Summer Reading Experience
Rising Second Grade
In order to help students continue their learning and increase their reading skills, rising
second graders will be participating in a brand new summer reading experience designed
JUST FOR THEM. Students will be reading and taking AR tests during their summer break.
When school returns, there will be a reading celebration and awards for these special rising
second grade students.
What is AR?
AR is a computerized program that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s
independent reading practice. Your child picks a book at his own level, and reads it at his or
her own pace. When finished, your child takes a short quiz online. Passing the quiz is an
indication that your child understood what was read.
What do students have to do?
Requirements: Student must read and pass tests on a MINIMUM of 5 books ON THEIR
READING LEVEL during the summer break, June 13 - August 19. While AR counts passing
as 60% or better, for Hillel passing is a score of 80% or better. Students will use the AR Log
to write the name of the book, author, ATOS/Book level, date of test, % correct, and number
of words read. This information will be shown at the end of the testing session. The log will
be submitted to teachers the first day of school.
Students have a variety of books to choose from, including many genres, topics, and styles.
Books must be on the students reading level, according to their end of year STAR testing.
The student’s first grade teacher will send the students username and password
information, as well as their reading level, to parents prior to the end of school. Teachers in
1st/2nd have also compiled a list of books on the various reading levels to help start your
search. The list is at the eTo help find other books on the students level, or to see if a book
has an AR test associated with it, please visit www.arbookfind.com.
How do you take a test?
There is a HOW TO AR tutorial on the Community Log in with the summer reading
experience packet with step-by-step instructions. There are two ways to take AR tests. One
is to go to the AR site for Hillel (https://hosted326.renlearn.com/338015/default.aspx).
Students will put in their username and log in, type the name of the book, choose the
reading practice quiz, select how the book was read, and start the quiz. There is a link to the
AR testing site on Community Log in. Go to www.ehillel.org, click parent, then look for and
click on the library tab at the top of the page, in the middle of the page there is an AR logo
that you can click on to go to the AR website.
Another option to test is by downloading the free AR app. You will need the code SSHCDS07AT. Then students log in, type the name of the book, select how it was read, and start the
quiz. Once students complete the 5-10 question quiz, they will be asked to rate the book,
then they will see their score and words read. AR has a point system for books read, but we
do not use the points, instead we focus on the percent correct and words read.
What are the awards?
Overall participation (everyone who has passed a minimum of 5 books)
Top 10 words read
Top 10 total averages
Top 10 number of books read
Momentum award for pushing to the top (awards for those who pass 10, 20, 30, etc.)
Top 3 overall readers (combination of words read, averages, books read, and book levels)
What if…
While students have worked on AR in class, they may still struggle with how to log in. If you
would like to attend a training session for parents on how to use the AR program, please
email Mrs. Penchev and she will set up a training time. If you have any questions or
concerns, your child’s first grade teacher can assist you, as well as the AR coordinator at
Hillel, Mrs. Penchev ([email protected]). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate
to contact us.
Summer Reading Experience
AR Log
Student Name: __________________________________________________________
AR Reading Range: ________________________________
What are your summer reading goals?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Test
date
Title
Author
ATOS/
Book
level
%
correct
This log is due to the 2nd grade teacher the first week of school.
My favorite book this summer was ______________________________________________
because ______________________________________________________________________________
Words
Read
AR Leveled Books
0.5-1.0 Leveled Books
Biscuit
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin
AR 1.4
A little yellow dog wants ever one more thing before he'll go to sleep.
-ake as in Cake
Molter, Carey
AR 1.0
This book introduces, in brief text and illustrations, the use of the letter combination "ake."
That Bad, Bad Cat!
Masurel, Claire
AR Quiz No. 59524 EN Fiction
AR: 1.0
What a bad, bad cat! He tears the pillows and eats the plants, but his family still loves him.
And I Mean It, Stanley
Bonsall, Crosby
AR 0.9
A little girl plays alone until her dog arrives.
Carl and the Puppies
Day, Alexandra
AR 0.8
Mama Dog needs a rest, and Carl offers to watch her puppies. Will he be able to keep three playful puppies out of
trouble?
I'm a Caterpillar
Marzollo, Jean
AR 0.9
This book follows the life cycle of a caterpillar through the changing seasons
1.0-1.5 Leveled Books
That Bad, Bad Cat!
Masurel, Claire
AR 1.0
What a bad, bad cat! He tears the pillows and eats the plants, but his family still loves him.
Sheep in a Jeep
Shaw, Nancy
AR 1.0
This book records the misadventures of a group of sheep that go riding in a jeep.
Hop on Pop
Seuss, Dr.
AR: 1.5
Pairs of rhyming words are introduced and used in simple sentences, such as "Day, Play. We play all day. Night.
Fight. We fight all night.”
Pal the Pony
Herman, R.A.
AR 1.3
Pal the pony is too little to participate in the rodeo, but becomes the star of the ranch in a different way.
A Dollar for Penny: A Math Reader
Glass, Julie
AR 1.4
Penny earns money selling lemonade to buy her mother a birthday card.
Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach
Dean, James
1.3
Pete is spending the day at the beach. He has fun collecting shells and building a sand castle, but the beach is
very hot. There is a whole ocean for Pete to cool off in, but it looks scary. Pete's brother, Bob, offers to teach Pete
to surf.
1.5-2.0 Leveled Books
Silly Milly and the Mysterious Suitcase
Lewison, Wendy Cheyette
AR: 1.5
Silly Milly is packing her suitcase for a trip and packs some really strange things.
Super Fly Guy
Arnold, Tedd
AR: 1.7
Fly Guy visits the school cafeteria and gets the lunch lady fired. Book #2
Fancy Nancy and the Boy from Paris
O'Connor, Jane
AR : 1.9
Nancy is delighted that the new boy in her class is from Paris and sets out to become his friend, but she then
discovers that this Parisian is not quite as fancy as she had thought.
Diary of a Worm
Cronin, Doreen
AR 2.8
A young worm discovers, day by day, that there are some very good and some not so good things about being a
worm in this great big world.
There's a Fly Guy in My Soup
Arnold, Tedd
AR 1.8
When Fly Guy is not allowed in the restaurant with Buzz's family, he follows his nose and ends up in the soup.
Book #12
Diary of a Worm: Teacher's Pet
Houran, Lori Haskins
AR 1.9
A dung-ball paperweight? Trash Splash perfume? A gum-wrapper scarf? What is the perfect birthday present for
Worm's teacher, Mrs. Mulch? Based on the creation of Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss.
2.0-2.5 Leveled Books
Dixie Loves School Pet Day
Gilman, Grace
AR 2.0
When Dixie gets to join Emma at school for Pet Day, she can hardly stop wagging her tail with excitement. Dixie
tries her best to sit still, but with all the new friends to make, she may not be able to stay calm for long
The Bears' Vacation
Berenstain, Stan
AR 2.0
Papa Bear demonstrates his seaside safety rules when the Bears take a vacation. The coauthor is Jan Berenstain.
Froggy's Worst Playdate
London, Jonathan
AR: 2.1
None of Froggy's friends are home one Saturday, but that does not mean he wants to go on a movie playdate
with Frogilina.
I've Won, No I've Won, No I've Won
Child, Lauren
AR 2.2
Lola wants to win every game against her older brother Charlie, even if it means making up creative shortcuts.
Sammy the Seal
Hoff, Syd
AR 2.0
Sammy leaves the zoo to go exploring and learns to read while visiting a class of first-graders.
2.5-3.0 Leveled Books
Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps
Rylant, Cynthia
AR 2.6
Henry worries about what will happen to his big dog Mudge during their visit to his grandmother's house in the
country.
Hungry, Hungry Sharks
Cole, Joanna
AR 2.8
A simple discussion of the kinds of sharks and their behavior.
Poppleton and Friends
Rylant, Cynthia
AR 2.6
Poppleton goes to the shore, struggles with dry skin, and tries a grapefruit for the first time.
Rotten Ralph
Gantos, Jack
AR 3.0
Although Ralph is a rotten cat, Sarah loves him anyway.
The Best Mistake Ever! and Other Stories
Scarry, Richard
AR 2.5
Three humorous stories about Lowly Worm and Huckle Cat. A Step Into Reading Book--Step 2.
3.0-3.5 Leveled Books
The Adventures of Taxi Dog
Barracca, Debra
AR: 3.0
A stray dog in New York city is adopted by a taxi driver with whom he therafter rides and shares adventures
each day.
Anansi
Gleeson, Brian
AR Quiz No. 102261 EN Fiction
AR Level 3.1
Two Jamaican folk tales in which Anansi the spider practices his trickery on others.
The Adventures of Taxi Dog
Barracca, Debra
Fiction
AR Level 3.0
A stray dog in New York city is adopted by a taxi driver with whom he therafter rides and shares adventures each day.
Anansi
Gleeson, Brian
Fiction
AR Level 3.1
Two Jamaican folk tales in which Anansi the spider practices his trickery on others.
Robin Hood
Ingle, Annie
Fiction
AR Level 3.2
Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and the merry outlaws of Sherwood Forest repeatedly outwit the Sheriff of Nottingham and help the
poor. This book is adapted from the classic by Howard Pyle.
Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story
De Paola, Tomie
Fiction
AR LEvel 3.3
After the death of her mother and father, Adelita is badly mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters until she finds her own
true love at a grand fiesta.
The Time Machine
Dunn, Joeming
Fiction
AR Level 3.4
This book presents a graphic novel adaptation of H.G. Wells's THE TIME MACHINE, which is about a man who is able to travel
back and forth in time.
3.5-4.0 Leveled Books
Abuelo and the Three Bears
Tello, Jerry
Fiction
AR Level 3.5
Emilio's grandfather tells the story of the three bears with a little different twist.
AdventureCat Goes to School
Clymer, Susan
Fiction
AR Level 3.6
When Jesse brings his pet cat named Wildcat to school, she turns into AdventureCat and has all sorts of adventures, finally
realizing that home is not such a bad place to be.
20 Fun Facts About Bats
Niver, Heather Moore
Nonfiction
AR Level 3.7
This book presents 20 facts about the physical characteristics, life cycle, diet, and habitat of bats.
All Dads on Deck
Delton, Judy
Fiction
AR Level 3.8
The Pee Wee Scouts all go fishing with their fathers.
The 100th Customer
Hao, K.T.
Fiction
AR Level 3.9
Ben Bear and Chris Croc open a new restaurant serving delicious pizza and desserts and serve free food to the one-hundredth
customer. The original text is by Byung-Gyu Kim.
4.0-4.5 Leveled Books
The Berenstain Bears Get Their Kicks
Berenstain, Stan
Fiction
AR Level 4.0
Brother and Sister Bear want to join a soccer team, but Papa Bear feels traditional baseball would be better. The coauthor is
Jan Berenstain.
All in Just One Cookie
Goodman, Susan E.
Fiction
AR Level 4.1
As Grandma bakes a batch of chocolate chip cookies, she explains where all the ingredients come from.
4.5-5.0 Leveled Books
Albert Einstein: Scientist and Genius
Slade, Suzanne
Nonfiction
AR Level 4.2
This brief biography highlights some important events in the life of Albert Einstein, the man who made groundbreaking
discoveries about space, time, and energy.
The Adventures of Commander Zack Proton and the Warlords of Nibblecheese
Anderson, Brian
Fiction
AR Level 4.3
Zack and Omega Chimp rush to the aid of orbiting second graders in distress after a renegade band of warrior space mice
kidnaps their teacher. Book #2
The Adventures of Jules & Gertie
Watson, Esther Pearl
Fiction
AR Level 4.4
Cowgirl Jules and her multitalented horse, Gertie, save the town folks from Mean Bulldog Pike and his rotten horse, Bullet.
4.5-5.0 Leveled Books
3, 2, 1...Liftoff!
Scott, Janine
Fiction
AR Level 4.5
Mailbox madness has hit Peach Parade. The search is on for the wackiest mailbox. A knight, a doll, a lighthouse keeper, a pirate,
and Rosie all watch as the contest ends with a bang!
Our Class Wants Perfect Attendance, Mousey Where Are You?
Sandoval, Melba
Fiction
AR Level 4.6
Mrs. Corns's class is trying to win an award for perfect attendance, but Mousey has one problem after another getting to
school.
Lulu and the Dog from the Sea
McKay, Hilary
Fiction
AR Level 4.7
Seven-year-old Lulu and her cousin think their vacation house is the most perfect place ever until they find a trouble-prone,
stray dog living on the beach. Book #2
Mighty Mammals
Dalgleish, Sharon
Nonfiction
AR Level 4.8
This book describes the life and habitat of some of the mammals of the world.
The Pumpkin Runner
Arnold, Marsha Diane
Fiction
AR Level 4.9
An Australian sheep rancher, who eats pumpkins for energy, enters a race from Melbourne to Sydney despite people laughing
at his eccentricities.
Lunch Walks Among Us
Benton, Jim
Fiction
AR Level 5.0
Franny K. Stein is a mad scientist who prefers all things spooky and creepy, but when she has trouble making friends at her
new school she experiments with fitting in--which works until a monster erupts from the trash can. Book #1