Every (5) weeks, (unless announced otherwise) you will complete a reading portfolio which shows evidence that you've been an active, growing reader. A personalized manila folder will be kept in the classroom. Add articles, poems, pictures and activities as you find them, as well as your assigned responses. By the end of five (5) weeks, it should include:

1) Two (2) different non-fiction articles (with different topics) which you select independently.

These can be printed from online sources, or cut from newspapers and magazines at home. All readings must be placed in your portfolio. You should make copies of them, cut them out, or print them from the web.

Here are the kinds of articles you might find and place in your portfolio:

a) a college player being "picked up" by a professional basketball team

b) an earthquake demolishing a town near Guatemala

c) a 12 year old boy having a successful heart transplant

d) a panda bear being born at the San Diego Zoo

e) a new dirt bike that will be out on the market this summer (extra credit)

2) One (1) published poem of your choice

You may select poems from the library, a collection at home, or from online. They should be at least 10 lines long and be of a topic suitable for middle school. The "Chicken Soup" books, for instance, are a great place to find poems which have a lot of meaning and topics that interest young teens.

3) One (1) photo of an important event, place, or person(s)

You'll need a photo from one of the daily photo sites or from any place on the web. Its subject matter should provide you with a theme you can write a lengthy paragraph about.