The supreme purpose of history is a better world.~ Herbert Hoover

Click on globe to take to the inmyEdZone Student Portal

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Class of 2013 summer reading guidelines

Dear Parents and Students,

Congratulations on finishing the 2009-2010 school year! I’m excited about the opportunity to get to know you. I hope you have an enjoyable summer and come back in late August re-energized, alert and prepared for the challenges of 6th grade. Part of the preparation for 6th grade Language Arts is summer reading. Each summer I encourage the students to read what they enjoy, whether that may be the Classics, mysteries, nonfiction or comedy. The goal is that the student is reading. I ask that all students return in August with a list of the books they have read: including title, author, pages, date started and date finished. I ask that the parents sign off each book as the student finishes. There is also a suggested reading list posted on the school website using the Junior High link (www.stjeromewestchester.org). You may download a reading log template from the 6th grade page.

In addition to the books each student chooses to read on his/her own, I am requiring that every student read the novel Hatchet by Gary Paulson. The book will be used to develop student’s reading, writing, thinking, listening, and speaking skills through a variety of assessments that will include exercises, activities, quizzes/tests. Furthermore, students will be introduced to the writing process and will be writing assignments, each with the purpose of informing, persuading, or expressing personal opinions.

The Borders at the Howard Hughes Center and the Barnes and Noble in the Marina have books in stock. Both stores’ websites have easy ordering capabilities as well. You may also be able to purchase a used copy of the book through “amazon.com.”

To be completely prepared for the start of the school year, the students need to arrive at school with informal notes about the main character (Brian Robertson) and complete the plot outline that may be downloaded from the St. Jerome Website (6th grade page.) The students have been briefed on these requirements and understand how to complete the plot questions. The students will use their notes on the character to aid them in their writing assignment once they return to school.

Thank you for your time and support. The students will enjoy the novel and the analysis we do in class. The theme of the story is relevant and the novel is a great opportunity to prepare the students for the upcoming year.