Scholars in Room 239
We are a class of seventh graders in suburbia.
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Independent Reading Challenge

Reading Challenge

This year, you are being challenged to read at least THIRTY books! You may think that's a lot. A TON. AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT! But, in reality, it's not. It's very feasible. And you CAN do it. One book at a time. Twenty minutes a day. You develop a routine, and it all adds up!

High Schoolers Explain...

15 Reasons WHY We Should Read

Why should I read??

A good book...can change us.
  ...reading stories can actually improve your social skills by helping you better understand other human beings. The process of entering imagined worlds of fiction builds empathy and improves your ability to take another person's point of view. It can even change your personality.
  ...as we read fiction, we...also learn more about ourselves, others, and how we might relate to one another.
  Reading great literature...enlarges and improves us as human beings.

Taken from -- Beers, K., & Probst, R. (2013). Notice & Note: Strategies for close reading.  Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann
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Having a difficult time actually READING during independent reading time? Ask a teacher or parent to observe you for just ten minutes, over a three-day period, using this document. Make your observations, have a discussion, and decide on a plan to help you succeed. This idea is from Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller with Susan Kelley, 2014.

New Year's Reading Resolutions!

100 Reading Resolutions - Checklist from Scholastic
2015 Reading Challenge - Checklist of 50 TYPES of Books
Reading Bingo - Want something a tad bit smaller? 24 Ideas here...

Instagram?!

How can my Instagram account help me read more books? Well, check out what books are being read on the #bookstagram and #bibliophile hashtags! Want to make your own posts more alluring? Check out this intriguing post from Book Riot!

Visiting another country?

This list of books is for you! (These adult books may have mature themes. Check with a parent before reading.)

​Here are the books that students in 28 countries read... Are you up for the challenge?

Personal Reading Challenge Ideas...

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The Open Library - online reading!

But what should I read next??

Here are some links to get you started:

       Best Books for Middle Schoolers (according to 7th graders!)
       Book Me - Personalized reading suggestions from AHML!

Put in the last good book you read into these tools...
       What should I read next? - put in the last good book you read
       Stumble Upon - Works just like "What should I read next?" above
       Your Next Read - put in the last good book you read
       Book Seer - put in the last good book you read
       Destiny Discover - put in the last good book you read, and click "explore"
 
       Book Genie - 
              click on the photos to find the next book you're in the mood to read

       The Book Doctor - Use your personal email OR Mrs. Kirr's email to fill in
​       this form (from a HS student). Check your email regularly for a response!

       24 Books That Will Make You Stay Up Late Reading

       Young Adult Books in Series & Sequels

       The Split - Young Adult Book Review Podcasts

       Chapter Chat - Book Reviews BY 6th graders

       7th Graders' Best Books of the Year (with previous years, too!) (+2020)

       Teen Lit Reviews - books reviewed BY teens, FOR teens

       Great Reads for Fun - books reviewed BY high schoolers,
​               FOR high schoolers

       Books in the Middle - book reviews for middle school and up

       Literature Map - put in an author that you like

       Go Book Yourself - a Tumblr account that is updated often w/new recs.

​       Mrs. Ripp's Best Books for Middle Schoolers (decided by MSers)

​       Mrs. Heise Reads - a blog about current MS and YA books

       The Loft - myriad (a lot of!) recommendations

       The Ultimate Guide of Books for Reluctant Readers aged 12-13!

       Books for Middle School Boys (blog post)

       Top 10 Books for Adolescent Boys Who Hate Reading (blog post)

       13 Middle Grade Thrills & Chills for Tween Horror Buffs

       10 Middle Grade Books Featuring Girls in Sports

       Reluctant Readers will get HOOKED by these Books! (blog post)

       Best Books for Ages 9-14 !

       Best Ever Teen Books - 100 !

​       50 Best YA Books of All Time

       Great Graphic Novels for Teens

       Arlington Hts. Memorial Library Teen Page

       Rebecca Caudill Award-Winning Books

       
Nutmeg Book Award - Middle to High School - Connecticut

       Cybils Award - Middle-Grades Fiction

       Goodreads.com Middle School Book List

       Goodreads.com Popular Teen Books

       Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award

       American Library Association Winners - 2016

       Love Reading Map
- Find books based on their locations!

       Summer staycation? Travel the world through books!

       TMS LMC Page

       Novelist - from your AHML library! 

       Book Reviews and Resources

       For Reading Emergencies - Book reviews by middle school students

       BEST BOOKS of 2016

If you are an avid reader, be sure to help others choose their next book by adding to this document: If you liked this book...

When you find more sites that deserve to be on this list, let me know!

Articles of the Week - click here

How do you spot a FAKE news story?
​                            Here is a checklist (not perfect!) to help you.

Considering a gift?

Some parents are too generous, and may consider giving your teacher or your ELA class a gift. If this is the case, please rethink food, and instead consider Amazon or Barnes & Noble - you will be giving more current books to our classroom library! THANK YOU!
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From the Solitary Bibliophile - http://atomicm0m.blogspot.com/

How We Share the World <--click to read

WILD Readers - Challenge Yourself

You are already a WILD reader? How do you keep reading engaging and fresh? By setting a challenge for yourself! Here are a few challenges - see which one will suit you this year, or come up with a new one for yourself to share with us. Thank you to Mrs. Mizerny (@CherylTeaches) for the ideas!

The Nerdbery Challenge - Read the Newbery Award winning books.
Book-A-Day Challenge - Read a book every day (can be picture books, blog posts, articles, etc...).
Book Gap Challenge - What are your book gaps? What don't you read, and why? Figure out your gap, and set a challenge for yourself to fill that gap.
Geography Challenge - Choose novels that take place in different countries or states in the U.S. Read novels from at least four different geographic locations.
Immigration Challenge - Read these eleven books.
​
Make a Book Club Challenge - Create a book club, choose a time, choose a book, and read with a club! Share your thoughts, then choose another book.
Read Harder Challenge - Don't just read, read harder!
Series Challenge - Find a series of three or more books and read every book in the series.
Design Your OWN Challenge! - There are many other challenges out there. On the Internet, there are challenges such as The Rory Gilmore Challenge, the recommended "Must Read in Middle School" lists, The Mighty Girl Website recommended list, Read-Alike lists (the types that are "If you loved ___, then try ___), and many more. If 30 books feels overwhelming, you may simply determine the number of books that you feel you could realistically read in a month/year and make that your challenge.
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