The Independent Reading Project, or IRP, is a very important part of our English Curriculum.  Students are expected to read independently each night for at least 20 minutes as part of their growth as learners.  Throughout the school year the students will have four final IRP projects that will be done either in class or completed at home that checks for comprehension and reading of the independent book the student has selected.  Students will be allowed to create book clubs which can contain up to 3 of their peers reading the same book (groups of no more than four) or may choose to read alone.  

Expectations: 

Students are free to select any genre listed below for each IRP assignment.  However the book selected CANNOT be something that has been made into a movie, television show, play, or other media type where it can be viewed and not read.  The following books are also not allowed:  Captain Underpants books, Diary of a Whimpy Kid books, A Series of Unfortunate Events books, or Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Students in 7th grade must select a book that is at least 350 pages in length and students in 8th grade must select a book that is at least 400 pages in length.

Once the final IRP is within five weeks students will be required to complete an IRP Focus assignment.  Each IRP Focus assignment will be given on Monday and will focus on a different aspect of their book.  The focus will be upon the books setting, characters, conflict, climax, and finally resolution.  The IRP Focus assignments are graded and help to keep the students on track to complete the IRP on time in order to complete the final project.

Students will meet on Mondays discussing their book so each student is responsible to read each night, making sure they are at the same point if working in book clubs.

Students must fill out the IRP form when assigned and also bring in the book to make sure it is an approved book.  Each IRP Focus assignment is worth 40 points and the final IRP is worth 100 points.  This means an IRP in its total worth is 300 points so you can see why its important your child is reading at least a little each night in their IRP book.

IRP genres:

Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Biography, Autobiography, Memior