Name

Class

PERSONAL
READING

What I need to do during this unit :

Select and read at least two texts each term
Think about each text that I read and how I feel about ideas in
each one
Complete a written response on at least two texts each term
Set my own reading goal (or goals) (e.g. I will read two texts
from the science fiction genre)
In Term 1, I will share ideas about one text that I have read
with the class in an oral presentation.
My personal reading goal is:

At Sacred Heart, students at every level are expected to be reading texts

outside of class time. It is expected that you have a text that you are reading at
home and that you bring it to class to read during independent reading time
(Your teacher will tell you what this means for your class).
Many of us enjoy sharing and talking about what we have read, watched or
listened to recently. Our lives are enriched through texts; they allow us to reflect
on our life experiences, consider different attitudes and opinions and to learn
about new subjects. Understanding and reflecting on what you read, view and
listen to are key skills in English.
You may think that you are not a reader, but it is difficult to avoid reading. A
useful reflection is to think about what you have read lately.

Brainstorm what you have read lately.

(Think widely it could be a magazine, letter, book, webpage, news article,
instruction manual, poster, pamphlet)

READ WIDELY
It is easier to read texts that you like and this is a good starting point but it is
important to explore other subjects and genres. You never know what you might
enjoy if you never try.
There is no single list of types but here are some:
Circle or highlight those that you have read and/or like to read.

Novel

Poem

Drama

Short story

Magazine
article

Newspaper
article

Webpage

Fan-fiction

These texts are often grouped together in genres. A genre is a group of texts
that have many common features these include:

Fiction: writing that is a product of the imagination.

Historical Fiction: based on or around a person or event from history.
Science Fiction: dealing with aliens, the future, or advanced technology.
Fantasy: containing monsters, magic, or other supernatural elements.
Realistic Fiction: a story that could have happened, but didnt.

Nonfiction: writing that is true or factual.

Informational Writing: writing that provides information on a topic.

Persuasive Writing: writing that attempts to influence the reader.
Autobiography: the story of ones life told by oneself.
Biography: the story of someones life told by someone else.

Drama: writing that appears as a play or script.

Comedy: has a happy ending.
Tragedy: ends in death and sadness.

Poetry: writing in verse

Folklore: stories that were handed down through the
oral tradition.
Fairy Tale: a story with magic, monsters, and/or talking animals.
Fable: a very short story, usually with talking animals and has a moral.
Myth: has gods or goddesses and often accounts for the creation of something.
Legend: a story based on something that might have once been real, but has
since become exaggerated beyond the realm of nonfiction.
Tall Tales: stories usually set in the American frontier where the main character
has exaggerated strengths, skills, or size. The tone of the author is humorous.

What do you like to read?

Think as you read

As a reader you connect with a written text in a number of ways. For a reading
log, you only need to think about two or three things that have made you think.
The following chart gives some examples of how you might think about a text.
A character that you admire

For example, in the Twilight series by Stephanie

Meyer, Bella, the main character has to make
choices about boyfriends and decisions that
affect her life.

An event that you found exciting

For example, in Hatchet by Gary Paulsen a

significant event is when the plane crashes,
changing Brians attitude to life.

The setting the places and the

times the book is written in

For example, Harry Potter and the Philosophers

Stone by J.K.Rowling is set in a mythical world
of wizards and magic, castles, forests and old
fashioned schools.

A message or an idea that the author For example, in Tomorrow When the War Began
wants you to think about
by John Marsden, an important message is that
when people are faced with challenges they
learn a lot about themselves and the way they

cope.
The style of writing or the way the
book is written and the language
used

For example, John Marsden wrote So Much to

Tell You which was written in the form of
personal letters.

The structure or how the book has

been put together and organised

For example, To the Max by Mark Inglis is

written in a diary structure, including coloured
photographs and maps.

When you read with a text, make links between the text that you are reading and your
own personal experiences and knowledge of the world around you. You may also
make links to other texts that you have read before.
Another thing to think and write about is how the ideas in a text have changed or
supported your thinking.
Before reading the text

During reading the text

After reading the text

What I knew about this

subject before reading this
text

This text made me think

about

I understand the main

problem is
The solution could be
Now we could/should

The start was exciting/boring

The middle was

exciting/boring

I felt it was similar to

I thought

I guess

I know the reality is

I believed

I suspect

I am unsure

My attitude was

I felt
persuaded/entertained

I can see how

The title made me question

I was reminded of

The main idea challenged my

attitude towards my
family/culture/ history

T
Text
ext Name,
Name, author
author and
and
character/setting/language/
character/setting/language/
idea
idea

Reading
Reading about
about ...................
................... made
made me
me
feel
feel that
that society
society should......
should......

This
This text
text helped
helped me
me understand
understand ....
....

As
As II read
read the
the text,
text, II felt
felt ....
....
(inspired/sad/angry/concerned..or
(inspired/sad/angry/concerned..or
any
any other
other emotion):
emotion):

It is useful to make notes about the main impressions and ideas that you get
after reading a text. Here is a simple diagram that is one way to do this. This
one is to respond to a character but it could be for other ideas or features :

Write about what you read

Here is an example of a written journal entry :

Title: Cross Tides

Author: Lorraine Orman

Genre: NZ fiction
Date finished: .

Cross Tides made me think about what it would be like to live in the 1820s. I dont know what I
would do if I was forced to marry a whaler more than double my age by a drunk step-father and
taken away to a different country known for having a bad reputation and known to have natives
that are cannibals. I wouldnt know what to do if I was the only white woman living in that area
and the only sixteen year old girl. I wouldnt know what to do if a handsome Maori preacher
became my love interest and was eventually brutally killed in a whale chase. This all happened to
Lizzie Dawson.
It made me think about how life would have been living on a whaling station having to bear the
pungent and putrid smell of both sea-water and rotting whale flesh. The water would have been a
reddish brown colour because of the whale carcass that the whalers tore apart, flinging the
unnecessary parts into the sea, marking and showing the sign of death.
I put myself in Lizzies shoes, because then life would have been so hard, while now, living in the
present, things and situations are so different! Life is a lot easier now because we have loving
families, no whaling stations, technology and homes. In New Zealand we have enough food to
eat while in the 1800s, there wouldnt have been nearly as much food as we have now.
Cross Tides made me think about how lucky I am. I have a loving family, loving friends and a
good education. This book inspired me to think of others more, because everyone has different
problems and that Im not the only one with a heavy burden to carry.
Here are some useful starters for your journal entries:

Character
The main character in this text made me feel/reminded me of ...I felt like this because...
I couldnt understand/didnt like why the main character...
The main character had to face huge challenges. One of these was... If I were in that
situation I would...
I felt angry/disappointed/excited/uplifted...when the main character...
Setting
I loved the way the author described...
The place setting of this text reminds me of...
The environment for this text was so peaceful/harsh/rugged/sterile...It seemed like this
because...
Theme/Main Idea
This text made me think more about...
This text made me want to find out more about
I felt angry/disappointed/disheartened/sad/inspired/amused by some of the events in
this text. For instance...
I could relate/identify with the issues or ideas in this text as...
Structure/Style
I liked how the author used...(symbols/images/interesting words)
I liked the way the author used...(letters, diary entries, chapter headings.

Timeline

TERM ONE

TERM TWO

TERM THREE

TERM

Response 1:

Response 3:

Response 5:

Resp

FINISH BY:

FINISH BY:

FINISH BY:

Response 2:

Response 4:

Response 6:

FINISH BY:

FINISH BY:

FINISH BY:

Rule up a table similar to the following one and fill it out as you read:
No

TEXT TITLE

AUTHOR

TEXT TYPE

SUBMITTED

E.G.

DESERT FLOWER

Waris Dirie

Autobiography

13th March

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Evaluation of my Learning

FINIS

Resp

FINIS

Think about the goal that you set at the beginning of this
unit:
How successful was I in achieving this goal?

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

At the end of the year, on refill, answer the following questions and hand to your
teacher:

What did I do well in this personal reading unit?

What would I do differently next time? Why?

What did I learn about myself as a reader from completing this unit?

How did my teacher help me and/or how could my teacher help me with my
personal reading?