Reading Response Topics

Students are expected to read for 20 minutes each night. Once a week students should chose one of the following activities/questions to respond to their reading. Students should refer back to the text to support their responses when possible.

Keep this in your binder!

Fiction
  • What type of fiction is your book? Refer to the text to support your answer. (Historical, realistic, science, mystery, humorous)
  • Describe the character traits of the main character. Refer to the text to support your answer.
  • When and where does the story take place? How do you know?
  • How would the story change if the setting/time were different?
  • List examples of figurative language found in your text. Explain the meaning of each example.
  • (Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, Personification, Onomatopoeia, Idiom)
  • Draw a bubble map of the main idea and include 4 supporting details.
  • What is the theme of this book? (Author’s message)
  • From which point of view (first/third person) is this story being told? Refer to the text to support your answer.
  • Would you read any other books by this author? Explain why.
/ Non-Fiction/Informational
  • Describe 3 things you learned. Refer to the text to support your answer.
  • Write 5 questions you still have about this topic.
  • Explain how the text features aided in your comprehension of the text. (graphics, time lines, diagrams, maps)
  • Write a summary of the story you read (about 20 words).

Autobiography/Biography
  • What does this person’s life make you think or wonder about?
  • What surprised you most about this person?
  • How does this person’s life remind you of your own or someone you know?
  • What are some challenges this person faced in their life?
  • What kind of person is the character? Use evidence from your reading.
  • Write a summary of the story you read (about 20 words).
  • How did the person’s actions affect the lives of others?

Fable, Tall Tale, Fairy Tale
  • What moral/lesson did you learn from this story?
  • Write a summary of this selection. (about 20 words)
  • Draw a bubble map of the main idea and include 4 supporting details.
  • If you could give this story a new title, what would it be and why?
  • List examples of figurative language found in your text. Explain the meaning of each example.
  • (Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, Personification, Onomatopoeia, Idiom)

Use this example to set up your paper in you reading notebook.

Fourth Grade Rats/Chapter 1-2 Jon
9/4/13
Fiction: Describe the character traits of the main character. Refer to the text to support your answer.
Write your response below the question. Make sure to use good sentence structure and correct punctuation. Refer to the expectations for each letter grade

Schedule for turning in reading responses:

Tuesday: Daniel, Andy, Corrinne, Cryslynn, Braddrick
Wednesday: Mac, John-Marcial, Rena, Jetta, Jon
Thursday: Kailee, Riley, Caleb, Ethan, Gretchen
Friday: Madallyn, Charles, Kyrsten, Isabel, Jake

If we/you are out of school on the day your reading response is due, please turn it in on the day we/you return.

Reading responses will be factored into your child’s writing grade.

Below are samples of different responses. Please note what will be looked for under each grade. Expectations may change as we move through the school year.

“A” responses include:

  • Complete sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation.
  • A clear topic sentence to let me know which question is being answered.
  • 3 or more details to support the topic sentence which are clear and concise.

“B” responses include:

  • Complete sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation.
  • A clear topic sentence to let me know which question is being answered.
  • 1-2 details to support their topic sentence.
  • Good, fourth grade sentences.

“C” responses include:

  • Mix of complete/incomplete sentences with inconsistent capitalization and punctuation.
  • An unclear topic sentence to let me know which question is being answered.
  • Few details to support the topic sentence. Details given aren’t clear or concise.
  • Short, choppy sentences.

“D” responses include:

  • Incomplete sentences with inconsistent capitalization and punctuation.
  • An unclear topic sentence to let me know which question is being answered.
  • Few details to support the topic sentence. Details given aren’t clear or concise.
  • Short, choppy sentences.
  • Missing responses.