Reading Goals

Today we set our reading goals for the year.  There are three types of reading goals students will have this year:

1. Monthly Goals:  These goals will help students monitor their own growth over the course of the month.  Students will set one goal relating to quantity and two goals relating to reading quality (using reading strategies, having high level partner discussions, etc.).  These goals will not be formally graded.  They will serve as a guideline and basis for check-in during reading conferences over the course of the month.
2. Quarterly Goals:  Each quarter, students will set a page goal using a page goal form.  Today, students set their page goals based on a number that they felt would be challenging, but not overwhelming. In addition to the personal goal, students have the option of going for the sixth grade challenge goal, which for first quarter, is 1,000 pages. These goals will be graded.  If students reach their personal goal they will earn an A in independent reading, and if students reach the challenge goal they will receive an A+.  During class, I checked in with each student individually to discuss and sign off on goals.
3. Year-Long Goal:  Today, I introduced the 40-Book Challenge, inspired by Donalyn Miller.  This challenge is entirely optional and purely for fun.  I challenged any students who wished to participate to reach forty books over the course of the year, and as a double-challenge, I challenged them to do it faster than me.  Regardless of whether or not students participate in the challenge, all students will be keeping track of the books they are reading.  My goal with this is to help promote a culture of reading and generate excitement around books and book discussions.

We also brainstormed our Classroom Reading Rights.  I've included some of the ideas the class brainstormed below:

In our classroom, we have the right to

• read!
• choose our own books
• choose where we read
• choose how much we read (as long as we are reading!)
• abandon boring books
• dislike some books
• give and receive book recommendations

I was so proud of how deeply the students were thinking while we were generating this list.  I'm excited for all of the book recommendations and book discussions to come!