jots checklist
Every time you read, you will be expected to read and think about what you are reading. Your jots SHOULD NOT be a summary or retell of what you read - assume we can figure it out or have read the book. Instead, you should jot about character, plot, or theme. You can predict themes or plot developments, question character motives and actions, give your opinions on plot development or character actions. This can take many forms. You may choose to flag specific spots in your book and write off that in your reading notebook. Throughout the year you will build a bank of jotting options that are designed to ramp up your thinking.
These jots will be graded daily using the short rubric below for work habits. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on the rubric and set reading and notebook goals for the next night.
These jots will be graded daily using the short rubric below for work habits. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on the rubric and set reading and notebook goals for the next night.
examples of jots
When you jot, it is up to YOU what kind of structure you would like to use. Be as formal and/or creative as you like, or switch the structure up once in a while! Below are a few examples of what jots could look like. Click on the thumbnails to view sample pages. Regardless of the structure(s) you choose, I will still be grading the jots using the jots checklist above.
weekly reading reflection rubric
Once a week, students will be writing a longer entry to be handed in on looseleaf; they will write this longer entry by drawing connections from their daily jots. This is where students can, for example, analyze a character, analyze issues, create and defend a theme using evidence, compare themes in texts, and/or notice figurative language and how and why authors use it. This will be graded weekly for "Work Habits"; every two weeks, students will choose their best entry to be graded for the quality of their analysis and thoughts. The rubric can be found below.
Use the sheet below to help you think of ideas for your reflections. It contains topics, along with important sentence starters that will help you grow your thinking!
(Click on the icon below to download a PDF of the document above.)
| Reflection Sentence Starters & Prompts |
reading notebook rubric
Once a month, student notebooks to assess the jots and weekly reflections overall for work habits (completion, neatness, effort) and quality of reading work (pushing thinking, depth of analysis, setting and sticking to personal reading goals). I will use a rubric that will be shared in advance. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on the rubric and set reading and notebook goals for the next week.
