INDEPENDENT READING
GUIDELINES
Reading
Ms. Byrns
GUIDELINES:
There are three parts to this assignment: reading logs, post-it notes and an interactive reading
journal. You will write a summary of each chapter and you will be record your thinking on post-it
notes and transfer one of them into your journal. You will be writing one entry in your journal each
week. At the end of the quarter, you should have a total of 10 entries.
GRADING:
READING LOG:
Reading logs are a place to record how many pages you have read and the amount of time you read. You
should be reading a minimum of 2 nights a week, 3o minutes each night. This reading log will be checked
in class daily. Everyone reads at a difference pace and each book is of varied length; therefore you may
read 2-5 books during the quarter. This log will be counted as a homework grade.
POST-IT NOTE ANNOTATIONS:
As you are reading, you will be recording your thinking. You will use your READING strategies to help
you comprehend the text you are reading. Any time you make a connection or prediction, ask a question
or write a comment you will place it on a post-it note on that page. The post- it notes will have the page
number listed at the top right hand corner.
INTERACTIVE READING JOURNAL:
While you are reading your independent book, you must keep an INTERACTIVE READING
JOURNAL. After completing your weekly reading, write a brief summary (no more than a
paragraph) of significant events. The summary should be written on the left side of the log. Please
record the date, chapter number/title, and pages read with each summary.
Next to the summary—on the opposite side of the entry—record your interaction with the text.
Each interactive response entry should be about one paragraph in length. You can't be wrong in
your responses, as these reflect your personal reactions to the text. Take some risks and be honest.
Use the sample prompts to help you get started with expressing your likes/dislikes, confusion, and
observations. Tell me what you think something means. Make predictions about what might
happen later. Use your personal experiences to connect with the plot, characters, setting, etc. Each
journal entry is worth 10pts. The interactive journal will count as 100 point test grade.
NOTE: The points earned for the Interactive Reading Journal and Post-It notes will add up to be
counted as a test grade.
Sample Interactive Prompts:
 I really don't understand the part where . . .
 I really like/dislike this idea because . . .
 This character reminds me of somebody I know because . . .
 This character reminds me of myself because . . .
 I think this setting is important because . . .
 This scene reminds me of a similar scene in (title of book/movie/T.V. show) because . . .
 I like/dislike this writing because . . .
 This part is very realistic/unrealistic because . . .
 I think the relationship between ______and ______ is interesting because . . .
 This section makes me think about . . .
 I like/dislike (name of character) because . . .
 This situation reminds me of a similar situation in my own life. What happened was . . .
 If I were (name of character) at this point, I would . . .
 I began to think of . . .
 I love the way . . .
Your Interactive Reading Log will look similar to this:
 I can't believe . . .
 I wonder why . . .
SUMMARY
INTERACTION
 I noticed . . .
 I think . . .
Date
Write
Write about one
Chapter
approximately
paragraph telling
 I'm not sure . . .
Pages
Read
one
paragraph
me what you think
 My favorite character is ___ . . .
describing what
or feel about what
 I like the way the author . . .
happened in the
you read. OR Choose
 I felt sad when . . .
pages you read.
four or five of the
 I wish that . . .
phrases from the
“Sample Interactive
 I was surprised . . .
Prompts” list to
 It seems like . . .
complete.
 I'm not sure . . .
 I want to know more about . . .
 I predict . . .
NOTE: If your book does not have chapters, you may write a summary of the pages that you have read
during the course of that week.