Summer Reading
UPPER SCHOOL SUMMER READING
(GRADES 9-12)
All Westmark students are asked to complete summer reading in order to develop their reading skills, foster connection and engagement with literature, and activate their imagination. The primary goal of the summer reading project is for the students to read as many books as they can as we want to generate excitement about reading. We also want to foster a student’s ability to make meaningful connections to what they read. To facilitate this, students are asked to complete writing assignments on the books they read over the summer as detailed below.
If you need additional assistance, please reach out over the summer to the following:
Robyn Bridges, or Marissa DeSiena or Kathy Spielman.
We thought it would be fun to showcase the books our faculty and staff have been busy reading this summer too!
9TH GRADE
9TH GRADE READING ASSIGNMENT
9th Grade students will turn their reading log into their reading teacher on the first day of school.
The summer assignment will consist of the following:
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Students are encouraged to read at least two books
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Students are asked to fill out the daily reading log (turned into reading teacher).
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Students must complete a writing assignment associated with one of their books that they turn into their English teacher on the first day of school.
4. Students in reading classes will also be working with their reading teachers to select books.
Book Selection
Part One: Book Selection
Over the summer, all students are required to read at least two books of their choice. Students are encouraged to consult the following book lists and resource list in selecting a book. At least one of these books should be at a students’ reading level - they should be able to decode the book easily and read the book aloud with ease (independent reading level).
Please follow this guideline:
- Turn to a page in the middle of a book.
- As your student reads aloud, count any errors.
- If there are 3 or fewer errors, the book is a good choice.
- If there are more than 3 errors, the book may be too difficult to read and understand independently. Listening to an audiobook or having an adult read the book aloud would be recommended.
Both books selected should be of interest to the student
For the second book students are encouraged to use assistive technology, like Learning Ally, to have access to books that they may not be able to easily read on their own.
Students are encouraged to consult the following book lists when making book selections.
Book Lists and Summer reading recommendations
Students in reading classes will also be working with their reading teachers to select books. If you need additional assistance, please reach out over the summer to the following: Robyn Bridges, Marissa DeSiena, or Kathy Spielman.
Reading Log
Writing Assignment/Reflection Worksheet
Grading
Grading:
Students will be assessed on the completion of their reading assignment. All students turn their reading logs into their Reading teachers on the first day of school in August.
Students will turn in their reflection worksheet to their English teacher on the first day of school. Their worksheet will be graded according to the following criteria:
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Assignment completion
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Name on form
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Title of the book
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Author of the book
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All questions answered
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Student writes in complete sentences using the Sentence Writing Strategy (described below):
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Start with a capital letter.
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Have end punctuation.
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Have a subject.
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Have a verb.
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The sentence makes sense.
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Student responses show a thoughtful understanding of the text.
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The book reflection is turned-in on time.
10TH-1 2TH GRADES
10TH-12TH GRADE SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT
The summer assignment for 10th-12th Grade students will consist of the following:
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Students are encouraged to read at least two books (see below for lists)
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Students are asked to fill out the backward planning document (see below)
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Students must complete two writing assignments associated with their books:
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One worksheet (see below)
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One book report (see below)
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*** Some reading students will be asked to maintain a reading log to help them keep track of their daily reading (see Reading Teacher for Logs)
- Book Selection
- Backward Planning Document: Summer Reading Plan for 10th - 12th Grade
- Writing Assignments: Reflection Worksheet & Book Report
- Grading
Book Selection
Part One: Book Selection
Over the summer, all students are required to read at least two books of their choice. At least one of these books should be at a students’ reading level - they should be able to decode the book easily and read the book aloud with ease (independent reading level).
Please follow this guideline:
- Turn to a page in the middle of a book.
- As your student reads aloud, count any errors.
- If there are 3 or fewer errors, the book is a good choice.
- If there are more than 3 errors, the book may be too difficult to read and understand independently. Listening to an audiobook or having an adult read the book aloud would be recommended.
Both books selected should be of interest to the student, and for the second book students are encouraged to use assistive technology, like Learning Ally, to have access to books that they may not be able to easily read on their own.
Students are encouraged to consult the following book lists when making book selections:
Backward Planning Document: Summer Reading Plan for 10th - 12th Grade
Part Two: Backward Planning
Students entering grades 10-12 are required to complete the backward planning document Summer Reading Plan for 10th - 12th Grade that details how many pages they must read per day to complete the assignment.
SUMMER READING PLAN FOR 10TH-12TH GRADE: BACKWARD PLANNING DOCUMENT
Writing Assignments: Reflection Worksheet & Book Report
Part Three: Writing Assignments
- Students entering 10th-12th Grades are required to complete the Reflection Worksheet on one of the books that they read over the summer.
- They must write a book report about a different book that they read.
- Student will be turning in 2 writing assignments on the first day of school:
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Complete attached worksheet on one book: Reflection Worksheet
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Complete book report on a second book: Summer Reading Book Report Organizer
Grading
Grading:
Students will be assessed on the completion of their reading assignment. All 10th-12th Grade students will turn their assignment into the English Teacher on the first day of school.
Grading will be based on the following criteria:
REFLECTION WORKSHEET
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Assignment completion
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Name on form
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Title of the book
-
Author of the book
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All questions answered
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Student writes in complete sentences using the Sentence Writing Strategy (described below):
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Start with a capital letter.
-
Have end punctuation.
-
Have a subject.
-
Have a verb.
-
The sentence makes sense.
-
-
Student responses show a thoughtful understanding of the text.
- The book reflection is turned-in on time.
BOOK REPORT
1. Assignment completion
- Name on form
- Title of the book
- Author of the book
- All questions answered
2. Student wrote 4 paragraphs as assigned (1st paragraph about the beginning of the book, 2nd about the middle, 3rd about the end, 4th personal reflection).
3. Writes in complete sentences using the Sentence Writing Strategy.
- Start with a capital letter.
- Have end punctuation
- Have a subject.
- Have a verb.
- The sentence makes sense.
4. Responses reference concrete details from the text to show understanding.
5. Turned in on time
6. Follows writing format conventions.
- Did you put your heading with the name and date on the left side of your paper?
- Did you double-space your paper (2.0)?
- Did you indent all paragraphs?