May
2006
Dear
7th Graders,
I
am looking forward to our time together in 7th Grade. I am busy reading some great books that I
hope to share with you, collecting some poetry for us to read together, and
writing in my own journal about my journey toward 7th grade with you
in the fall. I’ve learned a great deal
from this year’s 7th grade that I hope to add to our work next year.
As
you enjoy your summer, I would like for you to set aside some time to
read. Hopefully, these are books that
you will enjoy reading. I am giving you
a journal that I hope you will begin to use to record your responses to your
reading. In the fall when we get
together, we will be discussing the books and your responses to them. To be well prepared to begin 7th
grade, you will need to do the following:
·
Read
some poetry. Find one poem that “speaks” to
you. Put it as an entry in your
journal – title, author, date, and copy the poem itself.
·
Read
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, by Kimberly Willis Holt.
This is a story about one summer in Antler,
As you
read and respond, think about your own reaction if Zachary Beaver arrived in
your hometown this summer. Be certain to
date and title your journal entry.
·
Read
2 books of your choice. You may use the
Middle School list as a guide, choose a book you’ve been wanting to read, ask a
friend for a recommendation, ask your parents about a book they remember as a
classic, ask a librarian for a suggestion, ask your friendly bookseller, or ask
me.
As you
read your choice, think about how this book might relate to your life or the
lives of your friends and or family.
Respond to this book in your journal.
As
you read and respond to these books, begin to develop your journal writing
style. Be careful to date your entry and write the
title of the book to which you are responding at the top of the page.
Enjoy
your summer! Have fun reading!
See
you in August.
Mrs.
Richardson