8th grade Summer reading 2015-2016

SUMMMER READING ASSIGNMENTS

Put on your big girl and big boy pants because in eighth grade, there are TWO summer reading and writing assignments. These assignments are a sample of the kind of work we will do this year—read fiction and non-fiction words and images, engage in a combination of teacher-assigned and student-choice activities, write using evidence and logical reasoning, create and design to express our ideas, use Ms. Gunter’s website and email as a resource for learning and communication, and have fun.

Assignment #1:  Book Tea and Book T-shirts

1)   Read AT LEAST ONE book of your own choice from the Summer Reading Recommendations List, which was also sent home with the last report card.

2)   Create a shirt that reflects your book. (Note: If you read more than one book, just make one shirt.) Click here to get some ideas. Click here for t-shirt directions and rubric.

3)   On the Friday of the first week of school, we will have a book tea where we will discuss our summer reading book with our friends while sipping tea and noshing on delicate snacks. Fancy!

4)   The dress code for the tea is to wear the shirt you designed.

5)   Prizes for BEST shirts? You bet!

Assignment #2: The Fifth Annual New York Times Summer Reading Contest

1)   Participate in the Sixth Annual New York Times Summer Reading Contest for folks aged 13-19 from around the world. A panel of judges chooses ONE winning comment post per week. Wouldn’t it be cool if you won?

2)   You may only compete ONCE per week. If you want to compete all 9 weeks of summer, be my guest; however, you only have to compete in the contest THREE TIMES. This means three weeks, any three weeks of your choice.  You can do three weeks in a row or stagger. It is your choice. You have nine weeks in the summer. Just choose THREE.

3)   Read the instructions for posting on the NY Times Summer Reading Contest. This PDF will tell you how to register and where to comment. Also read instructions on how to comment.

4)   The NY Times limits responses to 1,500 characters, which is about 250-300 words.  Post it to the NY Times Learning Blog according to the directions. (See guidelines and examples here.)

5)   When you post, write only your FIRST name followed by SJE.  (Example: ShaunaSJE2016 or PakerSJE2016).

6)   How do you prove to Ms. Stronks that you participated? The NY Times Summer Reading Contest has a new commenting system that makes that much easier than in the past. Now you can check a box that asks you if you would like to be emailed when your comment is published: If you do so, the system will send you a link that you should email to yourself, your parent(s), and to Ms. Stronks at [email protected].