ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS GRADE 8 - Dublin Schools

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Reading over the summer is a good way to practice English and prepare to participate in ... One book should be selected from the grade level list. In addition, each student ... Assessment will be no more than 10% of student's first quarter grade.
SUMMER 2012 DUBLIN CITY SCHOOLS SUMMER READING FOR

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS GRADE 8 SUMMER READING PURPOSE

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STATEMENT: Literacy involves reading, writing, speaking, listening and thinking. As we prepare our students for the skills needed to be successful in the 21st Century, it is important that we provide opportunities for our students to engage in the activities that will help to build this literacy skill set. Reading over the summer is a good way to practice English and prepare to participate in a shared literacy community in the fall. !

ELL Middle School SUMMER READING REQUIREMENTS Each student will be required to read 2 books this summer. One book should be selected from the grade level list. In addition, each student should select one book of their choice to read and share with the class in the fall. By asking students to read over the summer we believe that we can help to develop a lifelong habit of reading for our students.

ASSIGNMENT SPECIFICS: • Select one title from your 2012-13 grade level list. (Pick a book that is a good match for your English reading level.) • Read the guiding question and be ready to talk about these questions in the fall. • Select a second book of your choice. • Have parents sign permission form approving the title and completion of the independent choice book. Return the form in the fall. ASSESSMENT: Assessment guidelines will be shared the first week of school. Formal assessment will not be administered before the second week of school. Assessment will be no more than 10% of student’s first quarter grade.

Grade 8 A Taste of Blackberries by D. Buchanan Smith. Mrs. Katz and Tush by P. Polacco Schooled by G. Korman

Your teacher may provide additional information regarding book sales prior to leaving for summer break. Look for the information regarding these opportunities.

Please consider donating the following books from previous years: The Day of Ahmed’s Secret Thank you Mr. Falker Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life Hour of Olympics The Keeping Quilt When Zachary Beaver Came to Town Any books may be given to your current Language Arts teacher before the end of the school year.

Grade 8 ELL Reading Choices Mrs. Katz and Tush by P. Polacco Summary (From School Library Journal) This story is the beginning of a long friendship between Mrs. Katz and her young African-American neighbor, Larnel, when he presents her with a scraggly kitten. On his daily visit to the elderly woman and her pet, they talk about Mrs. Katz's husband, her arrival in the United States from Poland, and the similar experiences of Jews and African-Americans. Larnel accompanies her to say kaddish at her husband's grave, and attends her Passover seder. When Tush has kittens, Mrs. Katz feels like a bubee (grandmother) at last. (Beginning Language Learner) Guiding Questions 1. Describe the friendship between Mrs. Katzs and Larnel? 2. Why do you think Larnel likes to visit Mrs. Katz? 3. What does Larnel learn from this friendship?

A Taste of Blackberries by D. Buchanan Smith Summary (From Publishers Weekly) In Smith's moving story, a prank ends in tragedy, and a boy must learn to live not only with the loss of a friend, but with the feeling that he could have prevented it. (Beginning/Intermediate Language Learner) Guiding Questions 1. What could the character have done differently in this story? 2. Have you ever done anything you regret? Why?

Grade 8 ELL Reading Choices continued

Schooled by Gordon Korman Summary (From Booklist) Homeschooled in an isolated farm commune that has dwindled since the 1960s to 2 members, 13-year-old Cap has always lived with his grandmother, Rain. When she is hospitalized, Cap is taken in by a social worker and sent—like a lamb to slaughter—to middle school. Smart and capable, innocent and inexperienced (he learned to drive on the farm, but he has never watched television), long-haired Cap soon becomes the butt of pranks. He reacts in unexpected ways and, in the end, elevates those around him to higher ground. (Advanced Language Learner) Guiding Questions: 1. Describe the relationship between Cap and Sophie. How does this relationship change from the beginning to the end of the story? 2. Choose a character with whom you identify. How do you identify with that character? Explain using two examples from the text and two parallel examples from your life. 3. Cap’s presence changed the lives of many of his fellow students. What was it about Cap that changed everyone? What have your learned from Cap?

2012 summer reading DUBLIN CITY SCHOOLS

Independent Summer Reading Parent/Guardian Permission Form All Dublin Middle School Language Arts students are required to read a book of their

choice over the summer as a part of our summer reading program. This book may be fiction or nonfiction, classic or contemporary, serious or funny. We would like students to consider books that will be appropriate for a school setting and sufficiently challenging in terms of reading level. Students will have an opportunity to share this summer read with other students in the class during the first week of school. All students are expected to bring this permission form to their English teachers on the first day of school. Please print. Student’s Name: _________________________________________ Title of BooK:____________________________________________ Author: ________________________________________________ I have reviewed my student’s Independent Choice Book and have determined that it is appropriate for my child’s middle school Language Arts classroom and this assignment. I can verify that my child has completed the reading of this book.

Signature of Student

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Signature of parent or guardian

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