. She tells her to stay on the path and be careful. Resolution The huntsman kills the wolf, and Grandma and Little Red Riding Hood are saved. Theme The Lesson in the story is to obey your parents and never talk to strangers.
Non-Fiction Summary Graphic Organizer Title *Topic Sentence: (This book is about I. First fact I learned: Supporting details for my first fact: a. b. c. II. Second fact that I learned: Supporting Details for my second fact: a. b. c.
II. Third fact that I learned: Supporting details for my third fact: a. b. c. *Concluding Sentence: Use this completed graphic organizer to guide you in writing a summary about what you have read.