Dear Future Seventh Graders,
We are so disappointed that your visit to our campus was rained out. There are
so many exciting things happening at junior high next year that we can’t wait to share
at least some of them with you.
First, seventh grade English language arts and reading (ELAR) will be doubleblocked next year. That means your ELAR classes will be two periods long so that we
can spend more time on our writing and reading. Interactive journals, writer’s
workshop, and reflections are just some of the things we have planned for you.
Second, junior high is starting a summer reading program. We don’t want you to
lose any of those good reading and writing habits that your ELAR teachers have already
instilled in you. So, we are including a list of recommended books for you to read and
enjoy this summer, along with activities to help you keep your critical reading skills
sharp. If you are planning to be in Honors ELAR next year, we require that one of your
books be Around the World in 80 Days. If you have read this book before, please read
it again so that you can complete the activities that go with the book. All students
entering the seventh grade will be expected to bring a list of books they have read
during the summer with a reflection for each book. The GJHS library will be open every
Tuesday this summer from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Third, we have signed you up with Newsela.com. All you have to do is go online
and create your own account, using your class code. The instructions are attached, but
if you have any questions, you may ask me or Mrs. Davis, our librarian. You should read
at least three articles of your choice (on your reading level) during the summer. Try to
find articles that connect with the books you are reading. You will add the list of articles
that you have read with your reflections on those articles to your book list.
Fourth, this coming school year, we are going to explore all the things you do
well. So, during the summer, think about all the things in which you are an expert,
whether it is riding a skateboard or annoying your little sister. Make a list of at least ten
of these things and bring it with you on your first day of school.
If you have any questions about any of the exciting things we are going to be
doing next year, please let me know. In the meantime, have a great summer.
Thank you,
Lora Saikin
[email protected]
Kristin Davis
[email protected]
GJHS Summer Reading List
Title
A Christmas Carol
A Gathering of Days
A Long Walk to Water
A Wrinkle in Time
And Then There Were None
Anne Frank Remembered
Around the World in 80 Days (Public Domain - free e-book)
Bridge to Terabithia
Code Talker
Diary of a Witness
Dragonflight
Fever 1793
House of Dies Drear
I, Juan de Pareja
Jacob Have I Loved
Johnny Tremain
Journey to Jo'Burg
Kidnapped
Left for Dead
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Over the Wall
Revenge of the Whale
Robin Hood
Shiloh
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Sophia's War
Taking Sides
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Andromeda Strain
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
The Big Wave
The Call of the Wild
The Clay Marble
The Face on the Milk Carton
The Hobbit
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Secret Garden
The Story of My Life
The Summer of the Swans
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
The View from Saturday
Walk Two Moons
Woods Runner
GJHS Library open every Tuesday
from 9 a.m. to Noon
Author
Charles Dickens
Joan Blos
Linda Sue Park
Madeleine L'Engle
Agatha Christie
Miep Gies with Alison Leslie Gold
Jules Verne
Katherine Paterson
Joseph Bruchac
Katherine Hyde
Anne McCaffrey
Laurie Halse Anderson
Virginia Hamilton
Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
Katherine Paterson
Esther Forbes
Beverley Naidoo
Robert Stevenson
Pete Nelson
Robert C. O'Brien
John H. Ritter
Nathaniel Philbrick
Howard Pile
Phylis Naylor
Ray Bradbury
Avi
Gary Soto
Mark Twain
Michael Crichton
Ernest Gaines
Pearl Buck
Jack London
Minfong Ho
Caroline B. Cooney
Tolkien
C.S. Lewis
Francis Burnett
Helen Keller
Betsy Byars
Avi
E.L. Konigsburg
Sharon Creech
Gary Paulsen
Project Gutenburg - free e-book site for downloading Around the world in 80 days by Jules Verne
How to Write a Reflection
For a Book:
Step 1: Think about why you chose this book.
Step 2: Think about how the book made you feel. Why did you feel that way?
Step 3: Now write about your reasons for choosing the book, how the book
made you feel, and whether you enjoyed the book or not. Don’t forget
to give examples from the text to support your feelings.
Note: Honor students need to complete a reflection for Around the World in 80 Days as well as
complete the literary elements journal for that book.
For an Article:
Most of the Newsela articles have either a writing assignment or a quiz with
them. Completing one or both of these for each article will count as a reflection.
Students reading Around the World in 80 Days should try to find an article about Nellie
Bly. (This article does not have to be from Newsela.)
Remember if you do not have access to the internet, the GJHS library will be open on
Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. (940) 665-4062
How to Create a Literary Elements Journal
Create a literary elements journal for Around the World in 80 Days.
Fold notebook paper in half.
On the left,
 Write the name of the literary element (ex. metaphor, personification, etc.)
 Copy the example of that literary element from the book exactly.
 Place the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses.
On the right, write what the author meant by this element. What effect was he trying to
create?
Create at least ten of these for the book..
LE Journal: Around the World in 80 Days
Jules Verne

name of the literary element

a quotation illustrating the literary
and/or
 Effect created by the use of the element
element

 AIM (Author’s Intended Meaning)
parenthetical documentation
Response created in the reader--
(Verne
suspense, fright, calm, etc.
)
Place the page number inside
the parentheses. Do not use a comma.
If you are using an ebook, place the
location number instead.
 Commentary (your explanation of
how/why the quote created this effect)
Author’s last name
fold of the paper
Example:
LE Journal: Around the World in 80 Days
Jules Verne
Simile
“Phileas Fogg was seated squarely in his
armchair, his feet close together like those of
a grenadier on parade, ...”
(Verne 144)
This is the location in an ebook.
The author uses this simile to show how
precise Phileas Fogg is. By comparing
him to a grenadier, Verne is also
emphasizing that Fogg is “guarding” his
time.
Getting Started
Great news! Your teacher has signed up your class for Newsela. It will only take a
moment to get set up.
Your Sign-Up Code
VCSEC9
The first step is to create your own account. To do this you will need the sign-up
code for your class, located in the grey box on the right.
If you already have an account, you can add more classes (https://newsela.com/~join).
There are 2 ways to sign up for a username
Option 1: Create a Newsela username and password
1
2
Visit newsela.com and click on
Sign Up Now
Click on "I'm a Student"
3
4
Fill out all the fields and click Sign Up
A welcome message will appear.
Click Get Started
IMPORTANT
Your sign up code is VCSEC9
Your password must be at least six characters
Option 2: Use an existing Google email address
1
2
Visit newsela.com and click on
Sign Up Now
Click on "I'm a Student"
3
4
Click "Sign in with Google"
Type your Google email and password.
Click on "Sign In"
5
6
Click Accept
Fill out all the fields and click Sign Up
IMPORTANT
Your sign up code is VCSEC9