8Th Grade - ELA Reading

Reading Quest 8th Grade - ELA Reading ROGICH MIDDLE SCHOOL

Reading is a critical academic skill that needs to be supported throughout a student’s K-12 experience. The goal of READING QUEST is to expose students to excellent literature, develop or support a love of reading, and increase each student’s repertoire of reading skills through instruction of reading strategies to enhance comprehension. READING QUEST is an enrichment program that promotes reading skills for all students. Each activity will be graded on a scale of 1-10 points.

Requirement: Students will select (1) novel per quarter. Students will be required to complete (1) assignment from READING QUEST, as well as complete (2) literature circle assignments per quarter. Students will interact about their reading through completing all (6) literature circle assignments throughout the school year and complete a minimum of (4) novels.

Studies show that interacting with one’s reading is the number one way to increase reading comprehension. Students will be evaluated on their discussion assignments as well as completing assignments from the following READING QUEST categories: Assignment Value:

Bronze Activities 2 Silver Activities 4 Gold Activities 6 Platinum Activities 8 Diamond Activities 10

*Multiply your score by the Assignment Value

Examples: If you complete (2) BRONZE Activities, and you receive perfect 10’s, your total points will be 40. If you complete (1) DIAMOND Activity, and you receive a perfect 10, your points will total 100.

200 - 180 A 175 – 150 B 145 - 125 C 120 – 100 D 100 – 0 F

*Completion of the literature circle assignment is worth 5 points. Bronze Activities (Value 2)

B-1 If you could change places with one character, who would it be and why? Your explanation should be at least one page. Remember to describe the character and their situation well because your audience may not have read the book. Give EVIDENCE – examples of things the character has done or said that supports your description.

B-2 Which character is most like you? Why? Your explanation should be at least one page. Remember to describe the character well because your audience may not have read the book. Give EVIDENCE – examples of things the character has done or said that support your description. Also, give EVIDENCE of what it is about you that is similar to the character-these might be examples of things you have said or done.

B-3 Choose one character, tell how they behaved/what they were like in the beginning, how they behaved/what they were like at the end, and how they changed. Your description should be least one page.

B-4 Draw a scene from the book. Your drawing will be scored based on how much detail is included. Make sure you represent the characters in your picture.

B-5 Make a collage of a major theme from the book. Use clippings from magazines, newspapers, etc. The collage must be on a paper that is at least 11x14 inches in size and should include at least 10 different clippings. On the back explain in one paragraph what they represent and what it has to do with your novel.

B-6 Imagine your book is being turned into a movie – who would play each character? Name at least 5 characters and who would play them (explain in at least one sentences why and include a quote from each character that makes your point valid) and tell where you would film the movie. Silver Activities (Value 4)

S-1 Make a soundtrack for the book by choosing at least 10 songs. You may choose any kind of songs you wish. For each song, explain in at least one sentence why you choose the song and how it relates to the events or characters in the book. If the song you’ve chosen is not a popular one, you might include the words, or a description of the song, your point is clear. (You can also quote from the book, of course.)

S-2 Change the time and place of the novel. Explain how this would change the story. First tell where and when the novel takes place. Then tell where and when you would change it to. Focus on how the characters would be different and on how the plot (what happens) might change. For example, if your book takes place in 1920 and has a female character who is a nurse, you might change the time to 2006 and say that nowadays, a woman interested in medicine can be a doctor.

S-3 Become one of the characters and describe your experiences during certain events that happened in the book. Your description should be at least one page. Write in the FIRST PERSON (using “I”) and remember to use as many senses as possible in your description.

S-4 Make a cartoon of the book or a chapter or a scene (at least 8 panels in full color with text).

S-5 Describe an experience you’ve had that was like something that happened in the book. Your description should be at least one page. First, describe the event in the book, and then describe the event that happened to you.

S-6 Write a song for a character. Include a one paragraph explanation after the song of why this song is appropriate for the character.

S-7 Write an obituary for a character (must be at least one page in length; look in a newspaper for examples if you need to).

S-8 Draw a map (in color) of one place in the book, labeling landmarks and points of interest.

S-9 Find and read an interview of the author or create a review of the book. Read it and write a summary (attach a copy of the interview). What surprised you? What didn’t surprise you? Your summary should be at least one page. Gold Activities (Value 6)

G-1 Write a letter to a character. Then, have that character write a letter answering back in the voice of the character (using words they would use and saying things they would say). Each letter should be at least one page.

G-2 Pretend you are a newspaper reporter and write out an interview with one of the characters (at least 10 OPEN ended questions and answers).

G-3 Write an original song about the book (at least 20 lines). Include an explanation (one or more paragraphs) of how the song relates to the events and characters of the book.

G-4 Become a character and write a diary with at least 5 entries. Include events from the novel and how you feel about them. Write in the voice of the character (using words that they would use and saying things that they would say).

G-5 Make an illustration timeline of events in the book, make sure your timeline includes at least 10 events with a two sentence description and small picture or clipping describing each event.

G-6 Make a character up! Imagine a character that was not in the book but that could have been. Write a conversation between this character and one of the existing characters (one page) and tell how the book would change with this new character (half a page).

G-7 What could happen after the story is over? Write a brief summary (two pages) of a sequel to the book (describing the main characters; tell what the plot would be).

G-8 Write an imaginary interview with the author (at least 15 open ended questions and answers).

G-9 Write letters from one character to another, with the second character responding. Each letter should be one page and in the voice of the character.

G-10 Redesign the front and back cover of the book, complete with a blurb and quotes on the back (these should be made up).

G-11 Write a “Dear Abby” column with questions from at least four characters asking for advice and give your answers as Dear Abby (each should be at least ½ page). (“Dear Abby” is an advice column in the United States; people write to her with personal problems, and she answers in her newspaper column, giving advice on how to deal with the problem. These columnists are sometimes called “Agony Aunts”).

G-12 Get two different colored pens and choose a page from the book that you particularly liked. Begin by writing the first sentence from the page in the book in one color. Then add a sentence of your own in another color. Then go back and write the next sentence in the book. Continue alternating until you have finished the page. The sentenced of your own be reactions, or add to the action in the book in any way you like.

G-13 Make a mobile of a character from the book. On the front of each piece have a picture that represents a character; on the back have a description of the character and your favorite quote that describes them or your favorite quote that the characters said. (Try to make the mobile balance).

G-14 Write and perform a TV commercial for your book in front of the class. The performance should be at least 2 minutes and help the audience understand the plot of the story. Platinum Activities (Value 8)

P-1 What else happened? Add a character to the end of the book. This should be at least three or four pages and in the style of the book.

P-2 What do you think should have happened that didn’t? Write a chapter that’s missing in the middle of the book. This should be at least four pages and in the style of the book.

P-3 What happened first? Write a chapter that comes before the book begins. This should be at least four pages and in the style of the book.

P-4 Pick two characters from different books. Describe a meeting between the two of them (where, when and how it would take place) and write twenty or more lines of dialogue between them.

P-5 Rewrite a section of the book from different characters’ point of view rather than how it is written in the original book. This should be at least four pages and in the style of the book.

P-6 Rewrite a section of the book with yourself as a character. This should be at least four pages and in the style of the book.

Diamond Activities (Value 10)

D-1 Act out and video tap several scenes from the book. The tape should last at least ten minutes. Present it to the class.

D-2 Write and illustrate a full children’s book telling the story your book-with a cover. Make this quality work (you can use cut-outs and make sure that you include a cover).

D-3 Create your own web page. (Please see me for approval. Be sure you have a plan for what you would like to do.)

D-4 Make a whole newspaper about the book, with all the newspaper parts-comics, ads, weather, letter to the editor, etc. Recommended Reading List for Eighth Grade:

The Secret Garden / Frances Hodgson Burnett Mary Lennox lives with her rich parents in India. No one has ever really cared for her, hardly anyone knows she is even there. One day a cholera epidemic breaks out and nearly everyone dies. Mary hides in the nursery and when she wakes up the next morning, there is no one left. She is sent to England where her uncle, Archibald Craven, lives. A woman called Medlock is sent to take her the manor. Normally the 500 year old Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire moors isn’t a place for a child to grow up. There are about a thousand rooms, hundreds locked, so no one can go in. There is a big mystery about a secret garden that had been locked up ten years ago.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry / Mildred D. Taylor (Sequel: Let the Circle Be Unbroken) An African-American family living in the South during the 1930s is faced with prejudice and discrimination which the children do not understand.

Robinson Crusoe / Daniel Defoe During one of his several adventurous voyages in the seventeenth century, an Englishman becomes the sole survivor of a shipwreck and lives for nearly thirty years on a desert island.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle / Avi Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle, the only passenger on a voyage from England to America in 1832, must take serious matters into her own hands when she learns that the captain is murderous.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea / Jules Verne The classic novel in which a French professor and his companions, trapped aboard a fantastic submarine with the mad Captain Nemo, come face to face with exotic ocean creatures and strange sights hidden from the world above.

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer / James Swanson Based on rare archival material, obscure trial manuscripts, and interviews with relatives of the conspirators and the manhunters, CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER is a fast-paced thriller about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth: a wild twelve-day chase through the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia.

Old Yeller / Fred Gipson Old Yeller is eloquent story of a dog in the Texas hill country. It is an unforgettable and deeply moving experience.

The Book Thief/ Markus Zusak The majority of the novel takes place in the fictional town of Molching, Germany, near Munich, between 1939 and 1943. Death narrates the story of Liesel Meminger, beginning when she is nine years old and suffering from the death of her brother and separation from her mother. Liesel goes to live with Hans and Rosa Hubermann at 33 Himmel Street in Molching. When Liesel arrives, she can't read and is made fun of in school. She realizes how powerless she is without words, and so Hans, a painter and accordion player, teaches her how to read during midnight lessons in the basement, reading from the book Liesel took from her brother's burial: The Grave Digger's Handbook.

The Outsiders/ S.E. Hinton The Outsiders is about two weeks in the life of a 14-year-old boy. The novel tells the story of Ponyboy Curtis and his struggles with right and wrong in a society in which he believes that he is an outsider.

Of Mice and Men/ John Steinbeck Based on John Steinbeck's 1937 classic tale of two travelling companions, George and Lennie, who wander the country during the Depression, dreaming of a better life. Then, just as heaven is within their grasp, it is inevitably yanked away. The film follows Steinbeck's novel closely, exploring questions of strength, weakness, usefulness, reality and utopia, bringing Steinbeck's California vividly to life.

To Kill a Mockingbird/ Harper Lee Scout Finch lives with her brother, Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus, in the sleepy Alabama town of Maycomb. Maycomb is suffering through the Great Depression, but Atticus is a prominent lawyer and the Finch family is reasonably well off in comparison to the rest of society. One summer, Jem and Scout befriend a boy named Dill, who has come to live in their neighborhood for the summer, and the trio acts out stories together. Catcher in the Rye/ J. D. Salinger The Catcher in the Rye is set around the 1950s and is narrated by a young man named Holden Caulfield. Holden is not specific about his location while he’s telling the story, but he makes it clear that he is undergoing treatment in a mental hospital or sanatorium. The events he narrates take place in the few days between the end of the fall school term and Christmas, when Holden is sixteen years old. Holden’s story begins on the Saturday following the end of classes at the Pencey prep school in Agerstown, Pennsylvania. Pencey is Holden’s fourth school; he has already failed out of three others.

Romeo and Juliet/ William Shakespeare The story revolves around three families from Verona. The Ruling House, the House of Capulet from where Juliet hails and that of Montague, the male protagonist's family. The story commences with a street brawl fired by the feud between the Montague and Capulet families. When the Prince of Verona announces that any further feud would result in punishment, Count Paris of the ruling house expresses his desire to marry Juliet, from the House of Capulet, who is only thirteen.

Gulliver’s Travels/ Jonathan Swift Gulliver's Travels is an adventure story (in reality, a misadventure story) involving several voyages of Lemuel Gulliver, a ship's surgeon, who, because of a series of mishaps en route to recognized ports, ends up, instead, on several unknown islands living with people and animals of unusual sizes, behaviors, and philosophies, but who, after each adventure, is somehow able to return to his home in England where he recovers from these unusual experiences and then sets out again on a new voyage.

Walk Two Moons/ Sharon Creech On a road trip with her grandparents, thirteen-year old Salamanaca Tree Hiddle is retracing her lost mother’s steps on a journey from Ohio to Idaho. To pass the times, she tells a tale of her friend named Phoebe Winterbottom whose mother vanished and who received secret messages after her disappearance. One of them read, “Don’t judge a man until you have walked a in his moccasins.” Despite her father’s warning that she is “fishing in the air,” Salamanaca hopes to bring her home. By drawing strength from her Native American ancestry, she is able to face the truth about her mother.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead/ Avi “Asta’s Son” is all he’s ever been called. The lack of name is appropriate because he and his mother are poor peasants in fourteenth-century medieval England. But this thirteen-year-old boy, who thought he had little to lose, soon finds himself with even less—no home, family, or possessions. Accused of a crime he did not commit, he has been declared a “wolf’s head.” That means he may be killed on sight, by anyone. If he wishes to remain alive, he must flee his tiny village. All the boy takes with him is a newly revealed name—Crispin—and his mother’s cross of lead.

Among the Hidden/Margaret Peterson Haddix The book is the first of a series called The Shadow Children. Luke is a “third” child in a future world in which families may legally have only two children. His life is a lonely one because he must remain hidden during the day, and he can’t go to school, watch television, or use a computer without fear of discovery. He finds Jen, another third child, and she leads him into an underground shadow world of other kids like themselves.

Running Out of Time/ Margaret Peterson Haddix Clifton Village is a living museum. The 1840s come alive as families go about their daily business observed by visitors. Terror strikes when several children come down with diphtheria, and there is no medicine to treat the sick or to prevent the spread to others by vaccination. Jessie is their only hope, if she can sneak out and sneak back in with medication. What she discovers on the outside is more frightening yet!

The Wall /John Hersey This is a novel of Jewish life and revolt in the murderous Warsaw Ghetto during World War II.

Crash/Jerry Spinelli Crash Coogan and his friend, Mike DeLuca, get the greatest pleasure from bullying Penn Webb. Crash bullies Penn because he is different in so many ways. Penn is poor, a Quaker, and a vegetarian. He is also kind, tolerant, non-violent, and because he refuses to react to their antics, takes away their pleasure. As Crash and Mike’s bullying behavior comes to a peak, readers find themselves wondering what will become of this friendship.

The Truth About Truman School/ Dori Hillestad Butler Butler's novel about bullying in middle school is so very close to the truth. From cyber bullying to flat out name calling, Butler offers an unflattering, yet true-to-life, view of middle school social trends. More to the point, Butler focuses on how cruel, self- centered, and uncaring some pre-teens and teens can be. The novel's unique format is written as a series of blog-like entries from a variety of characters. Each entry is prefaced with the character's name and with an icon to identify the character. Also, the voice of the novel will appeal to young adult readers. The characters "sound" like real middle school students.

Soldier’s Hear t/Gary Paulsen This book is part fiction, part historical fact. Though not every event happened just as told, the basic events of the Civil War are recounted as they occurred, and the primary character was a real person. He lied about his age in order to enlist in the first Minnesota Volunteers at the age of 15, fought most of the war, and survived it. He died shortly after this experience, at the age of 23, from stress. He had what has come to known as “soldier’s heart.”

Number the Stars /Lois Lowry This book is set in 1943 Copenhagen and the Jews of Denmark are being “relocated,” so Annemarie Johansen’s best friend, Ellen, moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family. When Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission, she must find the courage to save her friend’s life.

Julia Singing Bear /Jewel Grutman This fictional journal was created in consultation with Lakota Sioux tribal member and Lakota Studies professor Arthur Amoitte. Julia’s journal tells of her early life with her people, notably her grandparents, and her later efforts (after her parents are killed) to bridge the gap between white and Native American cultures at the Carlisle Indian School. Gorgeous, authentic illustrations.

Farewell to Manzanar/ Jeanne Wakatuski and James Houston Evacuees begin to arrive at Manzanar, the first camp in Owens Valley on March 25, 1942, thus separating these Japanese- Americans from their homes and communities for the duration of WWII.

I know Why the Caged Bird Sings/ Maya Angelou A phenomenal #1 bestseller that has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for nearly three years, this memoir traces Maya Angelou's childhood in a small, rural community during the 1930s. Filled with images and recollections that point to the dignity and courage of black men and women, Angelou paints a sometimes disquieting, but always affecting picture of the people--and the times--that touched her life.

The House on Mango Street /Sandra Cisneros Told in a series of vignettes and stunning for their eloquence. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous, The House on Mango Street tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, whose neighborhood is one of harsh realities and harsh beauty. Esperanza doesn't want to belong--not to her rundown neighborhood, and not to the low expectations the world has for her. Esperanza's story is that of a young girl coming into her power, and inventing for herself what she will become.

The Beast /Walter Dean Myers The story of a teenage boy who earns a scholarship to a prestigious prep school; however, he continually worries about the loved ones he left behind in Harlem, especially his girlfriend who slowly is drawn into a world of drugs.

Under the Persimmon Tree /Suzanne Fisher Staples Set in war torn Afghanistan, this is the story of a young girl who first loses her father to Taliban forces, then her mother and younger brother to bomb blasts. As she travels towards the city and what she hopes is safety, another tale is unfolding, that of an American teacher living in Afghanistan who is also suffering and waiting for news of her missing husband as she teaches local children under the shelter of her persimmon tree. Reading Quest Requirement: Each quarter students will read a selected novel. Using this novel, students will complete (2) literature circle jobs per quarter. The first literature circle job is due at the mid-quarter and the second job is due at the end of the quarter. Dates will be provided by the teacher.

Literature Circle Role Description

Overview: A "Literature Circle" is a structure for talking about a book with your peers as you read it together. Students are in charge of the discussion and for setting reading assignments together (how many pages read before next discussion). There are between 4 -6 members in each literature circle, and each member rotates one of the following jobs throughout the project.

Discussion Director/Facilitator: This student is responsible for writing down 5 thought-provoking questions for the purpose of group discussion based on that day’s reading assignment. As the group Facilitator, it is also this student’s job to direct the group discussion, keep track of student work, and rate the group’s "Habits of Work" each day the group meets.

Literary Luminary/Alternate Facilitator: This student is responsible for choosing parts of the story that he/she wants to read out loud to the group. The idea is to help students remember some interesting, powerful, puzzling, or important sections of the text being read. The Literary Luminary must decide which passages or paragraphs are worth reading aloud, and justify the reason for selecting them. Additionally, if the Discussion Director is absent, this student will serve as the Facilitator.

Connector: This student is responsible for finding connections between the text his/her group is reading and the outside world. This means connecting the reading to the following: his/her own life, happenings at school or in the community, similar events at other times and places, other books or stories, other writings on the same topic, or other writings by the same author.

Character Captain: This student is responsible for revealing specific personality traits of the character(s) within the novel. This means he/she will find examples in the assigned reading of behaviors/actions that help group members to know the character(s).

Artful Adventurer: This student is responsible for sharing an artistic representation of the material read. Avenues for expression may include: artwork in any medium, music, poetry, collage, music, mobile or anything else which represents an aspect of the material read.

Vocabulary Enricher: This student is responsible for finding especially important vocabulary in the story. Vocabulary selected should focus on words that are unfamiliar, interesting, important, repetitive, funny, puzzling, descriptive, vivid or those used in an unusual way. Literature Circle – Roles Name: ______Vocabulary Enricher

Date: ______Novel you’re reading: ______Pages read to prepare for this discussion: ______

As the Vocabulary Enricher, it is your job to look for especially important vocabulary words within the book your group is reading. Words chosen should be:

* Important* Unfamiliar* Different* Puzzling

* Funny* Used in an unusual way* Interesting

List a minimum of 5 words you feel would be worth discussing with your group.

Word selected Definition based on context -- Reason word was selected: and use of dictionary is page # encouraged! where found:

When your group members meet, help them find and discuss the words you have chosen. You might discuss the following:

 How does the word fit in the story?  How does this word make you feel?  What is the etymology of this word?  What images does this word evoke?  Does this word carry any specific connotations? Literature Circle – Roles Name: ______Artistic Adventurer

As the Artistic Adventurer it is your responsibility for sharing an artistic representation of the material you read for today’s Literature Circle. Some ideas for sharing may include: a character, the setting, a problem, an exciting part, a surprise, a prediction, or anything else. Examples of genres for expression may include:

* Artwork* Music* Poetry* Collage* Mobile

Have fun! Let your imagination soar!

What I shared:______

In the space below please provide a written description of what you shared and explain how it represents a facet of the assigned reading. Literature Circle – Roles Name: ______Character Captain

As the Character Captain, it is your job to share observations you have about the main character(s). Select three adjectives that describe one or more of the characters in your novel, and support your selection with an example taken from your reading assignment.

Character Specific Example of behavior/action:

Character: Page: _____ Paragraph: _____

Adjective:

Common Character Traits: A List of Adjectives

adventurous awesome simple wonderful artistic athletic active

beautiful brave warm loud bold bossy cheerful

curious creative melancholy loyal courageous considerate daring

impulsive dainty iconoclastic unselfish dangerous exciting entertaining

energetic funny tall silly a fighter friendly fun-loving

gentle generous witty prudent happy humble hostile

honest intelligent mellow visionary independent inventive a leader

lazy messy trustworthy shy mischievous mean neat

nasty nice wild short nosy open poor

proud pretty aimless thoughtful quiet rich respectful Literature Circle – Roles Name: ______Connector

As the Connector, it is your job to find connections between the novel your group is reading and the outside world. This means connection the reading to:

* Your own life

* Happenings at school or in the neighborhood

* Similar events at other times and places

* Other books or stories

* Other writings on same topic

* Other writings by the same author

Think about a minimum of two connections today’s reading reminded you of. List the connection and explain how the events are similar.

1) ______

______

2) ______

______

______Literature Circle – Roles Name: ______Literary Luminary

As the Literary Luminary, it is your job to read aloud parts of the story to your group in order to help your group members remember some interesting, powerful, puzzling, or important sections of the text. You decide which passages or paragraphs are worth reading aloud, and justify your reasons for selecting them. Write the page numbers and paragraph numbers on this form along with the reason you chose each passage. You must choose a minimum of 3 passages.

Some reasons for choosing passages to share might include:

* Pivotal events * Informative * Descriptive * Surprising * Scary

* Thought-provoking * Funny * Controversial * Confusing * Personally meaningful

Location Reason for choosing the passage

Page _____

Paragraph ___

Page _____

Paragraph ___

Page _____

Paragraph ___ Literature Circle – Roles Name: ______Discussion Director

Date:______Novel you’re reading:______Pages read to prepare for this discussion:______

As the Discussion Director, it is your job to write down some good questions that you think your group would want to talk about. List a minimum of five thought provoking questions below.

(Think of these starters: Why..., If..., What..., Who..., and How...)

1) ______

______

2) ______

______

3) ______

______

4) ______

______

5) ______

______