Launching the Reader's Journey
Establish personal reading journal and routine
Select an independent reading book across genres
Understand importance of consistent reading practice
Develop reading stamina and enjoyment
“My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.”
— Proverbs 4:20-22 (WEB)Reading is a way of receiving wisdom and understanding, just as we receive God's wisdom through Scripture
Welcome students and share excitement about building a personal reading life. Discuss how reading connects us to new worlds, ideas, and understanding.
Demonstrate how to set up a reading journal, explaining its purpose as a place to track reading goals, reflect on books, and record thoughts.
Students will decorate and personalize their reading journals, set initial reading goals, and select their first independent reading book.
Simpler: Teacher helps select book and provides goal templates
Challenge: Students research book recommendations and create more complex reading goals
Celebrate students' first steps in creating their reading life
Dear God, thank you for the gift of stories and learning. Help us to be curious readers who seek wisdom and understanding.
Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore how Jesus used stories to teach important lessons
“My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.”
— Proverbs 4:20 (WEB)🎯 Activity: Create hand motions representing listening and understanding
Fifth graders are developing independent reading habits and discovering their reading preferences
Finding books at appropriate reading level and maintaining reading motivation
Enthusiasm about reading, willingness to explore different genres