Summer reading required for students

by | Jul 9, 2015 | Education

By Nancy Whitney

[email protected]

In a flyer released by Ashley Day, McMillan Junior High ELAR teacher, all incoming eighth grade students at McMillan Junior High are required to read three to five books over the duration of the summer.

Curriculum for the 2015-’16 school year has been broken into six units for regular courses and five units for Springboard.

Units for regular courses include unit one, fiction and drama; unit two, literary non-fiction and poetry; unit three, informational text; unit four, connections across literary and informational text; unit five, connections across genres and unit six, producing research.

Units for Springboard include unit one, the challenge of heroism; unit two, real-life challenges; unit three, reflecting on challenges; unit four, voices and challenges; and unit five, the challenge of comedy.

Springboard students will need to read “The Giver” and “Cezanne is Missing” over the summer. “The Giver” will need to be annotated over the summer, making notes in the book about character, plot, setting, theme and figurative language.

Day said the units listed are directly derived from the district curriculum (Springboard and CSCOPE).

“The pre-AP summer reading is a part of our Springboard curriculum (unit one) which is district wide; however, some campuses might have different summer reading requirements,” said Day. “We like to start the school year ahead of the game, which is why we have made this a summer requirement instead of including it in the unit. By reading “The Giver” over the summer, it allows us to go deeper with our students through classroom assignments and discussions.”

Day said many of the districts secondary campuses participate in the “Forty Book Challenge”, which is what inspired McMillan and is what several of the eighth grade classrooms are designed around.

“Data shows that the more you practice reading, the better you become at reading which is why we encourage our students to read more,” she said. “What better way is there to motivate and engage our students than to give them free choice over what they read?”

For additional questions about ELAR at McMillan contact Ashley Day at 972-429-3000 ext. 6209 or email [email protected].

 

 

 

0 Comments

Public Notice - Subscribe

Related News

New elementary brings new school boundaries

New elementary brings new school boundaries

National Merit Commended Scholars from Wylie High and Wylie East were recognized at the Jan. 20 board of trustees meeting. In this photo, 18 Wylie High students earned commendations, and from Wylie East, two students (not pictured) earned commendations. Courtesy Wylie...

read more
Wylie, Wylie East present magical musicals

Wylie, Wylie East present magical musicals

Wylie High School theatre students work hard during final rehearsals before performing “Matilda the Musical” for audiences Thursday, Jan. 23, through Saturday, Jan. 25. The students began working on the show in October. Classic tales will spring to life on stage as...

read more
Plano ISD trustees name new center

Plano ISD trustees name new center

The Plano Independent School District’s second Welcome and Enrollment Center, scheduled to be completed last next month, will bear the names of two longtime district officials.  The PISD Board of Trustees voted at their Tuesday, Dec. 10, regular meeting to name...

read more
Optional curriculum features Bible lessons

Optional curriculum features Bible lessons

Texas school districts may now choose reading and English language lessons linked to the Bible. By an 8-7 vote Friday, Nov. 22, the State Board of Education (SBOE) approved the optional Bluebonnet Learning curriculum drafted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for...

read more
ISDs get high grades

ISDs get high grades

The Plano Independent School District and the Wylie Independent School District have received grades of “A” for financial integrity and accountability from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the 2023-2024 school year. “These school systems reflect a continued...

read more
Newly elected Wylie ISD trustees take oaths

Newly elected Wylie ISD trustees take oaths

Ruth Ononogbu was one of two individuals to receive the Wylie Way Award at the WISD board meeting on November 18. During the regular Board of Trustees meeting held on Nov. 18, 2024, the Wylie Independent School District (WISD) recognized two outstanding individuals...

read more
Plano may buy PISD school sites

Plano may buy PISD school sites

Armstrong Middle School is one of three surplus school sites which the city of Plano could purchase for Plano ISD. Courtesy PISD The Plano ISD Board of Trustees has approved an agreement under which the city of Plano could purchase three surplus school sites:...

read more
Public Notice - Subscribe