May2019
DearIncomingGrade6Student,
Withyoursummervacationrightaroundthecorner,Iknowyouarelookingforwardtohavingsometimetorest,readsomegoodbooks,andenjoythelovelyweather.
Iamexcitedtotellyouaboutthebooksyou’llbereadingforyoursummerreadingassignment.Thissummer,youwillreadtwobooksandcompleteanassignmentforeachbook.Pleasenoticethatyoumustreadtherequiredbook,butyouhaveachoiceofselectedoptionsforyoursecondbook.
Book#1:RequiredReadingCastleintheAttic,ElizabethWinthropBook#2:Reader’sChoice(chooseone)TheOneandOnlyIvan, KatherineApplegate TheInventionofHugoCabret,BrianSelznick ShootingKabul,N.H.Senzai AWrinkleinTime,MadelineL'EngleTomSawyer,MarkTwainWritingAssignmentsForbothbooks,youwillcompleteaReadingJournalloggingyourresponseandanalysisasyouread.YourReadingJournalshouldincludeatleast6entriesperbookandshouldreflecthavingreadtheentirestory-journalentriesshouldincorporatequotesfromthestory’sbeginning,middleandend.Directions:
1. First,useGoogleDocsorMicrosoftWordtocreateagraphicorganizerliketheexampleshownonthebacksideofthisletter.Labeltheleft-handcolumn“Quote”andtheright-hand“MyResponse.”
2. Next,asyouread,choosequotesorpassagesthataremeaningfultoyou.Thenwriteyourquotesorpassagesintheleft-handcolumnofthegraphicorganizer.Remembertoalwaysincludethepagenumbers.Or,ifyouarereadingadigitalversion,recordthechapternumbers.
3. Finally,intherightcolumn,writeyourCommentary,2-4sentencesrespondingandconnectingtoyourquoteorpassageusingoneofthefollowingJournalingCodes.KeepinmindthatyourCommentaryfocusesonyouropinion,interpretation,insight,analysis,personalresponse,feelings,evaluation,reflectionorthoughts.Remember,donotjustsummarizeyourquote.Lookintothedeepermeaning.
JournalingCodes
•(CH)Characterization–Analyzedetailsordialogtheauthorgivesyoutobuildhis/hercharacters.•(C)Connect–Makeaconnectiontoyourlife,theworld,oranothertext•(P)Predict–Anticipatewhatwilloccurbasedonthepassage•(L)LiteraryDevice–analyzetheauthor’scraftusingliteraryterminology•(R)Reflect–Thinkdeeplyaboutwhatthepassagemeansinabroadsense–notjusttothecharactersinthestory.Whatconclusionscanyoudrawabouttheworld,abouthumannature,aboutGod,orjustthewaythingswork?•(T)Theme-Determinetheauthor’soverallmessageaboutsomeaspectoflifethroughaclosereadingofapassage.•(M)Mood–Determinethemoodortoneofasceneandexplainhowthatmightbeimportant.•(BW)BiblicalWorldview-Identifyapassagethatoffersinsightintotheworldviewofacharacterortheauthor
SampleReadingJournalEntries
fromLittleWomenLouisaMayAlcott
Quote
MyResponse
“Asecondlookshowedherthatthelivingeyes,underthebushygrayeyebrows,werekinder....andtherewasaslytwinkleinthem.”(50)
(CH)Inthisquote,AlcottshowsthatalltheearlierperceptionsofMr.Laurencewerewrong.Theythoughthimtobeagrouchwhokepthisgrandsonshutupinthehouseallday,butwhenJoactuallymethimhewasaveryniceandwelcomingman.
“Forlovecastsoutfear,andgratitudecanconquerpride.”(61)
(T)AlcottwastryingtoshowthelessonofthiswholeordealwithBethbeingafraidofMr.Laurence.Sheisshowingthatwhentwopeoplearekindandlovingtoeachother,theycanbreakanybarriersbetweenthem.
RememberthattheuseofSparkNotesoranyonlinesummaryorresourceasareplacementforreadingthefulltextisconsideredcheating.Makesureyougiveyourselfplentyoftimetoreadandenjoythesewonderfulnovels!
PleasebringyourprintedJournalsandbothsummerreadingbookswithyouonthefirstdayofschool.Youwillbecompletingactivitiesinclassaboutthesebookstokickofftheyear.
If you have questions, please contact me at [email protected] Enjoy your summer vacation! Sincerely, Dr. Tricia Meyer, EdD. Head of School HeadofSchool
Recommended
