Dear Students s5
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June 1, 2012
Dear Students,
Hi…we know we met just a little while ago, but we wanted to let you know we will begin English class this September discussing the author, Andrew Clements, his stories, and his style of writing. As in-coming sixth graders, you must read two Andrew Clements books over the summer:
1. The first book we, your sixth grade English teachers, will give you…right now as a matter of fact. You will read A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements.
2. The second book must be one of the Andrew Clements book titles attached to this assignment. You may choose a book from this list only. Although Andrew Clements has written many books, some titles were left off of our list for very specific reasons. We have included a short summary of each title to help you narrow down your choice.
The middle school teachers feel that reading for understanding AND enjoyment is a major factor in your success as a student, and will be an important life skill you take with you always. Good readers read often, and reading during the summer months will help you continue to develop your skills.
In early September you will be working on a Clements writing assignment in English class about the two main characters in your books. This assignment will be graded.
You will also have to know information about the setting, supporting characters, and plot for both of the books for our discussions and class work.
You must take some notes while you read. While they will not be graded, they will be useful to complete your writing assignment, as well as help you participate in our class discussions and work.
For notes, you may: Use any (or all) of the attached graphic organizers, Use “stickies,” or post-its, to mark important information in your novels. For example, you can use S for setting details, character initials for character information, P for plot information, V for vocabulary, etc. Use any other style you like…flash cards, charts, plot line, time lines, etc. OR – any combination of the above. Your notes will not be graded, but they will be useful. You will be able to use them over and over again in September to help you with your work. Remember, notes do not need to be written in complete sentences, but they should be thorough.
On the first day of school, Tuesday, September 4, 2012, please bring our A Week in the Woods book, your notes, and your chosen Clements book (if you have it) to your English class.
We are looking forward to a great new school year…have a great summer!!!
Ms. Messina, Mrs. Schwittek, & Mrs. Stevens
6th Grade Clements Reading List Summer 2012
Extra Credit Illinois sixth grader, Abby Carson (main character), has been assigned a pen pal. Not a kid to love school, Abby is not happy about being “forced” to write to her new “pal.” Abby’s pen pal is a boy named Sadeed Bayat from Bahar-Lan, Afghanistan. According to Afghan custom, it is not proper for a boy and girl to communicate even through letters, so Sadeed must pretend to be his sister, Amira. Through their letters, the children learn about each other and their lives. Sadeed, however, is torn between custom and telling the truth to his new American friend.
The Last Holiday Concert Hart Evans (main character), a sixth grader, hates chorus. He thinks the songs Mr. Meinert makes them sing are boring. Well, Hart acts out in class one too many times and Mr. Meinert loses his cool. He turns over control of the entire holiday concert to his students, and they elect Hart to be their leader. What does Hart know about putting on a show? Nothing. But Mr. Meinert remains on the sidelines watching his students, without getting involved. Will Hart be able to do it?
Lunch Money Sixth-grader Greg Kenton (main character) has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. His latest business venture is creating his own miniature comic books and selling them to his classmates at school. However, with good ideas always come competition; this time in the form of Greg’s arch-enemy, Maura. She too, begins creating and selling her own comics. As the story progresses, the children realize they have a bigger problem, a common arch-enemy, their principal, who bans the sale of any and all comic books.
No Talking The fifth grade is known as “The Unshushables.” Dave Packer (main character), one of these infamous fifth graders, has just read how Mahatma Gandhi practiced silence one day a week. Dave decides to give it a try, and it’s working until Lynsey comes along. It is now boys vs. girls in a 48 hour no-talking contest. They can only answer direct questions from an adult in three words or less. The principal demands they stop, but a contest is a contest and the kids are determined to see it through to the bitter end.
The Report Card Fifth grader, Nora Rowley (main character), is a genius masquerading as an average student. Long ago she decided to be “just like everyone else” to avoid the pressures that go along with her gift. Stephen, is a hard-working, average student, and Nora’s best friend. When Stephen scores low on the state standardized tests, he begins to see himself as dumb and a loser. So, Nora develops a plan and brings home a failing report card. Remember, though, Nora is a genius…
Room One: A Mystery or Two Ted (main character) lives in a very small town. The Red Prairie Learning Center only has ten students and he is the only sixth grader. One day as Ted is doing his paper route, he sees a girl’s face in the window of what is supposedly an abandoned farmhouse. Ted loves mysteries and meets April. What’s her story, and why does it seem like she and her family are hiding out? Ted agrees to keep their secret and bring them supplies, but he quickly finds himself in over his head and in need of help of his own.
The School Story Cassandra Day, author, and Zee Zee Reisman, agent and publicist, are New York City’s hot new literary team. Cassandra has just written an amazing story, and she wants Shipley Junior Books to be her publisher. Zee Zee is determined to make that happen. Won’t literary society be surprised when they find out that Cassandra Day is really Natalie Nelson (first main character), and Zee Zee Reisman is her best friend, Zoe (second main character, pick one)…and they are both twelve years old.
Troublemaker There’s a folder in Principal Kelling’s office that is growing every day. It is filled with all the reports of every time Clayton Hensley (main character) broke the rules. There’s the minor stuff like running in the hallways and being late, but there are also the reports of bigger incidents. For example, the art teacher has said that the class should spend the period drawing anything they want and Clay decides to be extra “creative” and draw a spot-on portrait of Principal Kellings…as a donkey. Later though, when his big brother, Mitchell, gets in some serious trouble, Clay decides to change his ways, but he can’t seem to shake his reputation as a troublemaker. Summer Reading 2012 6th Grade Clements’ Notes
Book #1: Teachers’ Choice
Title: A Week in the Woods
Characters Use only what you need…if you have more than three characters you can use a separate sheet of paper, or go to the back. The main character of my book is Mark Robert Chelmsley
Description: ______
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Character #2: ______full name Description: ______
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______Character #3 (if important): ______full name Description: ______
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Setting
When ______
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Where ______
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Plot
Event #1 (the beginning, the event that starts the story moving forward) ___
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Event #2 (the next big problem or event that moves the story forward) ____
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Event #3 (towards the middle of the book) ______
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Event #4 ______
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Event #5 (the climax, towards the very end of the story) ______
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Event #6 (the end, what happens to each of the main character(s)?) ______
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______Book #2: Your Choice
Title: ______
Characters Use only what you need…if you have more than three characters you can use a separate sheet of paper, or go to the back.
The main character of my book is ______. full name Description: ______
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Character #2: ______full name Description: ______
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______Character #3 (if important): ______full name Description: ______
______
______
______
______
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Setting
When ______
______
Where ______
______
______
Plot
Event #1 (the beginning, the event that starts the story moving forward) ___
______
______
______
Event #2 (the next big problem or event that moves the story forward) ____
______
______
Event #3 (towards the middle of the book) ______
______
______
______
Event #4 ______
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Event #5 (the climax, towards the very end of the story) ______
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Event #6 (the end, what happens to each of the main character(s)?) ______
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