Maeve Visser Knoth: 04/01/2007 - 05/01/2007

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Wednesday, April 18, 2007

What should the 5th and 6th graders read this summer?

Here's an email I sent to our school's 5/6 teachers about books the students could read this summer...

Here is my short list of possible summer reading titles. Of course there are millions of other choices out there. Think about what you want out of the book; do you want a fun 'beach read"? A book you can use to launch SEL studies? Something that ties into an academic theme? Something that will draw in some of the more reluctant readers?

LOSER by Spinelli (well-written, realistic fiction, good SEL content)
HATCHET by Paulsen (survival story about a boy who survives in the arctic tundra with a hatchet- he figures out how to make fire by recalling a PBS special...)
THE THIEF by Turner (a well-written, engrossing high fantasy that engages kids who are not fantasy readers too)
THE PENDERWICKS by Bridsall (an old-fashioned family story. Lots of characters, lots of small adventures and a good main story about a boy who is misunderstood by his mother- national Book Award winner)
AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS by Choldenko (historical ficiton, based on truth, about a boy who lives on Alcatraz since his dad is a guard. Sister is autistic.)
BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE by DiCamillo (a great dog story that will make you cry. Lots to talk about, many kids will knwo the movie.)
THE BOGGART by Cooper (contemporary fantasy- ancient mythology meets computer technology.)
THE NUMBER DEVIL by Enzenberger (Fran already refers to this all the time- a math fantasy)
JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY by Gantos (brilliantly written novel about a boy with ADHD. Good writing, good SEL content, funny, school story.)