1. Name:_________________________ The New Independent Reading Curriculum
Democracy in Education: Created by you—the people—for you—the people
In an effort to combat “Readicide,” the systematic killing of the love of reading, which can sometimes occur in IRLA classrooms, you and your peers have had a hand in creating the following independent reading curriculum. Please read over the new curriculum carefully, and be prepared to discuss any questions you may have. In addition, please share this updated curriculum with your parents.
Required number of novels per Marking Period:
MP 1: Two independent reading books are required
MP 2: Two independent reading books are required
MP 3: Two independent reading books are required
MP 4: Two independent reading books are required
Required assignments:
Online Book Reviews: Complete the google form located on Ms. Scupp’s webpage. The google form can be found on the home page of Ms. Scupp’s website, beneath the photo of her adorable dog, Emerson. The online book review must be completed for every book that is read this marking period in order to factor into the class competition.
One Creative Project: Choose your favorite book that you’ve read this marking period and complete one of the creative projects specified on the project sheet. Each project comes complete with explicit directions that should be followed in order to receive full credit for the assignment. Be sure to read over the creative project directions thoroughly and feel free to ask any questions you may have. If you feel that you have another creative idea that is not listed on the project sheet, please get it approved by either Ms. Scupp or Mrs. Lipman (period 4) prior to beginning your project.
Projects are due and presentations will take place on the following dates (11/4; 1/22; 4/8; 6/10).
Optional Book Clubs: Your peers and you will have the opportunity to create mini-book clubs within your class period. For your book club groups, you should research interesting novels/books that you and your peers would like to read collectively, and should use independent reading time to meet for mini-discussions. As a book club, you will be required to hold regular discussions, create an agenda of discussion questions/topics, and create one collaborative group project. If you plan to meet within a book club group, you must notify, Ms. Scupp and Mrs. Lipman by the first Friday of every marking period (9/18; 11/13; 1/29; 4/15).
Questions:

2. List of Creative Projects
Name:________________________________
List of Creative Projects
Directions: Choose your favorite book that you’ve read this marking period and complete one of the following creative projects. Each project comes complete with explicit directions that should be followed in order to receive full credit for the assignment. Be sure to read over the creative project directions thoroughly and feel free to ask any questions you may have. If you feel that you have another creative idea that is not listed on the project sheet, please get it approved by either Ms. Scupp or Mrs. Lipman (periods 5 &8) prior to beginning your project.
Book Talk:
Present your book to the class. Include the following: a summary in which you do not give away the ending; why you chose the book, why you liked the book, and to whom you’d recommend the book. You should also bring the book to show the class and to pass it around for everyone to see.
Book Trailer:
Create a book trailer that highlights the characters, setting, and conflict of your novel. Use effective images or acting in order to entice the audience to want to read the book and insert strong use of text to convey meaning. Your book trailer should follow the format of a movie trailer, and should combine effective music that matches the tone of the book, text that illustrates what is happening, and images that connect to the story.
Character Scrapbook:
Create a character scrapbook that includes information about the character’s life in the form of visuals. Include information about their friends, their families, their enemies, their triumphs, their conflicts, their interests, and their personalities. Your scrapbook should have at least five pages and should include multiple aspects about the character’s life. Your scrapbook should also include a one-page explanation about what each page in the book is showing.
Fan Fiction:
Either rewrite an important scene in the novel or write an additional scene for the novel. Your rewrite should be a minimum of two pages in length, double-spaced. You must turn in a copy of the original scene along with your rewritten one. Be sure to mirror the author’s writing style and incorporate connections to the text within your piece of fan fiction.
Author thank you:
Craft a thank you letter in which you “thank” the author for their written craft. Cite important information about why you are thanking them. What did you like? Why did you connect with the book? What was your favorite scene? What questions do you have? Ms. Scupp will review your letter and if you’d like, she will mail it to your author. Your thank you letter must be typed, and must be at least one page in length.

3. Graphic Novel:
Transform your book into a graphic novel by picking one major scene and illustrating it as a graphic novel (or comic strip). Your graphic novel should be at least one illustrated page in length and should include text, in the form of dialogue and captions, in order to explain what is happening in each illustration. Your illustrations must be neat, presentable, and in color. If creating a comic strip, you must complete twelve comic book scenes.
Book Podcast:
Voice record yourself reviewing the book, by pretending that you are the host of your own radio program. Begin your podcast by introducing yourself, the show (create a neat title and provide background information), and begin reviewing the book. During your review, be sure to mention the book title, the author, provide a brief summary (without giving away the ending); rate the text, explain your rating, and recommend the book to specific listeners. Additional options: have a friend act as a guest on the show, or as the author, and complete an interview about the text.
Create a song/poem/rap:
Use your creative abilities to craft either a song, poem, or rap about the text. You may use an existing song, but should re-create the lyrics in order to illustrate what is happening in your book. Be as creative as you’d like, but be sure to have multiple connections to the characters/events in the book. In addition, your song, poem, or rap must be at least one page in length.
Character Playlist:
Choose one main character and create a playlist of 10 songs that represent either: their emotional development throughout the text, their progress, their interaction with other characters, or the plot line of the text. For the playlist, type up a list of the songs and write a paragraph explanation for why each song connects to the book. For three extra credit points, burn the songs onto a CD.
Character collage:
Create a character collage on a poster-size piece of paper that combines graphics and text that connect to the character’s life and the main ideas of the book. Your collage should be visually appealing and should illustrate connections to the text. Type a one page description about what your collage represents and adhere it to the back of your collage.
Standard Entry:
Type a three paragraph entry in which the first paragraph summarizes the text, the second paragraph connects a quote from the novel to the book’s overall message, and the third paragraph connects the book to your life.