40 Book Challenge
The 40 Book Challenge is a way to give structure to independent reading. While this is called a
“challenge” participation is required for all students. All books are selected by the student.
Books that have been read (or will be read) in class cannot count, even if the student re-reads
the book. For 2016-2017, this includes Hatchet, Brian’s Winter, and The Giver. Students may
ask the teacher or their peers (or their families) for recommendations, but there are no specific
title requirements. Students are expected to read at least 40 books. They will have the following
guidelines.
Students are not limited to books of a certain length. Students may read any book that interests
them. Students are required to stay within their reading range (as determined by the teacher,
based on a variety of data sources.) For Reading Ranges, look in the student agenda on the next
few pages. Here are some general equivalents on length. As situations arise, teacher discretion
will be used.
Will Count as ½
Will Count as 1: Will Count as 2:
Will Count as 3:
100 or fewer pages 101 to 250 pages 251 to 400 pages
401 or more pages
This challenge will be tracked on a Google Form available on Mrs. Bowden’s website. Students
will “write up” a book when they finish reading it. This can only be done AT SCHOOL. The
book should be on at least one night of the student’s reading log in their agenda. The book
should be AT SCHOOL in order to be written up. After the book is submitted through the
Google Form, students should record the information on the next few pages.
For the 2016-2017 school year, students will have optional “Quarterly Genre Challenges.” The
genre challenges are set up to align to classroom instruction. This challenge also helps them
prepare for the End of Grade test, as well as meeting the Common Core State Standards RL.6.10
& RI.6.10 (Increase text complexity and comprehend text on a 6 th grade level for both literature
and informational texts.) If it becomes necessary, Mrs. Bowden will declare that a certain month
will be dedicated to a particular genre (for example, a “No fiction February” might be declared if
students are not reading enough nonfiction titles.) Students should be aware their EOG test in
June will be about 50% literary texts and 50% informational texts.
Every Friday, students will check in with Mrs. Bowden. Their progress will be tracked on the
chart on the following pages and on a board in Mrs. Bowden’s classroom. The schedule and
weekly goals are part of the chart. Students earn 5 Dojo points each week they meet the weekly
goal.
As a long-term motivational tool, the Sixth Grade Team holds a Lock-In/Sleepover event each
year. The tentative date is Friday, May 5, 2017. To participate in this event, students must
have completed the challenge in its entirety on or before Monday, May 1, 2017. Students
must also maintain good conduct (no recent office referrals.) Students who enroll after October 1
will have an adjusted challenge.
Please call, email, text, send a note, or stop by if you have any questions.
40 Book Challenge
Literary Texts - FICTION
Definition
Genre
Traditional Literature
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Mystery
Stories that are passed down from one group to another in history.
This includes folktales, legends, fables, fairy tales, tall tales, and
myths from different cultures.
A story including elements that are impossible such as talking
animals or magical powers. Make-believe is what this genre is all
about.
A type of fantasy that uses science and technology (robots, time
travel, aliens, futuristic, etc.)
A story using made-up characters that could happen in real life.
A fictional story that takes place in a particular time period in the
past. Often the setting is real, but the characters are made up from
the author’s imagination.
A suspenseful story about a puzzling event that is not solved until
the end of the story.
Informational Texts - NONFICTION
Genre
Definition
Informational
Texts that provide facts about a variety of topics (sports, animals,
science, history, careers, travel, geography, space, weather, etc.)
The story of a real person’s life written by another person.
The story of a real person’s life that is written by that person; facts
like who, what, when, where.
Biography
Autobiography
Other Genre
Genre
Poetry
Graphic Novel
Definition
Poetry is verse written to create a response of thought and feeling
from the reader. It often uses rhythm and rhyme to help convey its
meaning.
A work of fiction or nonfiction that tells a story using comic strips
but is published as a book. Common types include manga and
superhero stories.
Quarterly genre challenges will be an optional way for students to ensure they are reading a
variety of types of books.
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Survival Story
Informational book
1 Myth
Middle Ages focus
OR
about an animal
AND
 1 fairy tale
Courage Story
1 Legend
 1 informational
(Realistic or
2 poetry books
AND
book
Historical Fiction)
1 Tall Tale
1 book about an
Biography
Ancient Civilization
40 Book Challenge Weekly Check-In Data
GOAL
Date of
# of books
% of
(Friday)
read,
challenge
Check In recorded,
complete
& signed
9/2
1
3
9/9
2
5
9/16
3
7
9/23
4
10
9/30
5
13
10/7
6
15
10/14
7
17
10/21
8
20
10/28
9
22
11/4
10
25
Thurs. 11/10
11
27
11/18
13
32
12/2
15
37
12/9
16
40
12/16
17
42
1/6
19
47
1/13**
20
50
1/20
22
55
1/27
24
60
2/3
25
62
2/10
26
65
2/17
27
67
2/24
28
70
3/3
29
72
3/10
30
75
3/17
31
77
3/24
32
80
3/31
34
85
4/7
36
90
Thurs. 4/13
38
95
4/28
40
100
ACTUAL
#
Read
Current
On
Percentage Track?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
**Date MIGHT CHANGE due to potential Raleigh trip.
Monthly
Parent
Signature
40 Book Challenge Reading Range
Nonfiction is always LOWER than fiction.
Date:
Based on 5th Grade
EOG Lexile
Based on Dibels
September 2016
Beginning
January 2017
Middle
March 2017
End
In the Media
Center
School-wide Nightly Reading Data
Month
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
Goal
Actual
Percentage
21
20
18
15
18
20
22
14
22
Met
Goal?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Dibels Benchmarking Data
DORF Words
correct per minute
DORF Accuracy
DORF Retell
DORF Retell
Quality
Daze
Comprehension
September
Beginning
Score
Goal
January
Middle
Score
Goal
May
End
Score
Goal
107
109
120
97%
27
words
97%
29
words
98%
32
words
Level 2
Level 2
Level 3
18
correct
19
correct
21
correct