Choice Book List

Below is a curated list of books organized by interest theme. Read each synopsis to find a story that excites you!

Adventure & Survival

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (2006)
  When thirteen-year-old Brian survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness, he must learn to rely on nature and his own resourcefulness to survive.
• Wild River Rescue by Joel Blakeney (2020)
  Join best friends Maya and Carlos on a white-water rafting trip that turns into a thrilling race to save an injured hiker.

Science & Exploration

• The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (2003)
  In a dark underground city running out of power, Lina and Doon race to decipher ancient clues that could lead their people to safety above ground.
• The Year of the Robot by Sara Prineas (2018)
  Twelve-year-old inventor Kit builds a quirky robot friend—but soon discovers her creation has mysterious abilities and attracts unwanted attention.

Mystery & Detective

• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (1978)
  Sixteen heirs compete in a puzzling will to win a fortune—and uncover a shocking secret about the late Samuel Westing.
• Greenglass House by Kate Milford (2014)
  Smuggler’s run innkeeper Milo tries to unwind at his family’s trading post—until a group of suspicious guests arrive with secrets to hide.

History & Biography

• I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis (2019)
  Through the eyes of young Jake, experience the dramatic events of the Revolutionary War—from the Battle of Long Island to crossing the icy Delaware River.
• Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming (2011)
  A compelling biography that traces Earhart’s early dreams, record-breaking flights, and the mystery of her final voyage.

Fantasy & Magic

• The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (2003)
  A brave mouse with big ears embarks on a quest to save a human princess and restore honor to his name.
• The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier (2015)
  After monsters invade their town, a group of friends builds a fortress and fights back to protect their home—and have epic adventures.

Which book will you choose?
Use your journal to note why you picked it and what you’re most curious about!

My Project Proposal Journal

Use this journal to plan a creative project connected to the book you chose. Think deeply about your goals, steps, and how your work ties back to your reading!

1. Book Title and Reflection

What is the title of the book you chose, and why did it interest you?

2. Project Idea Description

Describe your project idea in detail. What will you create, build, or research?

3. Project Goals

List two or three clear goals you hope to achieve with this project (for example, learn a new skill, share a story with others, answer a question).

4. Steps and Timeline

Outline the major steps you will take to complete your project. Next to each step, note when you’ll finish it (dates or session numbers).

5. Materials and Resources

What materials, supplies, or resources will you need? Include any books, websites, tools, or people you might consult.

6. Connection to the Book

Explain how your project connects to a theme, character, event, or idea from the book. Why is this connection important?

7. First Reflection

What excites you most about starting this project? What challenges or questions do you think you might face?

One-on-One Conferencing Guidelines

Use these guidelines to lead focused, supportive conferences that deepen reading comprehension and strengthen project planning.

1. Conference Goals

• Check comprehension of the current reading
• Identify questions, challenges, and curiosities
• Review and refine the project proposal or next steps
• Set clear, achievable goals for the next session

2. Conference Structure (15–20 minutes)

A. Warm-Up & Reading Check (3–5 min)

1. Greet the student and remind them of the session’s purpose.
2. Ask the student to summarize what they’ve read since the last meeting.
   • Prompt: “What happened in your story/chapter?”
   • Prompt: “Which part stood out to you?”

B. Comprehension Prompts (5–7 min)

• Ask open-ended questions to probe understanding:
  • “What do you think this character’s next move will be?”
  • “Why did the author describe that setting in this way?”
  • “How does this event remind you of something in your own life or another book?”
• Clarify misunderstandings by re-reading a key passage together.
• Encourage the student to make predictions and justify them with evidence from the text.

C. Project Planning Check-In (3–5 min)

• Review the student’s My Project Proposal Journal entries.
  • “What step did you complete since last time?”
  • “Which part of your project feels most challenging right now?”
• Offer targeted feedback:
  • Affirm progress: “Great job outlining your timeline—those dates look realistic.”
  • Suggest next steps: “Maybe you could sketch your poster design before writing the text.”

D. Reflection & Goal Setting (3 min)

• Ask the student to reflect:
  • “What are you most proud of from today’s reading or project work?”
  • “What’s one question or challenge you want to focus on next time?”
• Co-create 1–2 specific goals for the next session.
  • Reading goal: “Read chapters 3–5 and note two new vocabulary words.”
  • Project goal: “Draft the introduction paragraph of your report.”

E. Closing (1–2 min)

• Summarize the goals and express confidence.
• Remind the student of any materials or steps to prepare before the next meeting.

3. Notes & Follow-Up

• Record key points, questions, and agreed-upon goals on a conference log.
• Identify any additional scaffolds needed (graphic organizers, mini-lessons, modeling).
• Share a brief summary with the student (and, if needed, with other support staff or parents).

Use this guide each time you meet to ensure consistency and to track the student’s growth over the three sessions.

Reading Comprehension Guide

Use this guide to scaffold and assess student understanding before, during, and after reading. It provides prompts, response structures, and teacher notes to deepen comprehension and guide instructional feedback.

1. Pre-Reading Strategies

• Activate Prior Knowledge
– Prompt: “What do you already know about this topic or setting?”
– Teacher Note: Encourage connections to personal experience or previous texts.
• Set Purpose for Reading
– Prompt: “What do you want to learn or find out as you read?”
– Teacher Note: Record student questions and revisit them after reading.

2. During-Reading Prompts

Use these to monitor understanding. Have students jot brief notes in their guide or journal.

A. Clarify & Define
– “Which words or phrases are new or confusing? How would you explain them in your own words?”
– Teacher Note: Look for context‐based definitions and encourage use of dictionaries or glossaries.

B. Visualize
– “What picture comes to mind? Sketch or describe the scene.”
– Teacher Note: Strong visualizers refer back to sensory details in text.

C. Question
– “What are two questions you have so far? (About characters, events, or vocabulary)”
– Teacher Note: Good questions often begin with why, how, or what if.

D. Connect
– “How does this part remind you of your life, another book, or the world?”
– Teacher Note: Text‐to‐self, text‐to‐text, and text‐to‐world connections deepen meaning.

E. Infer & Predict
– “What do you think will happen next? What clues in the text support your prediction?”
– Teacher Note: Look for evidence—quotes or paraphrases—to support inferences.

3. Post-Reading Tasks

Ask students to develop fuller responses. Expect paragraph‐length answers (3–5 sentences).

A. Summary
– Prompt: “In your own words, what happened in this chapter or section?”
– Teacher Note: A complete summary includes main characters, setting, major events, and resolution or cliffhanger.

B. Main Idea & Details
– Prompt: “What is the main idea? List two or three details that support it.”
– Teacher Note: Check that details directly relate to the main idea.

C. Character Analysis
– Prompt: “Choose one character. Describe their traits, motivations, and how they change.”
– Teacher Note: Strong responses use evidence (dialogue, actions) to support trait claims.

D. Theme & Author’s Message
– Prompt: “What lesson or message does the author convey? How do events point to that theme?”
– Teacher Note: Themes are universal ideas—not just “friendship” but how friendship grows through challenges.

E. Vocabulary Application
– Prompt: “Select three new words, define them, and use each in an original sentence.”
– Teacher Note: Watch for correct usage and nuanced understanding.

F. Opinion & Evaluation
– Prompt: “Do you agree with a character’s decision? Why or why not? Refer to the text.”
– Teacher Note: Strong opinions are backed by text evidence and personal reasoning.

4. Response Structure & Teacher Rubric

When evaluating student answers, look for these components:

Use a 3‐point scale for each response:
• 3 = Meets all components clearly and accurately
• 2 = Meets some components; evidence may be weak or incomplete
• 1 = Limited response; missing key elements or evidence

5. Graphic Organizer Suggestions

• Story Map: setting, characters, problem, events, resolution
• Character Web: central trait in middle, evidence bubbles around
• T-Chart: Claim vs. Evidence for inferences or opinions

6. Conferencing & Feedback

• During one-on-one conferences, refer to student notes in the journal or guide.
• Highlight strong evidence use and point out where details are missing.
• Pose next-step questions: “Can you find another quote to support that idea?”

Use this guide each session to ensure consistency in comprehension instruction, to track growth, and to provide targeted feedback aligned with student needs.