Riverbend School's Summer Reading Requirements

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Summer vacation is quickly approaching and I want to remind you that students, especially struggling readers, forget some of what they’ve learned or slip out of the practice in reading during the summer months. It is hard to keep up a reading routine in a season packed with distractions and diversions. We want to provide you with easy ways to get your kids reading and help them do better in the Fall.

Vacation time is the perfect time to read, read, READ. Riverbend is committed to closing the achievement gap of our students and assisting them reach a proficiency level in reading, but in order for this to happen we need your help. We are requiring all students to read books over the summer.

Research shows that reading just six books during the summer may keep a struggling reader from regressing. When choosing books, be sure that they are just right- not too hard and not too easy. We are encouraging you to read as many books as possible. Younger students can also be read to by an older sibling, parent, friend, or relative. It is important to make books a part of your summer planning.

We have teamed up with the Athol Public Library (athollibrary.org) to make book selections simple. The library has a comprehensive list of books for each grade level. Please pick the grade level books that meet your child’s needs. Some students may need to read books from their current grade level list, their September grade level list, or a higher grade level list based on each child’s individual reading abilities. You are able to check most of these books out at the library. A copy of the book lists are also available in the school office.

Your child is required to choose THREE (you can do as many as you want after that!!!) books from their grade level list to read during the summer and then complete one of the projects for each book. The projects will be turned into the classroom teacher this Fall. All students who return their projects will be invited to a Summer Reading Party at Riverbend in September.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at school or via e-mail (principal_french@comcast.net).

Respectfully,

Bobbie French, Principal

Summer Reading Projects

Choose one of these projects for each of the books you read this summer (remember that you must read at least 3) and return the project to your teacher in the fall.

1. Write a letter from one character to another.

2. Write a new beginning.

3. Make a diorama and explain what it shows.

4. Make a new book jacket with an original blurb.

5. Use e-mail to tell a reading pen pal about the book.

6. Cut out magazine pictures to make a collage or a poster illustrating the idea of the book.

7. Keep a reading journal and record your thoughts at the end of each time you read.

8. Write a book review.

9. Draw a comic-book page complete with bubble style conversations showing an incident in your book.

10. Find a song or poem that relates to the theme of your book. Explain the similarities.

11. Make a poster advertising your book.

12. Write a letter to the main character of the book.

13. Make a crossword puzzle using ideas from the book.

14. Make a banner about your book.

15. Create a movie announcement for your book.

16. Make a “wanted” poster for one of the characters in your book.

17. Create a board game based on events and characters in the book you read.

18. Write about the most interesting part of the book.

19. Write about a character you liked or disliked.

20. Make a peep box of the most important part.

21. Paint a watercolor picture of a scene from the book.

22. Write another ending for the story.

23. Make a list of words and definitions important to the story.

24. Create a puppet show.

25. Make a flannel board story

Click on the grade level to view the reading list. Pre-K, 1-2, 3-4, 5