Pre K3 - The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is the perfect book for helping children know that their feelings are really common, and there is a way to move forward with bravery, just as the main character Chester did.
Pre K4 - Any book by the author Eric Carle
Eric Carle is the author and illustrator of more than 70 books for very young children including his most well-known title The Very Hungry Caterpillar! The secret of Eric Carle’s books’ appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions.
Kindergarten - The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Snowy Day is a 1962 American children's picture book by American author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats. It features Peter, an African American boy, who explores his neighborhood after the season's first snowfall. Keats' illustrations helped pave the way for more inclusive and diverse children's literature.
K Summer Reading
Dear Families,
Our summer reading book will be The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Snowy Day is a 1962 American children's picture book by American author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats. It features Peter, an African American boy, who explores his neighborhood after the season's first snowfall. Keats' illustrations helped pave the way for more inclusive and diverse children's literature.
The student will then draw a picture of their favorite part of the story.
The student will need to bring in the picture they have completed when the school year starts. Each student will have the opportunity to share their picture about their favorite part of the story.
This is meant to be a fun project for all students to work on with their families and share with their classmates.
Thank you for your participation in our Summer Reading Project. We are looking forward to a great year with your child!
Miss Correia
Grade 1 - The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
The Little House is a 1942 children's picture book written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1943
Summer Reading - Grade 1
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Dear Parents,
Please read The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton over the summer vacation. This book was the winner of the Caldecott Award for children's literature in 1943 for its beautiful illustrations. I hope you enjoy reading this story with your child. Please complete the "Book in a Bag" project. The "Book in a Bag" project is due on the first day of school. All students will present their "Book in a Bag" project to the class over the first couple of weeks of school. Please be sure to review the grading rubric for expectations.
Summer Reading Projects – Grades 1 and 2
1. Book Reviewer
Complete the Book Reviewer sheet in complete sentences and neat, colorful illustrations where appropriate.
2. Book in a Bag
Design and decorate a small brown paper bag and fill it with 4-6 "props" related to your book. Your "props" should include items from the book that you can find around your house. You may also create "props" from materials you already have (paper, clay, etc.).
Your "Book in a Bag" should include:
• Title
• Author
• 4-6 Props and/or handmade items related to the story
• Your Name
*You will present the "Book in a Bag" project to the class during the oral presentation.
3. Oral Presentation
You are responsible for presenting your "Book in a Bag" to the class. You will use the information from your Book Reviewer to create an outline of your presentation.
If you have any questions please email [email protected]. Thank you and enjoy your summer!
Ms. McCaffrey
Name Date
1. Tell about your book by filling in the newspaper.
2. Answer each question in complete sentences.
3. Finish the "Book Reviewer" by adding neat, colorful pictures.Grade 2 - Any Ready, Freddy book by Abby Klein
Author Abby Klein writes humorous stories for elementary-aged children. Her first published series, Ready Freddy! Uses her classroom experiences to create humorous and dramatic scenarios for first grader Freddy Thresher.
Summer Reading - Grade 2
Choose any Ready, Freddy book by Abby Klein.
Dear Parents,
Please choose any Ready, Freddy book by Abby Klein to be read by your student over the summer vacation. Please complete the Book Reviewer and "Book in a Bag" project. The Book Reviewer and "Book in a Bag" project are due on the first day of school. All students will present their "Book in a Bag" project to the class over the first couple of weeks of school. Please be sure to review the grading rubric for expectations. Please feel free to email me with any questions at [email protected].
Ms. Erin McCaffrey
Summer Reading Projects – Grades 1 and 2
1. Book Reviewer
Complete the Book Reviewer sheet in complete sentences and neat, colorful illustrations where appropriate.
2. Book in a Bag
Design and decorate a small brown paper bag and fill it with 4-6 "props" related to your book. Your "props" should include items from the book that you can find around your house. You may also create "props" from materials you already have (paper, clay, etc.).
Your "Book in a Bag" should include:
• Title
• Author
• 4-6 Props and/or handmade items related to the story
• Your Name
*You will present the "Book in a Bag" project to the class during the oral presentation.
3. Oral Presentation
You are responsible for presenting your "Book in a Bag" to the class. You will use the information from your Book Reviewer to create an outline of your presentation.
If you have any questions please email [email protected]. Thank you and enjoy your summer!
Ms. McCaffrey
Name Date
1. Tell about your book by filling in the newspaper.
2. Answer each question in complete sentences.
3. Finish the "Book Reviewer" by adding neat, colorful pictures.Grade 3 - The Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
Ox-Cart Man is a 1979 children's book written by Donald Hall and illustrated by Barbara Cooney. It won the 1980 Caldecott Medal. The book tells of the life and work of an early 19th-century farming family in New Hampshire.
Dear Families,
This year the summer reading for students entering Grade 3 will be The Ox Cart Man. The Ox-Cart Man is a 1979 children's book written by Donald Hall and illustrated by Barbara Cooney. It won the 1980 Caldecott Medal. The book tells of the life and work of an early 19th-century farming family in New Hampshire.
While reading the book children should focus on the economics and seasons in the story. Particularly how did the people get what they needed when there was not much cash available? What type of work was done in each season and what do you think the reasons were why they were done in specific seasons? Finally, how do families provide for their needs today?
The project for the story is to make two posters using 8x11 inch paper. Fold the paper in half, pick a season, then compare and contrast it by drawing pictures and/or writing a couple of sentences explaining seasonal work done in Early America on one half of the paper and seasonal work done today on the other half of the paper. Then pick a second season and do the same thing.
These sheets will be due the second day of school. Students will present them to the class and teacher by explaining their drawings and/or writings.
If you have any questions, you may contact me at [email protected]
Mrs. Olejarz, Reading Interventionist
Grade 4 - Superfudge by Judy Blume
Superfudge is the third book in the hilarious, outrageous Fudge series from the iconic Judy Blume. Peter Hatcher's little brother, Fudge, is four. And he's as monstrous as ever! When Fudge discovers that his new baby sister can't play with him, he tries to sell her.
Dear Incoming 4th Grade Students,
Welcome to the fourth grade! The book you will be reading this summer is Superfudge by Judy Blume. Superfudge is the third book in the hilarious, outrageous Fudge series from the iconic Judy Blume. Peter Hatcher's little brother, Fudge, is four. And he's as monstrous as ever! When Fudge discovers that his new baby sister can't play with him, he tries to sell her.
I will be supplying you with the book and after you finish reading it, you will have a choice of one of the following two projects to complete. Your completed project will be due on the second day of school.
Project 1 Cartoon or Comic Strip
Draw a cartoon or create a comic strip that summarizes the action in your book You should include dialogue in your cartoon or comic strip.
You should have a comic strip for each of the following parts of the story:
Setting - describe where and when the main events of the story take place
Characters - choose 4 characters from the story and pick quotes that best describe this character throughout the book
Conflict - Illustrate how an outside opinion about certain characters created conflict for them throughout the story.
Favorite Scene - choose your favorite part in the story to recreate using pictures and dialogue
Each strip should have 4 panels
Project 2 Rap, Song, or Spoken Word Piece
Create an appropriate song or rap with lyrics that summarize the following
Setting - describe where and when the main events of the story take place
Characters - choose 4 characters from the story and pick quotes that best describe this character throughout the book
Conflict - Illustrate how an outside opinion about certain characters created conflict for them throughout the story.
Favorite Scene - choose your favorite part in the story to summarize or retell in a least one of the verses or chorus of your piece
Your song should have at least 4 verses with 10 lines each and a chorus with at least 5 lines.
Your song should have some form of rhyme scheme.
You should have background music prepared for your presentation to the class.
If you have any questions, you can email me at [email protected]
Mrs. Olimpio
Grade 5 - Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell
Scott O'Dell's Newbery Medal-winning classic is a gripping tale of survival, strength, and courage. Based on the true story of an Indian girl living alone on an island off the coast of California.
Dear Incoming 5th Grade Students,
Welcome to Middle School! This is an exciting time for you and as your new ELA teacher I am looking forward to a wonderful year of reading a variety of literary texts and writing for different purposes.
This year’s summer reading is the novel Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. As you read it, keep in mind the obstacles or conflicts the main character, Karana, faces and must overcome. We will begin literature classes in September by discussing and analyzing this novel.
For your summer reading project I am asking you to choose ONE conflict (problem) Karana faces and overcomes. In two or three paragraphs describe the conflict and tell why it was necessary for her to overcome the problem. Was she able to do so and how? You may include how this character changed by the end of the story as a result of facing and resolving the many conflicts she faced.
Your completed assignment can be hand-written or typed. You may email it to me at [email protected] anytime or bring it to class by the second day of our new school year. I wish you and your families a restful wonderful summer. I look forward to seeing you and to an inspiring and successful school year.
Warmly,
Mrs. Monticello, MAT
Middle School ELA Teacher
Grade 6 - The Children of Willesden Lane, by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen (Young Readers Edition).
The Children of Willesden Lane is a memoir by Mona Golabek, documenting the life of her mother, Lisa, from the time she left Vienna, Austria to the end of World War II. It has been adapted into a film and an organization formed in honor of the book, that is dedicated to empowering people with the arts
Dear Incoming 6th Grade Students,
This year your summer reading will be the memoir, The Children of Willesden Lane, by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen (Young Readers Edition). This is a true story of a gifted young musician who was forced to flee the Nazis during World War II. It is a story of courage, survival and the power of music. We will be using the literary elements in this story as well as the biographical and historical facts during our study of fiction and nonfiction in the 7th grade.
For your summer reading/writing assignment, I would like you to write a response to four (4) of the following five (5) questions. Yes, choose four of the questions below.
You may reinforce your ideas with direct quotes from the novel.
Your written responses for each question should be at least 5 sentences long each.
Which two characters were most memorable and why?
What did you find surprising or difficult to understand about the book?
What do you think were the most difficult changes for Lisa to accept?
Why do you think people tend to come together in a time of war? Use an example from the book to show the power of a united community.
Using the book or your own experience, how does music inspire or positively influence people - no matter what may be going on in the world around them?
You may type and email ([email protected]) your assignment to me during the summer or bring it with you on the second day of class. You may also hand write it and bring it to the second day of class.
Have a safe and relaxing summer.
Mrs. A. Monticello, MAT
ELA Teacher
Grade 7 - Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winning classic about a boy who decides to hit the road to find his father.
Dear In-coming 7th Grade Students,
Your summer reading novel, Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis, will be an introduction to some of the themes and main ideas to be discussed and analyzed in class this year. It is a light hearted, often humorous story (with a surprise ending), of a young boy set in Michigan during the Great Depression.
I am asking you to complete the following assignment and either email it to me or bring it with you to class no later than the second day of school. It may be typed or handwritten. My email address is [email protected]
Briefly describe Bud, the main character. This can be done in roughly 5-6 sentences. Describe him as you would to a family member or friend. In addition to his personal characteristics such as age and grade; tell about his personality, maybe mention how he got his name and/or other interesting facts about him.
Next, the setting (time and place) of this novel is Flint, Michigan during the 1930’s (the Great Depression). In one paragraph of 5-6 sentences describe one specific smaller setting Bud travels to or through during the course of the story. For example, the time he spent with the Amos family can be described as one small setting.
Finally, the novel is filled with many thoughtful and meaningful quotes expressed mostly by Bud. Find and write one quote which you enjoyed or was meaningful to you. Include the page number and tell why you chose it.
I wish you a safe and relaxing summer!
Warmly,
Mrs. Monticello, MAT
Middle School ELA Teacher
Grade 8 - I Am Malala, by Malala Yousafzal (2014) (Young Readers Edition)
In this New York Times bestselling memoir, Malala Yousafzai—the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize—inspires young readers with her stunning story of resilience and power
Dear In-coming 8th Grade Students,
As I begin to prepare for our next school year in ELA and literature; I have chosen your summer reading books as an introduction to the themes and main ideas we will be reading and analyzing in literature. The elements found in your summer reading will serve as the basis for class discussions and a foundation for further study.
This year we will begin by discussing and analyzing the memoir, I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzal (2014) (Young Readers Edition). In her memoir, Malala uses beautiful and descriptive language to give readers an in-depth understanding of events in her young life. I would like you to choose four (4) different passages from her memoir that you found particularly meaningful and describe why those particular words of hers stood out as being insightful or inspirational to you. A passage could be something she stated directly, something she described or even one simple but significant or meaningful sentence of hers. Hand write or type the passage with the page number and explain, interpret the meaning of it and tell why you thought it was meaningful in 3-4 sentences each.
This assignment can be hand written or typed and is due to me on the second day of school. You may also email it to me anytime during the summer at [email protected].
Have a safe and relaxing summer and I look forward to seeing you at the start of our new school year.
Warmly,
Mrs. Monticello, MAT
ELA Teacher