Royalston Community School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Summer vacation is almost here and I want to remind you that all 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. The Royalston Community School is committed to helping every one of our students reach a proficiency level in reading, but in order for this to happen we need your help. In addition to urging all students to practice reading by flash cards, 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 each child 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) and the Phineas Newton Library in Royalston 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 level list, their September grade 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.

Our thanks to the Athol Public Library and the Royalston Library for all of their help in this regard. This summer your child is required to read 10 books (for grades K-3) and 3 books (for students entering grades 4-6) from their grade level list. They must then do a project (listed on the back of this sheet) for at least 3 of those books. This list should be signed by a parent. They also need to turn in their three projects. If they participate in one of the library’s reading programs, that can take the place of one of the required reading projects. The library will give your child a signed form, showing participation.

All students who turn in their signed list and 3 projects will be invited to a Summer Reading Party at Royalston Community School in September.

If you have any questions, please call me at school (978-249-2900).

On behalf of the Royalston Community School, I want to wish you a wonderful, safe summer!

Sincerely and warmly,

Mitchell R. Grosky, Principal

Click on the grade level to view the reading list. Pre-K, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Click here for a printable copy of the Reading Log.

Summer Reading Projects

Choose one of these projects for three of the books you read this summer (remember that you must read at least 10 books) and return 3 projects 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. Pretend you are a book reviewer on TV, and write a book review-telling what you thought about the book and what was the best part.

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. Write a letter to the author explaining why you liked the 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.