Summer Reading Assignment
Grades K-2
Fun, Engaging Reading Project
K-2 students will be expected to read a minimum of 4 books and complete a project, based on one of their summer reading selections. Two of the books must be STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) based theme for their project selections.
Students will also be responsible for completing a self-evaluation-reading assignment rubric (see sample below) upon completion of their self-selected project. These projects were created to promote cre- activity, engagement, and fun with reading! Students will have the choice of picking from a variety of projects in which they will then bring with them on the first day of school.
Summer Reading Project Selections
Here are some selections to choose from:
Write a song or comic book, or continuation of your story, or a new ending
Write a comic book that tells about your favorite part of the books. The comic strip should have a minimum of six scenes or selections. Include comic- style illustrations in either black and white or color. Include dialogue bubbles too.
Write a continuation of your story What happens in the new 'next' chapter? This should be at least one page in length.
Write a new ending for your story. This new ending should be at least one page in length.
Shadow box or diorama
Three minute video recording
Life-Size Portrait
Create a life-size portrait of one of the characters from your book. The portrait should include a written piece that tells about the character. The piece should also include information about events, traits, or conflicts in the book that involved the character.
STEAM Resources
STEAM
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Art
- Math
Best STEM Books 2019
Outstanding Science Trade Books 2019
K-2 Summer Reading Assignment Rubric Self-Evaluation
ILA
International Literacy Association compiles outstanding book lists with categories including Children’s Choice and Teachers’ Choices.
STEAMing Hot Summer Resources
Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
Begin your adventures in reading by participating in the K-8 Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge from Monday, May 6 thru Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. Keep track of how many minutes you spend reading this summer and log them into the Scholastic Reading Challenge link on this site. There is a great section for parents too!
http://www.scholastic.com/summer/home/
Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program
Summer Program encourages you to read books of your own choosing and earn a FREE book! Log in and find out how.
readwritethink.org
A great free source for reading and literacy resources. Look for the Parent & Afterschool section for activities, games, tips and how-to’s for ages KG through 12th grade.
Texas Library Association
Preventing Summer Slide
For some children, summer is a time dedicated to playing video games, sleeping in, vacationing and relaxing as much as possible before the beginning of yet another school year. Children may argue that summer should be spent taking a break from
academics and enjoy doing “nothing”. As parents and educators we need to ensure that our children do not fall into what is commonly referred to as “summer slide”.
The summer slide: it sounds fun, but it can make the transition from grade to grade really difficult. Research shows that students who do not read during the summer may experience a decrease in their reading level.
But guess what? Students who read regularly during the summer often improve their reading level and ability! Harmony students can start strong in the fall if their reading habits don’t “slide” away during the summer months. In this newsletter we have posted a list of summer reading projects for students to select from. Inside you will also find a suggested reading list, creative ways to engage your child with reading, strategies on how to help your child select texts, and parent resources you can access free online.
Presenting the 2019-2020 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List
· The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle by Christina Uss (Margaret Ferguson Books, an imprint of Holiday House, 2018)
· The Boo-Boos That Changed the World: A True Story About an Accidental Invention (Really!) by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Chris Hsu (Charlesbridge, 2018)
· Captain Superlative by J.S. Puller (Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group, 2018)
· The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, 2018)
· Crown: An Ode to a Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James (Bolden, an imprint of Agate, 2017)
· The Dragon Slayer: Folktales From Latin America by Jaime Hernandez (TOON Graphics, 2018)
· El Chupacabras by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Crash McCreery (Dial Books For Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, 2018)
· Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome (A Paula Wiseman Book, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, 2018)
· Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Little Brown and Company, 2018)
· Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, 2018)
· The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris and Alex Azam (Little Brown and Company, 2017)
· Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes (Scholastic, 2018)
· The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, by Stacy McAnulty (Random House Children’s Books, 2018)
· Gedrick and Me by Patrick Carman (Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2017)
· Rebound by Kwame Alexander (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018)
· Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech (HarperCollins Publishers, 2018)
· Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2018)
· Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Colin Jack (Scholastic, 2018)
· Watchdog by Will McIntosh (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, 2017)
· Wishtree by Katherine Applegate ( Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, 2017)
Making Connections
Text-to-Self
Does this book remind you of something that has happened to you before?
Can you make a connection between one of the characters and yourself?
How can you relate to this text?
Text-to-Text
How is this book alike or different from the book you previously read?
Does this remind you of a character from another book?
Text-to-World
Does this remind you of anything that is currently happening in our world today or in the past?
Can you think of a place where this might happen?
Quick Tips to Promote Reading
Schedule weekly trips to the public library
Let your child pick reading material that is of interest to them
Read together with your child
Attend story hours, readings and plays offered at your local library or bookstore
Encourage your child to read in bed. Consider letting your child stay up late if they read.
Be a model: Read, read, read in front of your child.
Give Me a Five!
Helping your child select a “just right” book is very simple. To encourage youngsters to read it is important that they select books that are of interest to them and that they don’t encounter a level of reading frustration because the text is too difficult.
A smart way to guide your child in proper book selections is to incorporate the “5 Finger Rule”. First, have your child choose a book they have an interest in reading. Next, open the book to a random page and have your child read aloud or whisper read the first few lines of the page. Listen carefully and ask your child to hold up one finger for each word that they do not know or stumble upon.
If your child holds up 5 fingers before reaching the end of the page that is a sign that the book is too difficult. Holding up 1 finger or none signifies the text may be too easy. The magic number to look for is 2 fingers.