Paradise Valley Christian College Preparatory
2017 Summer Required Reading Program for 7th Grade
Students will read 2 books for summer reading and take AR quizzes on both titles. One book is the student’s choice
from the list below. Please key in the author’s name at AR BookFinder (http://www.arbookfind.com/UserType.aspx)
to view unabridged titles by the author, and to ensure the selected book is worth at least 4 points. A well-known title
by the author is listed to assist with familiarity. Beginning June 6 th, the school office will be open on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30-2:30 for AR quiz-taking on the 2 books read. Please note: Before any reading
begins, verify any selected title at AR BookFinder by keying in the ISBN.
The other book is the required school reading which is annotated as part of the summer reading program. Teachers
start the school year with a Socratic discussion and interpretative activities of the required book. Students should bring
this form to their teacher on the first day of school. Thank you for your assistance with this activity.
Student Choice - Read any AR book (worth at least 4 points) written by one of these 10 authors:
Jeanne Duprau (City of Ember) - 6 AR titles ranging from 4.7-5.2
Walter Farley (The Black Stallion) – 20 AR titles ranging from 5.2-6.6
Tim LaHaye (Left Behind) – 23 AR titles ranging from 5.2-6.8
Stephen R. Lawhead (In the Hall of the Dragon King) – 8 AR titles ranging from 6.2-7.3
Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time) – 17 AR titles ranging from 4.5-6.5
Gilbert Morris (Flight of the Eagles) – 87 AR titles ranging from 4.1-6.5
Katherine Paterson (Jacob Have I Loved) – 24 AR titles ranging from 4.2-6.2
Noel Streatfeild (Ballet Shoes) – 5 AR titles ranging from 5.3-5.8
Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) – 5 AR titles ranging from 9.6-11.2
H.G. Wells (The Time Machine) – 5 titles ranging from 7.2-9.1
Required Book - Read and annotate (see reverse side for annotating instructions) the title below:
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
ISBN: 9780547928227
AR: 6.6 book level
Regardless of where you purchase this title (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, eBay, etc.), the book for junior high needs to
have the corresponding ISBN. This ensures that all students will have the same page reference when book discussions
are held in the classroom.
The 2 titles (include author’s name) I have read, taken AR quizzes on, and completed the assignment for, are:
1. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________________________________________________________
Student Name______________________________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature ____________________________________________________________________________________
Paradise Valley Christian College Preparatory
Annotating Instructions for 7th and 8th Grades
Annotating Literature Selections:
When studying a book, students will be making annotations to help them with follow-up activities (these include discussions, essay
writing, tests). Annotating makes locating information easier. Listed below are the basics. Students may do additional notations
which they find helpful but must follow these basic guidelines.
Ideally, a student should read a selection twice. The first reading is simply reading to get a basic understanding of the story, its
characters, themes and plot. After this first reading, annotating is easier because students can more easily identify foreshadowing,
themes, etc. Of course, two readings may not be possible and annotating must be part of the first reading.
Page Heading: Write a brief summary capturing the content of the page (main idea, event, conversation)
Side Margin Notes: Use to summarize the meaning of a highlighted section or to write questions for class discussion
Highlight (5 colors needed):
Blue (vocabulary)
Green (settings-time, place, and weather)
Orange (important quotes)
Pink (character description)
Yellow (important event and plot developments)
Highlighting:
Highlighters are used to identify basic literary components of a story and to tag them for easy identification later during study and
review. PVCP students are expected to annotate using the color guide which follows.
Blue (Vocabulary): Any unfamiliar word should be highlighted in blue (including words which a student thinks he/she knows in
context but does not use in his/her working vocabulary). Words often have multiple meanings and context does not always reveal
the correct meaning. Next, the student should use a dictionary to define the word and use a red or blue ballpoint to write a simple
definition in the side margin of the book. This allows the student to easily review the word when referring to it later. Care must
be taken to use the correct meaning of words with multiple definitions.
Green (Settings-time, place, weather): These and other elements of setting should be highlighted in green. If a change in setting
occurs, this should also be marked in green. A note in the side margin should be made (in red or blue ballpoint) to help identify
the details of the setting (i.e. Grandmother’s bedroom, fog thickens, or no computers working).
Pink (Character Description): When a new character is introduced or described use pink to highlight it. When additional details
about a character are revealed, highlight those. Use a ballpoint to make a side margin note identifying the character and any
relevant details.
Orange (Quotes): Any line in the story (whether dialogue or narrative) which is worth remembering should be highlighted in
orange. These may be used later as part of an essay or class discussion (i.e. “It was the best of time, it was the worst of time”, “It is
very foolish to shut oneself into any wardrobe.”, “Luke, I am your father.”) Again, use a red or blue ballpoint to make a side margin
note which helps identify the quote.
Yellow (Important Events and Themes): Highlight important events and plot developments in yellow, and use a red or blue
ballpoint to make a side margin note to help identify the event.
Purple (optional): Packs of highlighter often contain a purple highlighter. These may be used for additional annotation. If, for
example, two important events occur together, the first is highlighted in yellow and the second can be highlighted in purple. If
there is no purple, both should be highlighted in yellow and the use of side margin notes will differentiate them.
Page Headings:
Use a red or blue ballpoint to label the top of each page. Use a label that will help identify the key events on that page (i.e. Lucy
finds the wardrobe, Fog cuts Scrooge off from reality, Darth Vader is Luke’s father). If the page is very short, as the last page of a
chapter often is, no label may be needed. No more than ten unlabeled pages should occur in a novel.