Frequently Asked Questions
Q.
A.
Is summer reading required?
NO! However, it's important that you
maintain a reading life throughout the
summer to strengthen the behaviors and
habits of lifelong reading and your academic performance.
Q.
A.
How many books should I read?
That number will be different for each of
you. By reading everyday or most days,
the majority of students read at least four
books and many read over ten!
Q.
A.
What kind of books should I read?
Select books and other reading materials of personal interest. Some of you
may be interested in non-fiction while
others gravitate toward fantasy or other
fiction genres.
Q.
A.
Will anyone check if I read or not?
Yes! If you participate, can turn in your
reading log to your ELA teacher or participate in the summer reading blog. In
September, the ELA Department will
sponsor a Book Fair and Literacy Night
and you will have the opportunity to
share what you read.
Q.
A.
How should I record what I read?
It's important that you remember what
you read. Please find a method of recording that works best for you. Some
students have a personal journal, others
prefer to use a reading log.
Q.
A.
What should I record?
Of course, you should record titles and
authors, but an active reader records
his/her thinking. You should write down
any questions, opinions, reactions you
may have and also make connections
and summarize.
Start Surfing
the Pages of a
Book
Kelly Mill Middle
School
Summer Reading
Challenge:
Surfing Through
the Pages of a Book
Kelly Mill Middle School
1141 Kelly Mill Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
Phone: 803-691-7210
Fax: 803-691-7212
E-mail: [email protected]
Surfing Through
the Pages of a Book
Research shows that students who read throughout the summer continue to grow academically.
Those who do not read can lose up to three
months of academic growth. To foster reading
during the summer months, Kelly Mill is proud to
present our summer reading program, “Surfing
Through the Pages of a Book” sponsored by the
Kelly Mill Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
Our goals are to create a culture of reading at
Kelly Mill and to bring students back to school in
August with academic gains. Summer reading is
an important activity for students’ intellectual
growth and development. It encourages students to continue learning while still providing
them with fun and enjoyment. What helps make
reading entertaining for students is allowing
them the freedom to choose books that speak
to their unique interests.
As part of our new Summer Reading Program
students may choose a book from this list or a
different book. All Kelly Mill Middle School students for the 2013-2014 school year are invited
to participate. Students who need additional
assistance in selecting great books to read may
also consult a public librarian.
The optional assignments were created with the
assistance of the English Language Arts department. Also attached is a list of books that we
think your child may enjoy. These books are
nominees for the 2013-2014 South Carolina Junior Book Award. The purposes of the South Carolina Junior Book award are to encourage students to read good, quality contemporary literature and to honor the authors of the books annually.
Happy Reading!
Summer Reading Assignments
HANG LOOSE
to be relaxed, easygoing, etc.
Use the Summer Reading Log to help you keep track of what
you read, how often you read it, and your reactions to it. Parents, please help monitor your child’s reading by signing the
Summer Reading Log. Students can turn their reading logs in
to their ELA teachers during the first week of school for a
homework grade.
HANG TEN
to ride a surfboard with the toes of both feet draped over the
front edge of the board
At least three times during the summer, you may post a blog
entry that reflects on the reading that you have done. This
entry is your chance to provide a book review for the books
you are reading. You may want to provide a short summary of
the plot in your own words that does not spoil the book or give
it away, and include additional information such as your favorite quotation, character, the author’s purpose, or links to additional information about the author or book. You will also
share your recommendation and explain why others should or
should not read it. This assignment also gives you the opportunity to comment and respond to posts, and will result in a
classwork grade from your ELA teacher.
COWABUNGA
a yell of exhilaration, mainly used by surfers
The purpose of the Reading Fair competition is to provide
students the opportunity to share their
favorite fictional book through a storyboard display. The implementation of the Common Core
State Standards (CCSS) places an emphasis on students
reading complex texts at grade level.
CCSS also places value on reading non-fiction texts which
increases student understanding of informational text. The
goal of the reading fair is to enhance and encourage reading
at all grade levels and to allow students to collaborate with
their peers. Participants will receive a quiz grade from their
ELA teacher.
Ultimately, as a result of participating in this process, students
will experience a deeper enjoyment from reading and develop
a lifelong love of reading. Participants will share their displays
and books during the Reading Fair and Literacy Night sponsored by the ELA Department. Winners from each grade level
will receive a gift card to a local bookstore.
Suggested Reading List
South Carolina Junior Book Award
Nominees 2013-2014
The 2013-2014 South Carolina Junior
Book Award Nominees can be
checked out from Richland Library.
Get your hands on a copy, today!
Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace
Fleming
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not
Reading by Tommy Greenwald
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
City of Orphans by Avi
The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander
Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri
Hidden by Helen Frost
How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of
the
Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
Notes From An Accidental Band Geek
by Erin Dionne
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van
Draanen
Saint Louis Armstrong Beach by Brenda
Woods
Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
The Underdogs by Mike Lupica
Waiting to Forget by Sheila Kelly Welch
Wild Life by Cynthia DeFelice
A World Without Heroes by Brandon