HOMEWORK

July 7, 2010

Dear Parents,

You play an important role in your child’s summer reading process.  I encourage you to help in this process and initiate discussion about what your child is reading, as well as the assignment needing to be completed.  The report should be either hand-written or typed.  Please encourage your child to use his/her own thoughts in his/her work.

Your child must read at least 2 books over the summer.  The first book is the one required from the list below and the second is your choice, but NOT a FANTASY genre. Each child must complete the assignment below for the books he/she has read.  Please do not wait until August to do this.
****Grades 5-6 MUST read a book of 175 or more pages. Grades 7-8 MUST read a book of at least 250 pages.
****Your book you may NOT BE A FANTASY genre!!! 

REQUIRED BOOK/GRADE

Grade 5     The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Spear
Grade 6     Crispin by Avi 
Grade 7     Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Grade 8     The Giver by Lois Lowry

This assignment listed below is due the first day of school, unless your child is ill.  Then it will be expected to be brought to school upon his/her return. This is a requirement for class and will count as 2 separate test grades on your child’s first quarter reading grade, as well as the writing grade. Late assignments WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  If your child wishes to read more books than required, I would love it, and will certainly count it as an extra grade(s) on the report card.  

ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA:

After reading each book, each child must write a report following the guidelines  below:

PARAGRAPH 1: In paragraph form, write the title of the book, author’s name, number of pages, and the type (genre) of the book you read.
PARAGRAPH 2: In paragraph form, summarize the story or plot in at least 7 sentences. Use good descriptive words and good sentence structure.  PLEASE use your own words and DO NOT copy from the book or another resource.  Remember I have had most of you in class before and know how you write!
PARAGRAPH 3: In paragraph form and using at least 5 sentences, write about your favorite part of the book.
PARAGRAPH 4: Write a list of 10 or more words from that were unfamiliar to you.  Look up those the words in the dictionary and write down the part of speech and definition that best fits the context.

DO NOT TELL ME YOU KNEW EVERY WORD!!!!! NOT AN EXCUSE!!!!!

PARAGRAPH 5: In at least 7 sentences, write about the influence this book had on you. Yes, it influenced you in some way, so do not say it did not!!!

Ex: How did it make you feel?
Did you learn something you had not known before?  Would you tell others to read this book?  Why or why not?
CLOSING: You AND your parent(s) must sign this paper at the end, verifying you have read this book.

Remember your child must read both books and do the assignment for each book.
Each student needs to complete two separate reports, one per book!

More info on the upcoming school year will be on the website, like the supply list and notes from me.  Please check it regularly. If you have any questions on this assignment or any other information, please write me @ trinityws78@yahoo.com.
 
 
Blessings,

Mrs. C.

SUPPLY LIST - Grades 5-8

• NIV BIBLE – YOUR CHILD NEEDS THIS TYPE BECAUSE WE USE IT DAILY AS A CLASS AND FOR MEMORY WORK
• 2 pkgs—COLLEGE ruled notebook paper
• 1 of these pkgs will be used for the writing binder.  Please get enough paper in the beginning of the year so your child does not run out.  Spirals will not be used for notebook paper.
• Notebooks—3 (4 if you are taking Spanish) PLEASE!!! One SPIRAL notebook PER subject.  70 count spirals are fine. Work will NOT be accepted if not in separate notebook. This is because many times we use our notebooks for something else, and if a notebook with many subjects is turned in, the child will not have the notebook being used at the time for a different subject.
• Organizational 3-ring binder—For personal use
• WRITING one inch 3-ring binder filled with college-ruled notebook paper
• 5th graders will need one of these, since the rest have their binder stored in school from last year (unless it was taken home).  This will be used strictly for writing assignments and kept in school.
• Calculator—SOLAR preferred.  EVERYONE needs one of these for math
• Pocket folders—2-3 WITH tabs
• Scissors
• Ruler—English/Metric NOT THE BENDY ONES, please!
• Colored pencils…a MUST for projects
• Crayons/ Markers. not necessary, but most get these
• Kleenex—2 boxes
• Paper towels—2 rolls
• Pencils, erasers—LOTS!! Mechanicals are OK, but when your child runs out of lead, a backup will be needed
• 2 packs—3X5 index cards (storage containers would be great too)
  These are used for vocabulary words and other projects.
• ERASABLE pens—Crossed out work/white-outs will not be acceptable.
• Sneakers for PE
• PE uniforms—5th graders will need a uniform and will be able to purchase these after school begins.  Forms will be sent home at home visits. If your child needs a uniform, please fill out this form.  There are some used uniforms in the office.
• PAPER BAGS FOR BOOK COVERS  Please bring 5-6 larger paper grocery bags to school the FIRST day of school (when we are able to take the time to put them on).  The bags work the best and stay on the longest.  NO STICKY COVERS PLEASE.  They ruin the books!
• GRADES 5-6 Chapter book to read the FIRST day with @ least 150 pages
• GRADES 7-8 Chapter book to read the FIRST day of school with @ least 200 pages.

We will be reading the FIRST day.  Please start out the year prepared by sending this book to school.