REDLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL 6505 Muncaster Mill Road Rockville, Maryland 20855 Telephone: (301) 840-4680 Fax: (301) 840-4688 Readers Are Leaders! Summer Reading Program June 2010 Dear Parents and Students, The school year is almost over, but learning never stops! The Montgomery County Public School System (MCPS) advocates that all students continue a thirst for education by reading over the summer. Therefore, Redland students are required to read at least three selections (one non-fiction related to social studies, one non-fiction related to science, and one fiction book) and complete one project over the summer. We encourage parents to help students plan out their summer reading by completing the Getting Started sheet (attached). This should eliminate last-minute cramming and also provides a list of project ideas. Students are not limited to this list; allow creativity to flow. In addition to the MCPS required summer reading, Redland is committed to helping students understand the importance of reading for pleasure and developing background knowledge. The You re On Your Way page (attached) recommends authors of books that may be covered in English and topics from the social studies and science curricula. The MCPS Summer Reading 2010 webpage, at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/readinglists/, offers additional recommended reading lists. If students choose to read an expository text (nonfiction), they are not required to read the entire book. They should only read about a topic of personal interest. Any text from a news-related article is acceptable (i.e. Time for Kids, Scholastic News, Kids Post, or a newspaper or magazine article). In order to show evidence that your child has read three selections, he or she should complete the While Reading sheet (attached). In addition to completing the sheet, students must also complete one project for one of the books. Please note that each item will be collected for a grade; the While Reading sheet will be counted for homework credit, and the project and its class presentation as formative credit. Homework makes up 10% of the English class grade, and formative work makes up 60%. The due date for this assignment is Wednesday, September 8. Please note that all items will be collected for a grade and will not be counted for credit after the fourth week of the first marking period (Friday, September 24 is the deadline). We invite students to choose from the following list of authors for their required summer reading. If students are considering reading authors who are not mentioned on the list provided, please encourage them to choose books appropriate to their grade level. If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Christine Brandt, English/Language Arts Resource Teacher at Christine_G_Brandt@mcpsmd.org. Sincerely, The English/Reading Department
Getting Started To make sure that you remember to complete the summer reading assignment, start now! Draft your plan for how you will accomplish this task. Step 1: Reading Selections I think that it would be interesting to read a book by. (author/book #1) I think that it would be interesting to read about the topic. (social studies/selection #2) I think that it would be interesting to read about the topic. (science/selection #3) Step 2: Think about ONE project that you will have fun completing. You may want to consider something that you re good at doing. It might be fun to for my project. Ideas for projects-but NOOOOOO SUMMARIES Book reflections- write 6 journal entries about your reaction to the book Brochure- create a brochure that advertises why your book was exciting to read Postcard- create a postcard about your book Letter to the author- write a letter to the author of your book that shares your feelings about their writing style Letter to the character- write a letter to the character in your book explaining American Idol - create a poem, song, or rap about your book (you may want to video tape yourself and bring it in as your project) Move & Groove - create a cheer, dance or step routine to introduce something interesting about your book That s a wrap - write a play based on your book Create/build a model about your topic (this works great with how-to books) Creative collage- create a collage, scrap book, or CD of digital pictures highlighting some interesting facts or entertaining parts about your book 3,2,1 Action - act out a scene from your book Step 3: Plan when you will check at home or go to the library or bookstore to choose 3 reading selections. Step 4: Be sure to include the following elements in your project about the book: For a Narrative Selection Author Title of Book Communicates clearly the characters Communicates clearly the problem/situation Communicates clearly a personal connection For an Expository Selection Author Title of Book Communicates clearly 5 true facts from book/article Communicates clearly why the facts were interesting to the reader Communicates clearly additional information the reader wants to learn about the topic
You re on Your Way! Use this sheet to help with reading selections. Betsy Byars Mary Downing Hahn Beverly Naidoo Jerry Spinelli Karen Hesse Jean Craighead George Marion Dane Bauer Yoko K. Watkins Jean Merrill Natalie Babbit E.L.Konigsburg Ouida Sebestyen Jules Verne Lloyd Alexander Alexander Key J.K.Rowling Bruce Coville J.M. Barrie Joan Lowery Nixon Avi Wilson Rawls Recommended Authors 6 th 7 th 8th Laurence Yep Nat Hentoff Phyllis R. Naylor Lous Sachar Robert C. O Brien Virginia Hamiliton Arlene B. Hirshfelder Eleanora Tate Gary Soto James Ramsey Ullman Ruth White Nancy Farmer Pam Munoz Ryan Louisa May Alcott Gery Greer John Christopher Carol Fenner Sharon Creech Elizabeth Speare Madeline L Engle Sharon Draper Jerry Spinelli Elizabeth J. Gray Mark Twain Karen Cushman Virginia Hamilton Rodman Phibrick Karen Cushman Jeanne Betacourt Avi S.E. Hinton T.H. White Marelene Fanta Shyer Vera & Bill Cleaver Pam Munoz Ryan Jack London Theodore Taylor Scott O Dell Yoshiko Uchida Cynthia Kadohata Patricia Reilly Giff Mildred Taylor Julia Alvarez Anne Frank Jerold L. Ludwig Carol Matas Esther Hautzig Ian Serriallier Rachel Baker Hans Peter Richter Michelle Magorian William Gibson John Steinbeck Willie Morris Helen Keller Melba Pattillo Beals Todd Strasser Sharon Creech Zlata Filipovic Gary Soto Ernesto Galarza Anna Quindlen Helen Keller Edgar Allan Poe Nadia Labi Ben Carson Walter Dean Myers William Blinn J.R.R. Tolkien Virginia Hamilton Margaret Craven Howard Reiser Manfred Weidhorn Karen Mueller Coombs Irwin Hadley Pam Conrad Scott & Elizabeth O Dell George Orwell Robert Lipsyte Cynthia Voight Lois Lowry O.T. Nelson Conrad Richter Robert C. O Brien Elliott J. Gorn Richard Peck Jerry Stanley Adeline Yen Mah Susan Beth Pfeffer Scott Westerfeld Michael Crichton Irene Hunt Robin McKinley Robert Cormier Robb White Walter Dean Myers Susan Campbell Bartoletti Ann Petry Charlotte Bronte Frederick Douglas Karen Hesse Mildred T. Taylor Harry Mazer Reginald Rose Non-Fiction Get a jump start on building background knowledge for topics in social studies and science: 6 th Grade 7 th Grade 8 th Grade Advanced World Studies: Medieval Europe The Renaissance Latin America Aztecs Incas Age of Exploration African Trade Spreading of Islam Social Studies: Ancient Egypt Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Chinese Dynasties Environmental Sciences Light & Sound Forces & Motion Electromagnetism Structure & Function Cells Heredity Biotechnology Advanced U.S. History: American Revolution Slavery & Reconstruction Abolition Civil War French and Indian War Creation of U.S. Government Western Expansion Weather & Climate Chemistry Ecology Astronomy
While Reading Name Date Complete this sheet while you are reading over the summer. Book #1: Title : Copyright date: Author: Publisher: Comment about the book: (2-3 sentences) Social Studies Selection: Title : Copyright date: Author: Publisher: Facts: Science Selection: Title : Copyright date: Author: Publisher: Facts:
Rubric for Narrative Selection Student Name: Date: Period: Elements for project: Not Present Satisfactory Excellent Author 1 2 3 Title of Book 1 2 3 Communicates clearly the characters 1 2 3 Communicates clearly the problem/ 1 2 3 situation Communicates detailed proof that 1 2 3 the student read the book Grade: Feedback: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rubric for Expository Selection Student Name: Date: Period: Elements for project: Not Present Satisfactory Excellent Author 1 2 3 Title of Book 1 2 3 Communicates clearly 5 true facts 1 2 3 from book/about topic Communicates clearly a fact that was 1 2 3 interesting to the reader Explains clearly why the fact was 1 2 3 interesting Grade: Feedback: