The 40 Book Challenge

“Failure is not an option, so why talk about it?” - Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer

You Want Me To Do What?

You will be reading FORTY books this year. This includes books that we read together for class.

You will be reading from a variety of genres in order to explore books you might not ordinarily read and to develop an understanding of literary elements, text features, and text structures.

The Expectations

Poetry anthologies/novels: 2

Traditional literature: 2

Realistic fiction: 6

Historical fiction: 2

Fantasy: 4

Science fiction: 3

Mystery: 2

Informational: 5

Biography, autobiography, memoir: 2

Personal-choice chapter books: 11

Something REALLY important

Any book you read that is more than 350 pages long will count as TWO books.

Noteworthy: POETRY ANTHOLOGIES/NOVELS

Shortened form of writing

Contains figurative language – similes, metaphors, personification

Author’s expression of feelings, opinions

May follow a form/structure but does not have to

POETRY ANTHOLOGIES

Noteworthy:

REALISTIC

FICTION

NOTEWORTHY: HISTORICAL FICTION

Takes place in the past (forty years before now is considered historical)

Plot (storyline) contains historical events

Characters may be historical figures

HISTORICAL

FICTION

NOTEWORTHY: Fantasy

Contains unrealistic or unworldly elements

Characters may have magical powers in addition to human qualities

Theme is often focused on good versus evil

Fantasy

NOTEWORT

HY:

Science

Fiction

Noteworthy: Mystery

Involves something unknown

Centered around person investigating wrongdoing or obtaining secret information

Mystery

Noteworthy:Traditional Literature

NOTEWORT

HY:

Information

al

NOTEWORTHY: BIOGRAPHY

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

MEMOIR

40 Book Challenge

How you will be graded: Grades will be based on documentation of reading log,

postings on Hardin’s Chalkboard (Facebook) and average test scores (not AR points!) each quarter. Keep a reading log

Document reading with Ms. Hardin’s signature

Read novels that are upper middle school or above for reading levels.

Each week:

Post two discussions on Hardin’s Chalkboard Facebook page:

Book summary in your own words (1-2 sentences) Book recommendation (who would like this book?) Comment on five peer threads.

Take AR test on books you have read.

Your quarter grade is based on average test scores (not AR points!)

Information taken from:

http://kirstenfoti.wikispaces.com/file/view/The%20Forty%20Book%20Challenge%202011-2012%20PPT.pdf