Sixth Grade Reading Requirements
Dear Student,
2015-2016
As a middle school student, you need to step it up a notch and be a reader (if you already are not). This year
we will read A LOT. You (the student) are to read 30 books over the course of the year. This might seem like
an insane amount of books to read, but think about it…. You are to read for 150 minutes each week (or at
least 30 minutes each night for 5 days—on the average), you read for 5-10 minutes every Monday and
Wednesday during the class period (independently), and SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) each week in Advisory.
As a student, you are MORE THAN capable of getting these reading requirements accomplished, and just
think, you can look back on your 6th grade year and know that you read 30 BOOKS! I’ve found that once you
get hooked in a book, reading becomes a habit in your daily life.
But you say, “How are we going to do this? There is NO WAY I can read that many books!” Oh, but you can!
To become strong readers, we have to read often. We have to pick up books and we have to READ, READ,
READ! Every day! The more we practice reading, the better we’ll become. We’ll read in class; we’ll read at
home; we’ll read fiction and non-fiction; we’ll read with our friends; and we’ll read alone. And when it’s all
said and done at the end of the year, we’ll have some serious stamina and reading muscles! We’ll even learn
new strategies to try when we read and find new genres to explore. But those are the frosting, not the cake.
You must have a book with you always, not just reading. You will read in class, at home, in your free time, and
whenever else you can squeeze it in (in the car, on the bus, in the doctor’s office, in the grocery store,…)
So what does this look like in our class?
This means you need to choose books that are “Just-Right” for you. You need to think of yourself as the
reading machine! You will choose your own books. You have MANY topics to chose from, but also some
requirements (not the titles/authors of books, but the kinds of books) to make sure your reading diet has
variety. You will need to keep track of your books on your book log and use a bookmark to chart your
progress. You will need to keep a tally list for each genre on your book log. I will be conferencing with you on
a regular basis to check in and make sure you’re finding books best suited for you, taking a status of the class,
and responding to your book. You’ll also have a chance to talk to me and the class about your books.
Here is a rundown of the 30 book genre requirement:
3 Realistic Fiction
3 Mystery
3 Historical Fiction
2 Fantasy
2 Science Fiction
2 Action/Adventure (Survival)
2 Traditional Literature (which is Fairy Tales/
Folklore/Fables/Legends/Mythology)
1 Graphic Novel
1 Poetry Anthologies
3 Informational
2 Autobiography/Biography/Memoir
6 Chapter-books of your choice
What do I do with all these books?
You need to read them and talk about them, but at times I will ask you to write about them on a homework
sheet or responding to a question. This will give you a chance to talk about your favorites, show me how you
are “Thinking Deeply” about the book. (This though is not a book report or a book project.) You will be
writing about your book on a weekly basis for your Reading Homework Sheet by answering questions about
your book as a way to communicate your understanding of the book. You may also have book conferences
with me and your peers about the books you are reading. Remember, you need to have a well-balanced diet,
so reading from just one genre will not keep you a healthy reader!
Bookmarks, Reading Goals and Book Logs
You will also need to keep track of the books you are reading. To help you keep track of your books, you will
also be asked to keep a bookmark for each of the books you read, and I will check in with you a few times a
week to see where you are in your reading. (These will be mini-conferences.) You will also keep track of how
long you read on the back of your bookmark by shading in time you read. You will set goals for reading books
during each interim grading period. You will set goals for the types of books you read and make plans for how
long you will need to read that book in order to finish. These goals may seem like too much, but setting goals
in your school life will help you in your daily life. Book logs help you to keep track of what you have
accomplished and help you find out what genres you’ve read or still need to read. Your book log will be added
onto throughout the school year. Your book logs should match your goals.
You say, “But what if I’m reading a book at home and a book at school?” I (the teacher) still want to know.
You should be recording all the books that you have read over the year. Take a bookmark on all of your books.
This will help you determine too if this is a “Just-Right” book for you.
That’s not all…
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In addition to your independent reading, each month we will focus on a genre. These are books I pick
to introduce a genre or because I think the book is so good I just have to share it. There might even be
a class read aloud, or a literature set book (small group of kids reading the same book) that you will
read in addition to your independent book. The books will be the basis of our mini lessons and some
touchstone texts we can use to discuss reading. But you may say, “Can I count these books towards
my reading requirements?” Teacher: “Yes you can!”
New this year to 6th grade is the use of iPads. That means we might even do cool things with blogs or
sharing posts/reviews about the books you are reading. There’s so many possibilities, we might try
new things throughout the year!
Note to Parents: I do not give book lists for students to read. I believe there are too many good books out
there for students to enjoy. I do, however, refer to some lists to give students the options/choices. Your child
can read books from school, home, the library or from whatever source you choose. My classroom books are
available for all kids, but parents always have the final say on what their children read.
Remember, you’re a reader, so READ whenever you can!