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Niles Community Schools
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Please see the attached Classroom Library List for 6th-8th Grade Students. The list will continue to be updated throughout the school year.
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Hello Parents and Guardians!
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In middle school, your child will have an opportunity to access the common core standards via independent reading, book clubs, and novel studies. Each of these methods presents a different type of opportunity for students to engage in a variety of texts. During independent reading, students select their own books.
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The purpose of this letter is to explain the district’s approach to independent reading selection and the classroom libraries available to students.
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Our goal for all of our students is to gain excitement for reading—for pleasure— for knowledge—for a passion for story or information that will keep them into the pages of a book past our assigned time for reading. Students can choose from a wide variety of independent reading books, from the classroom library, that they find interesting and that they will enjoy. Your child is also allowed to bring their own book to class for independent reading.
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Our middle school classroom libraries have grown immensely over the past few years. Classroom libraries allow students to self-select books for independent reading. Middle school teachers have reviewed and built their classroom libraries utilizing age/grade-level appropriate texts recommended by Scholastic, Barnes and Noble, Teaching Books, and the American Library Association list to name a few. With this being said, it’s important to understand that teachers won’t know the details of every book students read this year.
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All books were chosen for their literary value and merit and their high-interest plots. Your children may want to select books that deal with subjects that you do not wish your child to be reading. With that in mind, we will be posting a list of all middle school classroom library books by grade level to help assist with these conversations with your child. Additionally, within each classroom library, teachers have determined certain books that may contain mature topics and what some may deem strong language. Each student is at a different level of maturity and as a parent, we recognize that it's important to monitor what they may be reading. If you feel your child may not be ready to read certain books on the list, we have developed a process to make sure certain books are only available with your permission. The permission slip process will be explained to students thoroughly in class and parents at Open House.
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For parents who are comfortable with all books being available for their child, parents may waive the permission slip requirement using the form attached. This form should be returned to your child’s teacher. If you prefer that your child obtains those mature topic books only with permission from you, please check the appropriate box below to receive a permission slip for books with mature topics.
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If at any time you have questions, do not hesitate to talk to your child’s teachers.
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Yours in Education,
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Niles Community Schools Administration
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Secondary ELA Teaching Staff
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Please check one of the following and return the slip to your child’s teacher by August 30, 2023.
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My child may choose ANY book in the classroom library for independent reading.
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My child may independently choose ANY book in the classroom library for independent reading but will need parent permission for books with mature topics.
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Student Name: _________________________________ Student Grade:_____________________________________
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Parent Name: __________________________________ Teacher Name: ____________________________________
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Parent Signature: _______________________________ Date: ____________________________________________
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Parent Permission Slip
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This slip allows students to gain access to books that may contain mature topics and strong language. It must be returned to your child’s teacher in order to obtain a copy of the book. Please complete all sections below.
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Title of Book:
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Author:
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Grade Level:
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Teacher Name:
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I give my child permission to read a book that may contain mature topics and strong language.
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Student Name: ________________________________ Date: ____________________
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Parent Name:________________________ Parent Signature: _____________________
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*Must have a new permission slip for each book.
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