June 24th 2015
Dear Parents/Guardians and Prospective students:
I want to extend to you and your child my warmest welcome into our school. My name is Ms. Newton and I will be your child’s 9th grade Freshman English Teacher this year. My philosophy for learning is that each child is unique, and each child learns differently and at a different pace. One of my jobs as a teacher is to help your child discover his or her individuality and work alongside them to maximize their potential. I am looking forward to a fun–filled and educational year. Attached you will find a summer reading and writing assignment as is customary.
Your child should be prepared to lead a discussion on the book(s) read during the summer. Summer reading is essential. It ensures students continued practice of skills acquired during the school year, with the added advantage of reading at a more leisurely pace.
Note to Students: Ninth grade English is an introductory course on the different genres of literature and their connections to the lives of today’s youths. It is my hope that you find intellectual and personal enjoyment during your summer reading. I tried to incorporate titles that will broaden your reading horizons, and embody a redeeming social message, but overall titles that I feel you will enjoy reading. Happy reading and I look forward to meeting you in September.
Sincerely,
J. Newton
N.B. Parents please assist your child wherever possible. Remember your child’s success in school is dependant on the combine effort of teachers and parents.
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SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
All incoming freshman are required to read two books; Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper and Sold by Patricia McCormick, prior to the start of the2015-2016 School year. Please complete the Summer Reading Activity in preparation for class discussion and written analysis during the first week of school.
READING LIST
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper.
Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow
Sold by Patricia McCormick.
As this heartbreaking story opens, 13-year-old Lakshmi lives an ordinary life in Nepal, going to school and thinking of the boy she is to marry. Then her gambling-addicted stepfather sells her into prostitution in India. Refusing to be with men, she is beaten and starved until she gives in.
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SUMMER ASSIGNMENT
Reading Response Journal Writing Guide
2015 Summer Reading Project is worth 20% of students’ first Marking Period Grade.
Goals of 2015 Summer Reading Program:
To: help students maintain the reading, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills acquired over the school year.
To: Enhance students’ knowledge of various cultures represented in the books read, and
To: Encourage them to analyze works independently.
Williamsburg High School for Architecture & Design is mindful of the busy summer schedules of families. The 2015 Summer Reading is intended to be one of the many positive and productive activities students engage in over the summer. As ninth grade English students, your Summer Reading Assignment is to read, comprehend what you have read and record your reflections and reactions in journal form. (You may use a black & white marble note book as a journal). This assignment is due on the first day of school. This assignment will be counted as 20% of your first marking period grade. Thorough, thoughtful, and reflective responses are to be provided in the journal. In order to earn the highest grade, students should complete the entire assignment. PLEASE WRITE NEATLY.
1. Keep an interactive journal as you read. You may write to express what a character might feel — or write entries to express what you feel in relation to the book or the character(s) (your thoughts). You can write questions you may have about the story, the character etc.
2. Fakebook: Character Profile Page.
Create a Facebook Page for your chosen character. If your character had a Facebook page, what would it look like? Think about their friends, their Hobbies, things they did in the book. What pictures would be seen? Who would post comments to their wall? (Keep an ongoing fakebook character profile for the entire book of the character you chose.)
3. Text-Message Conversation between Characters
If two (or more) characters from your book were to have a text conversation, what would it be? Using what you know about the characters and one of the scenes in the book, create a text conversation (2-3 pages). Do not copy and paste. I want your original work. Any work that is copied and pasted will receive a Zero.
