St. Joseph Catholic School - Huntington, WV

May 26th, 2011

Dear St. Joseph Middle School Students,

As part of our middle school reading curriculum, all upcoming middle school students are required to read at least one book from the list below during the summer months.  Once the book is finished, select one project  to do for each book.  The project must be turned into your Language Arts teacher during the first week back to school.

BOOK LIST:

Upcoming 6th Graders:
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Phillbrick
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
Hatchet by Gary Paulson

Upcoming 7th Graders:

Any book by Gary Paulson
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
October Sky by Homer Hickam
Where the Lilies Bloom by Bill and Vera Cleaver
Any book by Sharon Creech

Upcoming 8th Graders:

Any book by Gary Paulson
Summer of my German Soldier by Bette Greene
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
Any book by Mildred Taylor

PROJECTS:

Pick one project for each book read over the summer

1.  Keep a reading journal about your reactions to the book.  Include at least ten written entries, including pictures.
2.  Write a newspaper article as if the book's actions were a news story.  Include - who, what, where, why, and when.  Be sure to include a headline.
3.  Interview a character from the book.  Write both the dialogue of the questions and responses from the interview.
4.  Write a letter to one of the characters in the book explaining your opinion of a decision he or she made or an action he or she took.  Explain why you would have made a difference decision or taken a different action.

ENJOY!  Remember that reading is fun and will help you in school.  Have a wonderful summer!