Van Nuys Middle School
Math/Science Magnet
Required Summer Reading Program
Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,
In an effort to encourage reading and learning over the summer months, the Magnet school has a required reading program. On the back of this paper, you will find a required book list that is to be read by each student according to grade level in September. All students will do a required reading and then, we hope, will read some additional selections. A list of additional selections has been attached for your convenience. We encourage parents to actively participate by monitoring their child’s progress in completing the required readings.
Students are responsible for obtaining their own books. These books may be difficult to obtain from neighborhood bookstores, but are readily available on line, or at your local library.
Upon arrival at school in September, students must be prepared to share opinions and evaluate the required reading book. Specifically, students must:
• be prepared to take a short test on the required reading
• be prepared to participate in discussions
• hand in flow maps of the events in the books.
Here is an example of a flow map of events for The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare: Chapters 1-4 (You may use computer, or write in pen.)
16 yr. old Kit sails She stops at Kit will miss Other passengers
to Connecticut Saybrook where Mrs. Easton, are suspicious of
from Barbados, Mrs. Eaton leaves the only other Kit when she swims
April, 1687 the ship woman ship to recover a doll
Flow maps should be a minimum of one per chapter. The more detailed the flow map, the better the
chance the student has of passing the test in August.
We encourage parents to read and/or discuss these books with their child and are encouraged to
give him/her a gentle push to read more than the required reading. We also recommend that each student have his or her own public library card.
For Mrs. Kolb’s class, books read over the summer can go towards the twenty books that will be required during the upcoming school year. Students must write a flow map for each book, and be able to pass the Reading Counts test with a score of seven or better when they return to school in August.
Our teachers hope that these books provide knowledge and pleasure for our students and parents.
Sincerely,
J. RosenthalF. Herrera H. KolbL. Reonal
Magnet Coordinator6th Grade English 7th/8th Grade English6th Grade English
Summer Reading List
Students entering the 6th grade
Required Readings (Choose two books)
Loser, by Jerry Spinelli
Have Spacesuit Will Travel, by Robert Heinlein
Letters From Rifka, by Karen Hesse
The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster
The Wish Giver, Three Tales of Coven Tree, by Bill Brittain
With Every Drop of Blood, by James Lincoln Collier
Students entering the 7th grade
Required Readings (Choose two books)
Freak the Mighty, by Rodman Philbrick
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Girl In A Cage, by Jane Yolen , Robert J. Harris
Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli
Students entering 8th grade
Required Readings (Choose two books)
The Witch Of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare
My Brother Sam is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier
The Watsons go to Birmingham, Christopher Paul Curtis
The Pearl, by John Steinbeck
Amazon.com is only one of many places where these reading selections can be purchased. These books may also be found in used bookstores.
A word of caution: Do not attempt to substitute the videos for these books with the movies. The books are different from the movie. Of course, you may view the videos.
Please do not plagiarize summaries from the internet. IT IS ILLEGAL!
Please send us an email if you have any questions regarding your assignment before 6/16/2016. Please keep in mind that e-mails sent during the summer vacation may not be answered until August.
6th grade, Ms. Herrera (); 7th and 8th grades, Mrs. Kolb ()
6th grade, Ms. Reonal ()