MacArthur Middle School
700 N. Schoenbeck Road
Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070
Phone:
847-870-3879
Fax Number: 847-870-3881
Principal
Mr. Steve Lee
Assistant Principal
Mr. Dominick Lupo
June 2013
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Summer reading is one way that students can practice reading without the in-school stress of a
time crunch or teacher-directed reading. Research shows that children benefit greatly from
continual practice of academic skills over long breaks, and reading over the summer will help
make the transition back into the classroom infinitely easier. We wanted to take this opportunity
to share our summer reading program with you. In order to make the transition from summer to
classes in the fall easier, we are asking your child to read at least one selection from our
summer reading list over the summer break and reflect on what they have read. Of course your
child may read many more books than the one we require.
Transitioning from 5th Grade to 6th Grade is a huge change in the life of a student. We have
selected readings that deal with changing schools and the emotions that tend to accompany it.
We are hopeful that this will give your child some ideas about what to expect in the fall. In
addition, reading about characters who have experienced similar situations will help them feel
as if they are not alone if they are nervous and anxious. Each of the books on our sixth grade
list is an “imaginative rehearsal” for your child as he or she begins a new chapter in his or her
life.
In addition to selecting and reading ONE of the novels below, students will also complete
ONE short written response to the book. The prompts for the written response are also included
in this letter. These written responses will be collected from students on the Monday of our first
full week back in school, August 26th. The written responses will not only serve as a way for us
to see that students have read the book, but also prepare your child for classroom discussions
and/or activities relating to the summer novels.
Sincerely,
Steve Lee
Principal
6th Grade Summer Reading List (2013-2014)
Title
Author
The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda
Tom Angleberger
The White Giraffe
Lauren St. John
Scarlett
Cathy Cassidy
Ethan, Suspended
Pamela Ehrenberg
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
Jack Gantos
Ida B: And her Plans to Maximize Fun,
Katherine Hannigan
Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the
World
Schooled
Gordon Korman
Two Minute Drill
Mike Lupica
The Wild Girls
Pat Murphy
Zen and the Art of Faking It
Jordan Sonnenblick
After you have read the novel you selected, CHOOSE ONE AND ONLY ONE of the following prompts
to answer. Please note the amount of sentences for which each prompt asks. You have the option of either
typing or handwriting your response. If you choose to type, please double-space your response using
Times New Roman 12-point font. If you handwrite, please make sure it is written in blue or black ink and
is legible. In addition, make sure that your first and last name are on the response.
OPTION #1
Choose five (5) of the following sentence starters. For each sentence starter, write a reflection of at least
three (3) sentences. This will be a total of 15 sentences.
 I wondered...
 I am surprised that...
 I’d like to know...
 Why do stories always have to...
 What this story needs is...
 The happiest part of the story is...
 An unfair thing in the story is…
 The saddest part of the story is...
 If I were the main character, I would have…
OPTION #2
In a reflection of at least ten (10) sentences, tell what character is telling the story. Then discuss what
would be different if the story were written from a different character’s point of view. Be specific, and
describe at least one event.
OPTION #3
In a reflection of at least eight (8) sentences, choose a conflict near the end of the story to describe.
Discuss how it is solved, and what you did or did not like about the way it
OPTION #4
In a reflection of at least eight (8) sentences describe at least two (2) good choices and two (2) bad choices
the main character has made.
OPTION #5
In a reflection of at least eight (8) sentences predict what you think happened after the story.
OPTION #6
“Realistic fiction, though untrue, could actually happen. Some events, people and places may even be
real.”
Write at least eight (8) sentences connecting your novel to something in your life, another book or the
world.