SUMMER
Rahway Public
Schools’ elementary students entering third, fourth and fifth grades in
September are required to read a minimum of two books this summer. In addition, they are required to complete two
book reports which will each count as a homework assignment for the 2009/10
school year. Your child will have
received two book report forms in June. If you need additional book report
forms, you may download them from the Book Report Form link above, or you may
follow the Book Report format and write or type your book report on paper. You
can also find this assignment and extra book report forms at the Rahway Public
Library. The reports are to be handed to
your child's classroom teacher no later than
We suggest
that your child read Accelerated Reader books at his/her reading level. Your child entering second through fifth
grade in September received a “Parent Report” in June indicating your child’s
score in the end-of-year S.T.A.R. reading test.
This reading test gives you a clear picture of your child’s progress
this year and his/her current reading level.
On the lower half of the report you will find the “Zone of Proximal
Development’ (ZPD). This is your child’s
reading range. For example, a range of
3.0 – 3.9 would indicate that your child is reading at a third grade level, a
range of 1.8 – 2.5 would indicate that your child is reading between a first
and second grade level.
To locate
appropriate Accelerated Reader books you can visit the Rahway Public library
where you can find a list of Madison School’s Accelerated Reader books and the
reading levels for those books. You can also click on this link to access the
list: http://www.rahway.net/madison/ar.html.
Each book's reading level is the
first number listed after the author of the book. For example if you look at
the “Accelerated Reader Book List" on the Madison School web site you will
see that 101 Facts About Ferrets is the first book listed. It is written by Claire Horton-Bussey, has a reading level of 5.3, and the maximum number of
points you can receive from taking that Accelerated Reader test is 0.5.
If your child
needs help writing his/her book reports, Mrs. Cilia, Franklin School’s
Librarian, will be available at the Rahway Public Library on Wednesdays from
1:30 – 3:00 pm and on Thursdays from 12:30 – 2:00 pm.
For Students
Entering First Grade in September
The following
author’s books are appropriate for your child this summer: Norman Bridwell, Kevin Henkes, Margaret
Hillert, Mercer Mayer, Jerry Pinkney and Mark Teague. This list contains just a few of the
wonderful authors available. Also good
for first graders are books from the Rookie Reader series! Let your child also lead you to themes or
topics he/she may be interested in such as dinosaurs, cats, princesses,
etc. There are many good books, both
fiction and non fiction which are fun for them to read.
For Students
Entering Second Grade in September
We are
recommending that your child read Accelerated Reader books over the
summer. Your child will be able to take
the AR test on the books he/she reads when school resumes in September. There is no book report for children entering
first and second grade.
For those choosing
to visit a bookstore and make purchases of various titles, most employees are
aware of the reading levels of children’s books. You only need to ask. Finally, you can always try the “5 finger
rule.” Using this rule if your child
misses 5 words on any given page – (picture books use 3 fingers) – the book is
too hard.
Have a wonderful summer!
PLEASE, READ FOR PLEASURE ALL SUMMER LONG
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