Each student receives a gallon-size Ziploc bag with a copy of the book and a letter from me introducing the novel and expectations for their work inside. Also enclosed are a reading schedule and Post-it notes for them to record their responses. The students recognize this ritual as the beginning of a personal literary journey.
I learned that I had to support students through the reading process.
Formative Assessment
The sticky notes have become my primary method for holding students accountable for the reading, though they also serve other purposes.