Lessons and Strategies
Reading Logs - A simple way to make active readers
As I have mentioned before, when building a strong reading program it is important to make reading fiction a pleasure and not a task with an assignment. That is, if we want students to become lifelong readers.
These simple logs are intended to be used as a way to create reading habit for active reading. After they read they simply respond to one of the 15 questions. After they have been doing this a while they memorize those 15 and start thinking about them AS they read--which is the whole goal of those type of questions.
Simple for you to grade. Easy for them to complete. Keep two trays on a table and each Monday they drop their reading logs in one tray and grab a new one from the other before they even sit down. After a few weeks this becomes a habit and happens routinely.
Book And Beyond Project
a book report that blends research and technology with a book review.
I am not really a big fan of the book project anymore. It takes a lot of time and I think for the most part kids can just fake their way through. Smaller tasks like creating a mini reviews (colorful notevards) or online reviews and bookshelves are great though, and can be done outside of school.
Here is a project that asks students to think about something they would like to know more about as they read the book. It should be something real even if the book is nonfiction. For instance, if they read Twilight mayb they want to do a project on Native American Indians in that region, or a publisher markets a book, or how werewolf and vampire stories originated.
Their research comes together in a 5 minute video (MovieMaker works great) and the last few weeks of the 9 weeks you can share 1-2 a day during reading time. (Consider previewing first and only taking the best ones to show to class. Those are the ones that earn full credit)
Nonfiction Analysis 
use this to help students evaluate the validity of sources.
Assign students with homeworkto bring in any article related to the same topic.When they arrive, put students in groups of 3-4 and have each summarize their articles. Then start looking for similarities and differences. Complete the VENN diagram to compare.
Have students ask each other questions and try to determine which article is the most valid and reliable. Why do they think so?
HW the next night can have them going back to the same website where they must read the ABOUT us page or investiage the website through the whoisdomain.com site where they can find out who operates the site and other sites run by the same organization.
Groups decide on the best aricle and why.
That article can then be used with others in the whole class and start the routine over, or just end the lesson there.
Text Posters 
Find high interest text (try to get a variety of text features: charts, graphs, captions, etc.) I like magazines like Smithsonian and Scientific American Mind. If using a magazine, buy two copies so you can cut it up and use both sides in color.
Tape all the pages together and laminate or tape to a larger poster board or kraft paper. (something that will be easy to store for future use)
Hang these posters around the classroom, or in the hallway so students have to get up to read them.
This document provides a variety of activities you can use with text posters. When it comes to testing time, use a sample test posted around the room and have students race to find the answers.
If you use them, take a picture and send it to me with your students in action.
Literature Circles 
Although literature circles get used a lot in middle schools, high schools do not practice them as much. Literature circles are a great way to differentiate and allow choice.
More sites with literature circle resources
Education World has a page with more descriptions and lessons relating to literature circles.
