ECCA 5/6 Grade Language Arts Summer Reading & Writing Expectations

Summer is meant for quality time with family and friends and enjoying less structure in our lives. Try to fit reading and writing into your normal summer in a natural and fun (not stressful) way. This summer, all incoming 5/6th graders are expected to actively read and write often and keep track of summer literacy. Your Summer Literacy Log (signed by parent) will be your 1st Language Arts grade.

Read a mix of genres for many reasons: to learn something new, escape into a great book, find a great vacation spot or trail, find new activities around town, learn about a new movie, etc. Find things that interest you: great classics, funny “beach reads”, interesting websites, the latest dystopian/fantasy, moving historical fiction, newspapers, sports or hobby articles, poetry, or picture books you read to siblings or younger kids. Reread old favorites! Anything “counts”.

Write for real-world reasons: send letters, write favorite recipes, keep a journal of your favorite summer moments, keep a travel log, plan a summer business, etc. Anything “counts”.

Options Include: (Be creative. Feel free to contact me at tanya.kessenich@eagleschools.net anytime!)

✎ Traditional Reading Log - Keep track of what you read, genre, rating, etc. Make a copy of the below log or create your own similar log. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lmCdZoHVf_4h8FBb5hQO9m8kHONDt4xAMsHuoUHV5_E/edit#gid=1541888521

✎ Notebook/Journal - Keep a journal/notebook full of short entries about what you read, what you did, where you went, etc. Remember to capture small moments in your life and use details!

✎ Library Program - Visit your local library and participate in their Summer Reading Program. Make sure you add a writing component to this program.

✎ Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge - Join and keep track of books and much more!

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collection/keep­kids­reading­all­summer­long 

✎ Join a Book Club (at the Bookworm or in your neighborhood with friends). Keep a log of books read, when you met, what you discussed, etc.

✎ Take “Shelfies” of yourself reading different titles in different locations over the summer.

✎ A family GoodReads Account, Blog, or Pinterest account with book recommendations and synopses. (As per Federal Law, you must be 13 to have your own account. Please have parental permission and follow all site rules and regulations)

https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/middle­school          https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/32720220­t  https://www.goodreads.com/about/how_it_works

✎ Email Chain - Start an email exchange with a friend, grandparent, relative, etc. Write back and forth and save your exchange (or print) to share. Write about books read, your adventures, etc.

✎ Travel Log - Create a scrapbook of your summer travels: include brochures, pictures, favorite moments, books read, etc.

✎ Camp Newsela - Consider joining Camp Newsela to promote and foster student literacy. http://support.newsela.com/hc/en-us/articles/208874926?utm_source=Agile&utm_medium=Email%20&utm_campaign=Camp

✎ Join the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Triathalon http://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/b/summer-reading/_/N-rs9

✎ Email Mrs. Kess updates about your summer reading and writing or send Mrs. Kess postcards of your reading (PO Box 1535, Edwards, CO 81632)

The best way to prepare for 5/6 Language Arts (and all classes) is to read often for fun! Just like skiing, lacrosse, or piano playing muscles need to be practiced, so do reading and writing “muscles”. Research shows:

Students who read over the summer gain reading skills, while those who don‛t often slide backward, losing up to two months of what they learned while in school. Kids read more (and ultimately learn more) when they have choice of reading material. Reading for pleasure is linked to higher intellectual progress in vocabulary, spelling, and mathematics (almost four times more than having a parent with a college degree). The biggest predictor of academic success on standardized tests of reading AND science AND math ability is the amount of time spent reading for pleasure.

Suggestions for Writing about Reading (*not required*) Personal Connections and Reflection about Theme

❏ What message was the author trying to send about life? What did you learn about life? ❏ What does this text teach you about the world? How will you live differently after reading this? ❏ Does it matter if people read this story? Why or why not? ❏ What would you have done if you were the main character? Would you have made the same choices? ❏ What kind of relationship would you have with the characters? Would you be friends? ❏ List 3 questions you would ask the author if you were to meet him/her. ❏ Compare the book to others you have read. How did the author keep you interested? ❏ What can you infer about the author? What did he/she need to know to write it? ❏ How did you feel (mood) when you read? How did the author make you feel this? How did the mood change? ❏ Discuss author‛s style or tone (attitude)? How do you know?

Characters ❏ Discuss main characters in detail. Describe positive and negative character traits. Were they realistic? ❏ How did the characters change? Why? How did you know? ❏ How were the supporting characters important to your story? ❏ Which character reminded you of someone in your life or another character? Who? Why? How? ❏ Discuss a life lesson the main character learned? How did you know ❏ Discuss the point-of-view/perspective included? Which perspective was left out?

Plot ❏ Discuss the main problem in the story? How was it will resolved? ❏ What was the turning point of the story? How do you know? What was the most important thing that

happened? Why? ❏ What surprised you? Why? What was the funniest/saddest/strangest/coolest thing that happened? Why?

Setting ❏ What was the role of setting (describe it in detail)? Was it important? ❏ Which part best describes the setting? ❏ What conclusions can you draw about what life was like in the time period you are reading about? ❏ How much time passed in the text? How did you know?

Art or Musical Interpretation ❏ Draw/paint a picture/create a collage of an important scene or the main setting. Include captions to

clarify. Use color and detail to show mood. ❏ Create a playlist to accompany the text. Explain your choices. ❏ Draw/paint a portrait of a character. Include relevant details so character, setting and plot elements are

recognizable. Include props and details.

Metacognitive (Thinking about yourself as a Reader) ❏ Discuss your book/text choices for summer reading. What genres did you chose most? What genres were

missing? How many books did you read this summer? Think about your stamina. Could you read more? ❏ How have you changed as a reader since last year? List 3 specific goals between now and next June and

what will you do to meet your goals? ❏ How would you describe yourself as a reader to a new teacher at ECCA? 

Just a few of Mrs. Kess’ Favorites from this school year!   Historical Fiction 

  Funny, but serious 

 The consequences of our actions Inspirational tear-jerkers 

       Novels-in-Verse 

 Inspiring Kids Short, but Though-provoking 

   Dealing with being different  

 

Need a laugh?  

 Fun mixed genre Fun Adventure/Thriller  

 Heart-stopping Dystopian 

 Multi-cultural Coming of Age/Identity 

 Classics worth rereading (or for the first time) 

 Worth rereading now that you are older 

 Notable Nonfiction for Middle School