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 tmeyer@fremontchristian.com Enjoy your summer vacation! Sincerely, Dr. Tricia Meyer, EdD. Head of School HeadofSchool