In sixth grade, students will be reading from a variety of LITERARY GENRES.  

Genres are categories of literary works characterized by style. 

Reading response questions are derived from basic academic skills listed in Bloom's Taxonomy and are driven by the Wisconsin State Standards.  The questions that help students to "think while they read" are created to fit any novel or genre.  Instead of a "one-size fits all" approach where students read one book chosen by the teacher, students learn to determine what makes up each genre, and then participate in an authentic, author-student-teacher relationship with the novel.  Sixth grade Reading Workshop allows students to understand the components of a particular genre, and enjoy responding in writing about their novel of choice.  Reading many books within a genre is encouraged.  

Deriving meaning from text is a personal interaction with an author's words on a page.  Reading is thinking and interacting cued by the text, the creation of meaning, and the "transaction" between the text and the reader.  Sound mathematical?  :)

My goal is that students will learn to truly enjoy reading in many forms, and that each reading experience is authentic.