October Book-of-the-Month Assignment

You are again selecting a novel of over one hundred pages, at or near your own reading level, and not on the Do-Not-Read list.  Select a different sort of novel from what you read last month. Sign up for your novel to have it approved by the teacher.  Make sure your parents also approve of you reading that book.

For best practice reading, students should be reading from 100 points below their assigned lexile to 50 points above.   To find your own lexile score, see your print-out or the note/comment with your grade on Skyward for taking the SRI test. For those with scores above 1200, they could be reading anything at a seventh grade level and above, but should be providing themselves with some challenge!

To find the lexile score for a book, look for the label in our media center books, or go to lexile.com and search for your book title.  The Lexile site does not have all books, but does have many. 

Remember to select a book you can read within the allotted time. 

October Book-of-the-Month Assignment

Character Book-of-the-Month Assessment adapted.doc

extra character notes.doc

Recommended Books and Books Not Allowed

Sample notes: October 2010 Book of the Month Samples

This is the sheet we will use when we write and grade these: 

October Book-of-Month Grading.doc 

 

 Another Example:

Book-of-the-Month Club Assessment about Character

Title    __The Lost Hero___________________

Author           ____Rick Riordan____________

Date started/completed   10/12/10_/__________    Pages read  553 __

Rating of the book (1-10)    ________   Date your project is due _10/19/10

Instructions:             Select a character from your novel, probably a main character.

Step 1: Read and take notes on the character.  (Pick up more of these sheets if needed.)

The character’s name:   Jason
Don’t forget to include the page numbers where you find the information.
how the character is described by the narrator	p. 7 "jeans and sneakers, a purple T-shirt, and a black windbreaker." p. 39 there is a tattoo on his arm -- "a dozen straight lines like a bar code, and over than an eagle with the letters SPQR."
how the character is described by other characters	Piper describe him: p. 33 "Jason stood right next to her: those sky blue eyes, close-cropped blond hair, that cute little scar on his upper lip.  His face was kind and gentle, but always a little sad." p. 7 Leo: "We go to the 'Wilderness School" . . . Which means we're "bad kids".. . . p. 15 Coach Hedge: "You've got a powerful way with the mist, kid.. . . You smell like a half-blood." p. 21 Dylan: "I'm glad I waited, demigod. . . . my mistress said a third was coming -- someone special. . . " p. 33 Annabeth: "You seem to know a lot, Jason." p. 45 Annabeth, describing all of the demigods: ". . . we're hard-wired for battle. Restless, impulsive, we don't fit in with regular kids." p. 49 Piper thinks of Jason (at least the way she thinks it was) : "He was so nice to her and so patient, he could even put up with hyperactive Leo. . . He's accepted her for herself and didn't judge her. . . "
what the character does	p. 23  He pulls out the coin and suddenly it becomes a sword. p. 25 . . . his instincts won. . . He ran to the railing and jumped over the side. floating in midair a hundred feet above the river. . . .27 Jason thought  Up, and instantly they shot skyward. p. 33 "He just stared at the horizon, not even noticing her."
what the character says and how he or she says it	p. 7 "I don't know who I am." p. 30 "I'm not going anywhere with her. . . . She looks like she wants to kill me." (referring to Annabeth)
what the character thinks	p. 3 [kids on the bus] "all looked around his age. . . fifteen? Sixteen? Okay, that was scary.  He didn't know his own age." p. 4 "He was sure the coach knew he didn't belong there." p. 9 about Dylan: "Jason hated him instantly." p. 9 about Leo: "Jason figured that if this was his best friend, his life must be pretty messed up; . . . " p. 10 "He may not remember. . . ., but he knew he hated mean kids." p. 12 He thinks "crazy gods," and gets a piercing pain behind his eyes.  "He felt like he'd gotten close to something important -- something he should know about. He also got the unmistakable feeling that he was in danger." p. 12-13  he wonders how he came to have the gold coin and how he knew he was going to need it soon. p. 14 Leo asks, "you think you just appeared here this morning, and we've all got fake memories of you? "  "A little voice in Jason's head said, That's exactly what I think. p. 15  When Coach Hedge affirms that Jason doesn't belong there, Jason "was so relieved he almost wanted to cry. At least he wasn't going insane."

 Getting ready to write my essay:

How Jason affects others	Adjectives  to describe Jason
Everyone seems to think he is using the “mist” to make Piper and Leo think they’ve known him all semester.	At the beginning of the book he is CONFUSED. He doesn't remember who he is or how he got where he is or how old he is.  Yet he seems to know things (about the Gods and monsters).
He confused and perhaps frightened Dylan, the wind spirit.	He shows that he is BRAVE when he jumps off the skywalk to save Piper.
He seems to make Coach Hedge angry -- and confused.	Piper thinks he is KIND.
	He seems to be POWERFUL.  He can move through air -- rising on a column of air far above the ground/rive.   He has the coin that turns into a sword.  The monster Dylan says his mistress will reward him especially well for getting Jason. Hedge calls him the "special package."

Character Traits – List 2

Characters (and real-life people) have unique attributes called traits. Use the following list of character traits as a guideline when writing book reports and essays about the different characters you've read about. Don't stop with this list, though; you can probably think of many more terms to describe your characters.

# Honest

# Light-hearted

# Leader

# Expert

# Brave

# Conceited

# Mischievous

# Demanding

# Thoughtful

# Keen

# Happy

# Disagreeable

# Simple

# Fancy

# Plain

# Excited

# Studious

# Inventive

# Creative

# Thrilling

# Independent

# Intelligent

# Compassionate

# Gentle

# Proud

# Wild

# Messy

# Neat

# Joyful

# Strong

# Bright

# Courageous

# Serious

# Funny

# Humorous

# Sad

# Poor

# Rich

# Tall

# Dark

# Light

# Handsome

# Pretty

# Ugly

# Selfish

# Unselfish

# Self-confident

# Respectful

# Considerate

# Imaginative

# Busy

# Patriotic

# Fun-loving

# Popular

# Successful

# Responsible

# Lazy

# Dreamer

# Helpful

# Simple-minded

# Humble

# Friendly

# Short

# Adventurous

# Hard-working

# Timid

# Shy

# Bold

# Daring

# Dainty

# Pitiful

# Cooperative

# Lovable

# Prim

# Proper

# Ambitious

# Able

# Quiet

# Curious

# Reserved

# Pleasing

# Bossy

# Witty

# Fighter

# Tireless

# Energetic

# Cheerful

# Smart

# Impulsive

# Loyal

Character Traits list from

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  Previously published 10/2/10