Entering Fifth Summer Reading
Summer Reading Overview:
Students entering fifth grade are required to read a total of 800 pages during the summer months. These 800 pages must include at least 2 AR books. All pages read must be documented on the Summer Reading Log.
- Choose 2 books off of this list (pdf)
- If you have read all of these books, and choose not to re-read a favorite on the list, please choose 2 other books with your family’s guidance.
- Keep track of the books you read on The Summer Reading Log (pdf) and bring the log with you on the first day of school.
During the first few weeks of school you will be completing a project about two of your summer reading books.
►SUPER SUMMER READERS! Students in grades 4-6 who read 2,500 or more pages over the summer and document their reading on the The Summer Reading Log (pdf) with a parent’s signature, will be recognized!
Please DO NOT READ the following books as these will be read together in grades 5 & 6:
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O’Brien
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Accelerated Reader Book Finder:
www.arbookfind.com
Taking Summer AR (Accelerated Reader) Quizzes:
Because of license restrictions, AR quizzes may only be taken at St. Mark’s. This means students are not able to access this program from home.
The school library will be open to students on Wednesdays this summer (June 12, 19, 26, July 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to check out books or to take AR quizzes. Students may also take the quizzes in August when returning to school.
SUM-WINS
Summer Writing Inspirations
Here are some inspiring writing prompts for your summer journaling. There are two for each month of summer: June, July, and August.
Click here to view the SUM-WINS (pdf)
Dear Entering 5th Grade Parents,
Welcome to summer 2013! While enjoying your summer with your rising 5th grader, I hope that there will be time to stay sharp on skills learned in prior years. I would like to encourage all of our students to practice multiplication and division facts, as this is an absolute necessity in the upper grades. I have listed some wonderful math resources below.
Enjoy your summer. I look forward to working with you and your child this coming year!
Sincerely,
Steve Williams
5th & 6th Grade Math Teacher
www.thinkingblocks.com
This is an interactive math tool developed by classroom teachers. It comes with 20 free practice games; then there is a charge. It is good practice in how to solve multi-step word problems.
www.conceptuamath.com
This site focuses on FRACTIONS and uses a similar approach as Singapore Math, but it is NOT a Singapore Math program. The site has an excellent set of fraction tools with a free 60-day trial. It is mainly aimed at 3rd grade and up.
www.education.com
This site allows you to choose the grade, subject, and sub-topic. You can print worksheets and answer sheets for your chosen sub-topic. (A screen will pop up about membership. Simply click the upper right-hand corner with the X, and it will take you directly to what you want.)
Kakooma (requires paid subscription)
Author Greg Tang designed this application, and our students love it! It offers four skill levels for players to time themselves on a series of nine addition games. Boredom is not a problem! It is wonderful practice and a great way for students to train their brains to look at numbers in new ways.
{M4th}odology Summer Sampler books are available for purchase here: http://www.mathodology.com/index.php/buy-s4mpler-books.html.
This summer, St. Mark’s teachers are recommending two iPad friendly Programs for students, TenMarks for math, and One Minute Reader for reading. Both are economical and engaging ways to maintain essential skills during the summer break.
TenMarks is targeted for our rising 2nd-6th grade students. It can be used on a computer or iPad for convenience. Already being enthusiastically used in grades 4-6, it is in the beginning stages in grades 1-3. Students love the personalized nature of the assignments made by their own math teacher, and are asking for more! Your child’s teacher will guide the assignments targeted for needed review, practice, or extension of a concept. We have confirmed that TenMarks aligns quite nicely as a supplement to our math curriculum. The version used in the classroom is available through June (http://www.tenmarks.com/), and your child’s teacher has shared with you the logon information this spring.
One Minute Reader is an iPad app (downloadable from the App Store and individually set up) appropriate for rising 1st-5th graders. Multiple stories for oral reading and comprehension skills practice are available in six different levels. High interest stories are enjoyable to read and as the name implies, each lesson is quick, often completed in a short ½ hour session.
Dear Fifth Grade Parents,
Participating in our chapel services as an acolyte is one of the leadership privileges
of fifth grade students. This involves being a Crucifier, a torch bearer, a banner
bearer, or a flag bearer. This is an excellent opportunity for your child to have an
important school responsibility serving others. Acolytes will serve for several
consecutive weeks, and all who desire to serve in this capacity will do so. This
requires being at school by 8 AM when serving in order to be robed and ready to
go across the street by 8:10 AM. There will be a schedule posted in the classroom
for ready reference.
If your child wishes to be an acolyte, please sign and return this permission letter (pdf) to school by Tuesday, August 20. There will be a training session that week during school hours in preparation for chapel on Monday, August 26.
Sincerely,
Beville Anderson
Director of Christian Education
Chapel Coordinator
