Summer Homework & Supply Lists

Below is a list of items that 6-9 students are expected to bring to school on the first day:
(Important: Please put your name on your items.)

• Plastic clipboard with flat clip (can be found at Target)
• Four folders with bottom pockets (name on each of them)
• One-inch three-ring “D” binder with pockets (name on it)
• Classroom sketchbook 
• Additional sketchbook for art 
• Washable cloth placemat (name on it)
• One 75-count container of Lysol/Clorox type wipes
• One 12x12-inch scrapbook (name on it) with 10 top-loading sheets (including pages). These can be purchased at Michael’s, Target, etc.
• Mud boots or outdoor shoes for the playground
• One small backpack (lockers are 6 inches wide by 11 inches deep) (name on it)
• Reusable lunchbox (name on it)
• Reusable silverware (available on Amazon)
• A complete change of clothing (including underwear, pants, shirt, socks) as well as a sweater or sweatshirt
• Recorder for music class (available on Amazon)

Summer Reading

Each 6-9 student is expected to read or be read to for 20 minutes at least five times per week. While children may choose any books that spark their interest, consider this list of suggested books from the New Castle County Library. The public library is a wonderful place to find a great selection of books (for free!) and to participate in their summer reading programs. You can also borrow downloaded books for your Kindle or iPad. If you have any questions, please ask your child’s teacher.

Math Review

One option for summer review for math is to have your child work through a mathematics workbook such as the Summer Math Skills Sharpener series. This can be ordered online at www.summerskills.com.

Please choose the grade level your child has just completed. Children can also practice using grade level math game apps or other possible websites:

• www.fun4thebrain.com – math fact games
• www.Aplusmath.com – online math games and printable worksheets
• www.education.com – online math games

Summer Box Project

In addition to maintaining reading and math skills over the summer, another part of your child’s summer homework is a project called “The Box Marked Summer.” In the interest of recycling, the students may use their “summer box” from a previous school year or find a shoebox/other small cardboard box to hold their vacation artifacts. Feel free to have them decorate the outside as well. In September, the children will share their “summer boxes” with the class. This is a wonderful way for the children (and teachers) to get to know one another. Ideally this is work the children would do over the course of the summer rather than in one day. All the items should fit neatly in the box. Here is a list of suggested items for your child to collect:

• Brochures or maps from a trip
• Trip itinerary
• Rocks, shells or pressed flowers
• Family photographs
• Journal entry
• List of stories/books read during the summer

In September, the teacher will let you know when your child may bring the box back to school.

• 2 one-inch binders with dividers and tabs: one for math and one for writing (required for fourth-graders and only if needed for fifth- and sixth-graders)
• Writer’s notebook (required for fourth-graders and only if needed for fifth- and sixth-graders). This notebook is used to collect ideas. It can be any type of notebook your child likes. Sometimes it looks more like a journal and other times it is simply a composition book. This is your child’s choice.
• 1 composition book, graph ruled, for math (required for fourth-graders and only if needed for fifth- and sixth-graders)
• Manual pencil sharpener
• Pencils for personal use (labeled with your child’s name)
• 1 cloth place mat (labeled with your child’s name)
• 2 two-pocket folders 

Many children also prefer to have a personal binder (Case It) to organize their papers and materials. This is not required but may be preferred by your child.

Please note that backpacks need to fit in lockers. The dimensions of our lockers are 59 inches high, 9 ¾ inches wide and 10 inches deep.

Birthday Celebrations: We are also collecting money for the birthday coordinator. $5 is needed for birthday celebrations that are held throughout the year. Please pay this in cash so money can be given directly to the coordinator.

Required: 
Wonder by R.J. Palacio. This book is in preparation for our study of What is culture? It is found on Amazon as well as the public library.

Each student must select three additional books to read. The criteria for these books is listed below:

Three books from three different genres:

Students may choose the genres and the titles.

For all books*, students need to fill out an index card with the following information:

• Student name
• Title
• Author
• Genre
• Main characters
• Interesting parts/facts

Each student should be prepared to share about one of their three choice books at book talks in September. Book talks are short, direct and mostly enthusiastic endorsements of particular titles. In one or two minutes, students will tell the story of a book they loved: who the main character is, what his or her problem is, a bit of the plot, its genre, and what made the reader love it. We want students to be inspired to read this book, not learn about exactly what happened. Think about a book review as an example. It will be helpful to have the book available for others to see or a picture of the cover. 

Possible Genres:

• Autobiography
• Biography
• Classic
• Fantasy
• Historical fiction
• Memoir
• Mystery
• Mythology
• Poetry anthology
• Poetry collection
• Realistic fiction
• Science fiction
• Short-story collection
• Sports novel
• Graphic Novel

*Books may be found at the local library. Please do not feel that you need to purchase any of them. We encourage reading in any capacity, whether students read alone, with parents or siblings, with an audiotape or have books read to them. 

Note: We will be discussing these books in September. Completing summer reading in June may interfere with remembering details. Hot August days are great days for curling up with a book.

• 3-inch binder
• Tabs (pack of 8)
• 1 one-subject college ruled notebook (3 hole-punched)

1. Please select two books to read over the summer. If you need help finding a book to read, please email Middle School Lead Teacher Mandy Balanetsky, or review the New Castle County Libraries suggested reading list for teens. 

Complete a project for ONE of the books that you choose to read. Please refer to the project list for options; your project will be assessed using the attached rubric. For the book for which you do not complete a project, please complete this worksheet. 

2. You will receive an individual math work document via Google docs (check your school email). Any worksheets that you need to complete this work are included in this mailing. Please complete the work that is on the doc in preparation for next year!

These projects are due on September 6, the first Friday of school. Please contact Mandy with any questions!