1. Reading
challenge
The Power of Reading

2. FREE READING
• “No single literacy activity has a more positive effect on
students‟
comprehension,
vocabulary knowledge,
spelling,
writing ability
and overall academic achievement
than free voluntary reading.”
-Stephen Krashen

3. Did you know?
The average adult
American reads only 4
books per year.

4. TYPES OF BOOKS
• Poetry anthologies
• Traditional literature
(folk tales, folk lore,
etc)
• Realistic fiction
• Historical fiction
• Fantasy
• Science fiction
• Mystery
• Informational
• Biography/autobiogra
phy/memoir
• choices

5. 8th grade challenge
•20 books
•ONE from each category
•11+ books your choice

6. 7th grade challenge
•15 books
•ONE from each category
•6+ books your choice

7. 6th grade challenge
•12 books
•ONE from each category
•3+ books your choice

8. 5th grade challenge
•10 Books
•5 books from category list
•5 books your choice

9. activities
• Readers‟ notebook
• Book reviews
• Poetry month
• Book commercials
• “reports”

10. POETRY
• 1. Definition: shortened form of writing
• 2. uses metaphors, similes, personification
• 3. poet expresses feelings or opinions
• 4. MAY follow a form or have structure

11. traditional
• 1. Definition: stories passed down from generations
• 2. myths, legends, folk tales, fairy tales, nursery
rhymes, tall tales
• 3. foundation for fantasty

12. Realistic fiction
• 1. Characters: everyday people doing everyday
things “Could this happen today?”
• 2. Setting: modern day/time, realistic place
• 3. Plot: realistic events

13. Historical fiction
• 1. Characters: famous/real event in history
• 2. Setting: could be historical site, pre 1970ish
• 3. Plot: historical event

14. Fantast y
• 1. Characters: talking animals, mythical creatures,
magic users
• 2. Setting: often medieval, time travel, magical
• 3. Plot: hero‟s journey/quest, often good v. evil

15. Science fiction
• 1. Characters: mutants, robot, alien, “mad”
scientist, thinking computers
• 2. Setting: advanced tech cities, spaceships, other
solar systems, time travel,
• 3. Plot: alien attacks, time travel, tech/experiment
gone wrong

16. Mystery
• 1. Characters: detective, investigators, spies
• 2. Setting: possible crime scene, detective agency,
haunted/strange house
• 3. Plot: crime, mysterious event

17. informational
• Purpose: provides information – nonfiction, science,
crafts, sports, social studies, articles,

18. Biography, autobio,
memoir
• 1. Biography: story of someone‟s life, written by
another
• 2. Autobiography: story of someone‟s life, written
by themselves
• 3. Memoir: a short account of the author‟s
experiences, memories, written by themselves

19. Notebook
• 1. Tally list-lists categories and number of books required from each
• 2. Reading list-Each book you‟ve attempted (not finished), and
each book you‟ve finished. List the title, author, date finished,
difficulty of book (your scale), and a BRIEF summary (2 sentences)
You may list any information about the book that may help you in
further assignments. ONE page per book. Allow 25-30 pages.
• 3. Books to Read/Shopping List/Recommendations-these
are books that you have heard or read about that you would like to
read, including sequels.
• 4. Response Entries-”Journaling” about a book
• 5. Activities-book reviews, „reports‟, commercials, poem to
memorize

20. resources
• www.rif.org
• www.arbookfind.com
• www.scholastic.com

21. Chris Crowe
english editor and columnist – a want for his own children
• “I‟d like just once, to have one of them
stagger into the kitchen, bleary-eyed and
late for breakfast, because of staying up
all night to finish a novel. I‟d love to see
them curled up on the couch rereading a
favorite book. I would go to my grave a
contented old man if once before I die,
and before my kids grow up, I could hear
one of my children talking excitedly to a
friend about a book just finished.”