1. Free-Write Prompt Make a list of your favorite books. What kind of books do you usually like to read? What kinds of books do you not like to read?

2. The Independent Reader’s Notebook Project For the next 3-4 weeks you’re going to read an independent novel of your choice. During our class time we will read independently and complete reading and writing tasks each day. At the end of each week you’ll turn in your reader’s notebook for your assignments to be graded. Today you’ll get to spend time choosing your novel…

3. Friday: DEAR Day! Tomorrow will be a DEAR day (Drop Everything and Read). During your uninterrupted reading time, you can exchange your book for another one if you’re just not feeling it.

4. Selecting a Novel: What NOT to do Selecting a novel for this project is a big deal! Keep these recommendations and guidelines in mind as you make your selection today: Don’t choose a book because of its length. We will read for 3-4 weeks, so if you finish your book before that, you’ll start a new one. Don’t choose a book just because your friends are reading it. We will work in “book clubs” occasionally, but 90% of the time it’s just you and the novel.

5. Selecting a Novel: What to do Selecting a novel for this project is a big deal! Keep these recommendations and guidelines in mind as you make your selection today: Read around the text. Look at the cover, read the back, etc. Read the first page or two. If you want to keep going after that, this might be a good book for you. Select a genre you like. This about what books you have enjoyed in the past—what genre were they? Stick to that genre, or try something new! Read the summary fromAmazon.com. Don’t read any spoilers! But, see if the novel looks like an interesting topic or story to you.

6. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl Who would like this book? Select this book if you are a nosey person. Seriously. If you like to get all up in someone’s business you might like this book. It’s someone’s actual diary. You might also like it if you’re interested in WWII, or war in general. If you liked that, you’d probably like this… Number the Stars Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Helen Keller

7. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne Who would like this book? Select this book if you like realistic-fiction. You would probably like this book if you don’t believe in happy endings. I’ll just leave it at that. You might also like it if you’re interested in WWII, history, or war in general. If you liked that, you’d probably like this… Number the Stars The Watsons Go to Birmingham

8. Night by Elie Wiesel Who would like this book? Select this book if you like memoirs, or literary nonfiction about tough subjects. You might like this book if you’re interested in religion. You might also like it if you’re interested in WWII, the Holocaust, or war in general. If you liked that, you’d probably like this… Into Thin Air Any stories of survival

9. Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson Who would like this book? Select this book if you liked The Outsiders, or literature about tough subjects. You might also like it if you’re interested in the outdoors or survivalism. If you liked that, you’d probably like this… Into Thin Air White Fang

10. DEAR Day! Tomorrow will be a DEAR day (Drop Everything and Read). During your uninterrupted reading time, you can exchange your book for another one if you’re just not feeling it.

11. So, which book did you choose? In your reader’s notebook, answer the questions below: 1. Which book are you going to choose? 2. Which books came a close second? 3. Why did you choose this novel? Explain your choice. 4. Make a few predictions about your novel.