Reading Lists for the Year

Hello Everyone!

Here are the reading lists for in class. Please note that those books with a star are books that I have a class set for, while the other books you will need to get your own copy. It is actually better for students to have their own copy because then they can write directly in the book and take notes. They can also highlight right in the book, whereas with a borrowed book the student cannot do these things. Please let me know if you have any questions. I do have some copies of the other books in class, but I will give these out on a first come first serve basis. There is NO homework tonight or tomorrow night for either grade. I want to read in class and gauge how the kids are doing reading orally and how their general comprehension is. I will put up the homework for the following two weeks on Monday.

Grade 7 has just started reading THE CAY by Theodore Taylor and we have started talking about the main theme of racism. I read the students a poem today called The Cold Within. Please ask your student about this and what it means to them. I also told them to do some people watching and to see what they notice. We will have many discussions on this. I am also going to be asking the students to bring in water color paints in about two weeks. These can be the ones from the dollar store, but I will let you know ahead of time. Below are the books the 7th graders will need this year in class. Book report books are in addition to these, but I will give you a separate syllabus for that.

· * The Cay by Theodore Taylor (October)
· The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman (November)
· The Book of Three by Llyod Alexander (December)
· Ajeemah and His Son by James Berry (January)
· A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park (February)
· Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (March)
· * When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt (April)
· Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (May)The students will also read another novel during a reader’s workshop.

Grade 8 has started THE GADGET by Paul Zindel. We have talked about the atomic bomb and some of the people involved in its creation. In the coming weeks we will watch a documentary on the destruction the atomic bomb caused. We will use this in a debate. Chat with your students openly about your feelings on war and the use of bombs. It doesn't matter what your opinion is, just that you share it with your kids and support your thoughts so that they can understand why and how you think. This helps them to develop their own thinking skills. Below are the books the 8th graders will be reading this year in class. Book report books are in addition to this list, and I will give you a separate syllabus for those reports.

* The Gadget by Paul Zindel (October)
Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings (November)
* Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Michaelson (December)
NightJohn by Gary Paulsen (January)
Tangerine by Edward Bloor (February)
Night by Elie Weisel (March) **Non-fiction** (Discussions with parents will be encouraged on a daily basis due to the nature of the historical event – The Holocaust)
Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi (April)
Novel of choice will be read in a reader’s workshop
We will also be reading a play at the end of the year (if there is time) – Twelve Angry Men to complement our mock trial unit in speech.


OK...I hope this helps everyone. Let me know if you have any questions! Have a great weekend!
-Ms. P