SUmmer
Reading
is Fun
There
is one issue upon which we can all agree: Our desire is for Mableton's
children to read well. The best way for students to become effective
readers is simply to read. Research tells us that as students read
more they improve their comprehension and grammar skills, their vocabularies
expand, and they grow increasingly more motivated to read. Furthermore,
there is a relationship between the amount of reading students do at home
and school and their standardized test scores (Braunger & Lewis, 1998).
In short, children become better readers by reading.
In order to coordinate home and school efforts to
achieve the goal of having students read more, Mableton Elementary School
has developed a summer reading program to be implemented at all grade levels.
The aim of the resulting summer program, SURF (Summer Reading is
Fun), is to help us all take one step closer to developing our
students into even better and more highly motivated readers. The
complete K-5 SURF program offers a total of 192 reading selections
from which students/parents will choose (see the lists below for grade
level book lists), or, if these selections cannotbe found, students and
parents my choose comparable titles. The average student who participates
in SURF from kindergarten through fifth grade will read 27 quality
books.
Pamphlets will be sent home with students in the
spring that offer guidelines for SURF. In the pamphlet will
be a menu from which parents and students can choose several books to read
during the summer. In compiling grade level book lists, the
following were considered: mixing reading ability levels, genres,
genders, and cultures; drawing from contemporary as well as classical literature;
including books that are easily available and in paperback (i.e., economical);
and generally offering works that spark the moral imagination.
In each grade level pamphlet there will also be a
list of activities and projects to reinforce what the students read.
Upon returning to school in the fall, kindergarten through second grade
students will bring a list of books read during the summer. Third
through fifth grade students will bring the projects they completed as
a result of their summer readings.Mableton
Elementary School will do one or more of the following with the lists and
projects: give certificates of completion; hold classroom contests; recognize
achievements over the intercom; offer extra credit; require students to
give book talks (presentations); display projects in the classrooms and
hallways; offer quiz/test grade(s); and/or publish projects in Pawprints.
The
following is a list of a few places where the books can be purchased or
checked out:
School
LibraryBorders Amazon.comWaldenbooks Barnesandnoble.comB.
Dalton A
table of contents, the summer reading lists by grade level, and suggested
activities and projects follow.
Public
Library Barnes and Noble
Table
of Contents
Entering Second
Grade Students
Entering Third Grade Students
Entering Fourth Grade Students
Entering Fifth GradeStudents
Suggested Kindergarten,
First, and Second Grade Activities
Suggested Third
Grade through Fifth Grade Activities
Below
is a list of thirty two (32) books appropriate for your child's age.
After previewing the offerings, select five (5) of the following
to have your child read (or to read together):
Aylesworth,
J.One
Crow: A Counting Rhyme.
Bemelmans,
L.Madeline.
Brett,
J.Annie
and the Wild Animals.
Brown,
E.No
Problem.
Bursik,
R.Amelia’s
Fantastic Flight.
Carle,
E.One,
Two, Three to the Zoo.
Carle,
E.The
Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Carrick,
C.Patrick’s
Dinosaurs.
Cohen,
M.When
Will I Read?
Ehlert,
L.Eating
the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables From A to Z.
Feldman,
J.Shapes
in Nature.
Freeman,
D.Corduroy.
Galdone,
P.Henny
Penny.
Ginsburg,
M.Mushroom
in the Rain.
Kellogg,
S.The
Mysterious Tadpole.
Martin,
B.Brown
Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
McCloskey,
R.Blueberries
for Sal.
McDermott,
G.Anansi
the Spider.
Micklethwait,
L.I
Spy: An Alphabet in Art.
Numeroff,
L.If
You Give a Mouse a Cookie.
Potter,
B.The
Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Rey,
H. A.Curious
George.
Rogers,
P.The
Shapes Game.
Rosen,
M.We’re
Going On a Bear Hunt.
Rounds,
G.I
Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.
Sendak,
M.Where
the Wild Things Are.
Seuss,
D.Horton
Hatches the Egg.
Shannon,
G.Climbing
Kansas Mountains.
Steig,
W.Sylvester
and the Magic Pebble.
Viorst,
J.Alexander
and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
Walsh,
E. S.Mouse
Paint.
Williams,
V.Three
Days on a River in a Red Canoe.
Top
of Page
Suggested Kindergarten,
First, and Second Grade Activities
Below
is a list of thirty two (32) books appropriate for your child’s age.
After previewing the offerings, select six (6) of the following to
have your child read (or to read together):
Aardema,
V.Borreguita
and the Coyote.
Andersen,
H.Thumbelina.
Asch,
F.Happy
Birthday, Moon.
Barrett,
J.Cloudy
with a Chance of Meatballs.
Brett,
J.Mitten:
A Ukranian Folktale.
Cannon,
J.Stellaluna.
Carson,
J.You
Hold Me and I’ll Hold You.
Cristaldi,
K.Baseball
Ballerina.
Daly,
N.Papa’s
Lucky Shadow.
DePaola,
T.The
Legend of the Bluebonnet.
Eastman,
P.Big
Dog...Little Dog.
Gag,
W.Millions
of Cats.
Guarino,
D.Is
Your Mama a Llama?
Henkes,
K.Chrysanthemum.
Henkes,
K.Julius
the Baby of the World.
Hoff,
S.Danny
and the Dinosaur.
Hutchins,
P.The
Doorbell Rang.
Isadora,
R.Over
the Green Hills.
Kellogg,
S.Paul
Bunyan.
Meddaugh,
S.Martha
Speaks.
Minarik,
E.Kiss
for Little Bear.
Minarik,
E.No
Fighting, No Biting.
Numeroff,
L.If
You Give a Moose a Muffin.
Polacco,
P.Rechenka’s
Eggs.
Ringgold,
F.Tar
Beach.
Rylant,
C.Henry
and Mudge.
Tarkov,
E.Frog
Prince.
Waber,
B.Ira
Sleeps Over.
Wiesner,
D.Tuesday.
Williams,
V.Something
Special for Me.
Wood,
A.King
Bidgood’s in the Bathtub.
Wood,
A.Napping
House.
Top
of Page
Suggested Kindergarten,
First, and Second Grade Activities
Below
is a list of thirty two (32) books appropriate for your child’s age.
After previewing the offerings, select seven (7) of the following
to have your child read (or to read together):
Adler,
D.A
Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson.
Barton,
B.Dinosaurs,
Dinosaurs.
Baylor,
B.Hawk,
You are My Brother.
Berenstain,
S.Berenstain
Bears and Too Much Junk Food.
Bridwell,
N.Clifford’s
Puppy Days.
Brett,
J.Berlioz
the Bear.
Brown,
M.Arthur’s
Tooth.
Brown,
M. W.Runaway
Bunny.
Bulla,
C.The
Chalk Box Kid.
Bunting,
E.Summer
Wheels.
Burningham,
J.Hey!
Get Off Our Train.
Byars,
B.Hooray
for the Golly Sisters.
Giff,
P.The
Secret at the Polk Street School.
Ginsburg,
M.Across
the Stream.
Henkes,
K.Chester’s
Way.
Hoban,
L.Arthur’s
Prize Reader.
Mahy,
M.The
Seven Chinese Brothers.
Marshal,
J.George
and Martha.
McCully,
E.Mirette
on the High Wire.
McKissack,
P.Mirandy
and Brother Wind.
Noble,
T.The
Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash.
O’Connor,
J.Sir
Small and the Dragonfly.
Parish,
P.Come
Back, Amelia Bedelia.
Park,
B.Junie
B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus.
Perrault,
C.Puss
in Boots.
Peterson,
J.I
Have a Sister—My Sister is Deaf.
Pinkwater,
D.Second-Grade
Ape.
Polacco,
P.Just
Plain Fancy.
Roop,
P.Keep
the Lights Burning, Abbie.
Steig,
W.The
Amazing Bone.
Stewart,
S.The
Gardener.
Zelinsky,
P.Rumplestiltskin.
Top
of Page
Suggested Kindergarten,
First, and Second Grade Activities
Below
is a list of thirty two (32) books appropriate for your child’s age.
After previewing the offerings, select three (3) of the following
to have your child read (or to read together):
Berenstain,
S.Berenstain
Bears and Too Much TV.
Brett,
J.Beauty
and the Beast.
Bulla,
C.Shoeshine
Girl.
Byars,
B.The
Computer Nut.
Cameron,
A.Julian,
Secret Agent.
Christopher,
M.Catch
That Pass!
Clifford,
E.Harvey’s
Horrible Snake Disaster.
Cohen,
B.Molly’s
Pilgrim.
Coville,
B.Jeremy
Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher.
Danziger,
P.Amber
Brown is not a Crayon.
De
Paola, T.The
Clown of God.
Duffy,
B.Gadget
War.
Erickson,
J. R.The
Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog.
Estes,
E.Hundred
Dresses.
Giff,
P. R.Snaggle
Doodles.
Grahame,
K.The
Reluctant Dragon.
Heide,
F. P.The
Shrinking of Treehorn.
Hurwitz,
J.School’s
Out.
Kellogg,
S.Island
of the Skog.
Martin,
R.The
Rough-Face Girl.
Noble,
T.Jimmy’s
Boa and the Big Splash Birthday Bash
Rylant,
C.When
I Was Young in the Mountains.
Sabuda,
R.Saint
Valentine.
Sachs,
B.The
Boy Who Ate Dog Biscuits.
Sharmat,
M.Gregory,
the Terrible Eater.
Shaw,
N.Sheep
in a Jeep.
Shumat,
M.Nate
the Great Goes Undercover.
Steig,
W.The
Real Thief.
Warner,
G.Amusement
Park Mystery #25 (Boxcar Children).
Wells,
R.Morris’s
Disappearing Bag.
Whelan,
G.Next
Spring an Oriole.
Williams,
M.The
Velveteen Rabbit.
Top
of Page
Suggested Third
Grade through Fifth Grade Activity
Below
is a list of thirty two (32) books appropriate for your child’s age.
After previewing the offerings, select three (3) of the following
to
have your child read (or to read together):
Atwater,
R.Mr.
Popper’s Penguins.
Blume,
J.Superfudge.
Burnett,
F. H.The
Little Princess.
Byars,
B.Beans
on the Roof.
Calhoun,
M.Hot-Air
Henry.
Christopher,
M.The
Year Mom Won the Pennant.
Cleary,
B.Runaway
Ralph.
Clements,
A.Frindle.
Conford,
E.Jenny
Archer, Author (Springboard Books).
Dahl,
R.The
BFG.
Dalgliesh,
A.The
Courage of Sarah Noble.
Gannett,
R. S.My
Father’s Dragon.
Ginsburg,
M.Chinese
Mirror.
Howe,
D.Bunniculua.
Lowery,
L.All
About Sam.
MacLachlan,
P.Sarah,
Plain and Tall.
Martin,
A.Kristy’s
Great Idea (Babysitters Club #1).
Mochizuki,
K.Baseball
Saved Us.
Park,
B.Skinnybones.
Patterson,
N. R.The
Shiniest Rock of All.
Peterson,
J.The
Littles.
Rockwell,
T.How
to Eat Fried Worms.
Sachar,
L.Sideways
Stories from Wayside School.
Scieszka,
J.Knights
of the Kitchen Table (Time Warp Trio).
Smith,
R. K.The
War with Grandpa.
Sobol,
D.Encyclopedia
Brown Finds the Clues.
Spinelli,
J.Crash.
Spinelli,
J.Fourth
Grade Rats.
Walter,
M.Ty’s
One-Man Band.
Warner,
G.Deserted
Library Mystery #21 (Boxcar Children).
White,
E. B.Stuart
Little.
Wilder,
L. I.Little
House on the Prairie.
Top
of Page
Suggested Third Grade
through Fifth Grade Activity
Below
is a list of thirty two (32) books appropriate for your child’s age.
After previewing the offerings, select three (3) of the following
to have your child read (or to read together):
Avi.Who
Stole the Wizard of Oz?
Barrie,
J. M.Peter
Pan.
Baum,
L. F.The
Wizard of Oz.
Christopher,
M.The
Kid Who Only Hit Homers.
Clifford,
E.Help!I’m
a Prisoner in the Library.
Coolidge,
S.What
Katy Did.
Dahl,
R.Danny,
the Champion of the World.
DeClements,
B.Nothing’s
Fair in Fifth Grade.
Dubois,
W. P.The
Twenty-One Balloons.
Edwards,
J.The
Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles.
Fritz,
J.And
Then What Happened, Paul Revere.
Gardiner,
J. R.Stone
Fox.
Getz,
D.Almost
Famous.
Giff,
P. R.Lily’s
Crossing.
Harriott,
J.The
Market Square Dog.
Henry,
M.Misty
of Chincoteague.
Holling,
H. C.Seabird.
Hunkin,
O.Dangerous
Journey.
Hurwitz,
J.Baseball
Fever.
Kehret,
P.Earthquake
Terror.
Leppard,
L. G.Mandie
and the Secret Tunnel (Mandie Book #1).
Lindgren,
A. E.Pipi
Longstocking.
MacDonald,
G.The
Princess and the Goblin.
Naylor,
P. R.Shiloh.
Nesbitt,
E.The
Enchanted Castle.
Perretti,
F.The
Door in the Dragon’s Throat (Cooper Kids Adventure #1).
Price,
J.Truth
is a Bright Star.
Sachar,
L.There’s
a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom.
Scieszka,
J.Tut,
Tut (Time Warp Trio).
Sobol,
D.Encyclopedia
Brown Keeps the Peace.
Steig,
W.Abel’s
Island.
St.
John, P.Treasures
of the Snow.
Top
of Page
Suggested Third Grade
through Fifth Grade Activity
After
reading each book, try one or more of the activities listed below (or one
that you have created). These activities are intended to help your
child to talk about and to better understand what was read, and to help
make connections between the book and life.
After
reading three (3) books from the provided book list or books that are comparable
(if you cannot locate the suggested books), complete a project for each
book. The same type of project can be completed for each book, or
choose a different type of project for each book. Make sure you choose
a project that is suitable for your age and interests. Below
is a list, from A to Z, that offers some project ideas: