Summer reading and learning
Reading
The purpose of summer reading in the middle school is to promote literacy by engaging students with meaningful texts during their summer break. In addition, summer reading provides a common experience with a text which students will explore further in their advisories or classes at the start of the new school year.
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Grade 5
Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
It’s the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There’s Jessica, the new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in; Alexia, a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next; Peter, class prankster and troublemaker; Luke, the brain; Danielle, who never stands up for herself; shy Anna, whose home situation makes her an outcast; and Jeffrey, who hates school.
Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them get away with much...
About the author
- Visit Rob Buyea's Website or Facebook Page
- 13 Questions & Answers with Rob Buyea from Random Acts of Reading
- NPR interviews the author:
- Text feature article
- Podcast of the interview (opens in NPR's Media Player)
- Frequently asked questions about the book with answers from the author
Guided reading
Character descriptions of the eight characters/storytellers (PDF)
Discussion questions by chapter (PDF):
Grade 6
Restart by Gordon Korman
About the Author
During and after reading: discussion questions from the TwoBookWorms website
Grade 7
Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created and recreated by the author. When lighting conditions are just right, however, a window.
- Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop
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The Incoming Grade 7 students are encouraged to read three books to complete a book bingo board. One of those books should be chosen from the Windows/Mirrors list below:
- Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
- Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
- Refugee by Alan Gratz
- Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Discussion Questions:
What can I learn about myself by looking deeply into characters?
What can I learn about others and the world by looking deeply into characters?
Was this book a window or a mirror for you? Why?
What new insights did I learn about the world from reading this book?
What can I learn about others and the world by looking deeply into characters?
Was this book a window or a mirror for you? Why?
What new insights did I learn about the world from reading this book?
Grade 8
Blame My Brain by Nicola Morgan
- Nicola Morgan’s website full of excellent information on the adolescent brain
- Nicola Morgan’s YouTube (full of great videos about your brain)
