Focus on Reading

Middle Schoo Challenge

 
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Spring 2001—Specifics

Blue star Featured Titles

Student Responses for the Spring 2001 Middle School Reading Challenge should focus on one or more books from the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling and donated by Scholastic, Inc . These include: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Students are only required to read only one title in order to participate.

blue starReading Response Choices

The purpose of the Reading Challenge is to foster a love of reading. We hope to inspire personal and creative responses from participating students. Suggested reading responses include:

    1. Write a reflection on a particular scene or event in the book and show its connection to a personal event or situation.
    2. Compare and contrast the book to another piece of literature.
    3. Write pieces for a Hogwarts School of Wizardry publication -- an article about a quidditch match, an obituary for Voldermort, and/or an advertisement for a wizardry product.
    4. Honeydukes is a candy store located in Hogsmeade. This candy shop is noted for such treats as "acid pops," "chocoballs," "cockroach clusters," and "ice mice." Select one of these special sweets and write an essay that convinces a Muggle to sample it.
    5. Three acclaimed teachers at Hogwarts School are Professor Sinistra, the teacher of Astronomy; Professor Vector, the teacher of Arithmancy; Sybil Trelawney, teacher of Divinations. Which teacher would you nominate for Hogwarts "Teacher of the Year" and why?
    6. Write a letter to Professor Dippet, the headmaster of Hogwarts, telling him why you would like to be admitted to his school of wizardry.
    7. Students may create an individual response, subject to their teacher’s approval.

 

blue star Time Line

Important dates for conducting the Spring 2001 Reading Challenge are as follows:

  • January 29, 2001 Middle School Reading Challenge, Governor’s Focus on Reading Kick-Off. Announcement of featured book (s) and response topics. Books and instruction packets mailed to all South Carolina middle schools.
  • February 2, 2001 Schools begin conducting internal challenges
  • March 26, 2001 Winning responses from individual schools submitted to State Reading Challenge Advisory Board. Both the "Sorting Hat" selection winners and the Merit-Based selection winners should be postmarked by this date and mailed to the following address:

HandwritingMiddle School Reading Challenge
Governor’s Focus on Reading
Post Office Box 11829
Columbia, South Carolina 29211

  • April 2, 2001 Statewide judging of Merit-Based school winners begins
  • April 24, 2001 "Sorting Hat"  drawing of four statewide winners held
    blue starAnnouncement of merit-based selection statewide winners

  • May 2, 2001 Governor Hodges hosts luncheon for all statewide winners and their teachers

  • August 28, 2001 Announcement of featured book(s) and response topics for fall semester 2001 Reading Challenge