Summer Reading

Shared Reading

We are continuing our tradition of a shared read for each grade level. These books have been thoughtfully selected by our teachers to serve as a jumping off point for discussions when school begins.

• Kindergarten: Please read as many books as possible from these "New and Old Favorites" (read with family)
• 1st: Read one or more books by Mo Willems
• 2nd: Please read one or more books by authors Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Kate DeCamillo
• 3rd: Bee and Flea and the Compost Caper by Anna Humphrey
• 4th: Wishtree by Katharine Applegate, The Wild Robot by Peter Brown and Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

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Leveled Reading

Research shows that the best way to become a better reader is to read! Additionally, matching students to books at their independent reading level will ensure that they are maximizing their vocabulary acquisition and comprehension skills by reading in their zone of proximal development. Because Woodland teachers assess students' reading levels throughout the year, we can better match summer reading books to an individual’s reading level (as opposed to grade level).   

Independent reading levels are determined based on three primary metrics: Accuracy, Comprehension and Fluency. Accuracy refers to the number of errors made, including missed or skipped words, word substitutions, etc. Fluency refers to the student’s ability to read with expression, intonation, attention to punctuation and at a rate appropriate to the genre. Comprehension is a measure of how well the student understands the deeper meaning of the text, including both literal meaning and inferred meaning. All three metrics are crucial as students transition from learning to read to reading to learn. This is why we ask students to linger at a reading level that sometimes parents find a bit low. We are waiting until fluency is high and comprehension is deep before moving into the next level, to ensure that our readers have every advantage.

If your child expresses an interest in reading more challenging books, read together. Shared reading is a great way to support fluency and comprehension. Or have them listen along with an audiobook, accessible through their Raz-Kids accounts (still active over the summer), through your public libraries, or through www.overdrive.com.

In the Resources below, we have shared several items which may be of use. You will find multiple book lists, some leveled and some by genre. If you want to determine what level a book of interest is, use the 'Book Wizard'. Students are encouraged to keep track of their reading by printing the reading log.

All Middle School Students

We are excited to bring back all-grade summer reads in 2024! Both books selected for this year are from young activists making a difference in the world. Students entering 5th and 6th grade will read No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg. This collection of speeches from Thunberg serves as both a warning and a call to action. Students entering 7th and 8th grade will read Imaginary Borders by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez. Martinez, a multilingual activist and hip-hop artist, has been recognized by the United Nations, President Barack Obama, and several organizations pushing for climate justice. These books will be discussed in advisory at the start of the year, so students should arrive in August ready to talk about what they have read.

Additionally, Middle School students are asked to read ONE selection from the grade lists below. We will hold “book clubs” at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, and students will write reviews of the book they selected as a part of their Humanities course. We strongly recommend making notes as they read!

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Rising 5th Grade Students

• Join the Club, Maggie Diaz, by Nina Moreno
• Scary Stories for Young Foxes, by Christian McKay Heidicker and Junyi Wu
• The Lemonade War, by Jacqueline Davies
• The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond Book #1), by Sayantani DasGupta
• Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhhà Lai
• Alone, by Megan E. Freeman

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Rising 6th Grade Students

• Amina’s Voice, by Hena Khan
• When My Name Was Keoko, by Linda Sue Park
• Black Brother, Black Brother, by Jewell Parker Rhodes
• An Occasionally Happy Family, by Cliff Burke
• Brainwashed: Crime Travelers Spy School, by Paul Aertker

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Rising 7th Grade Students

• The 57 Bus, by Dashka Slater
• A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramee
• Lights, Camera, Disaster, by Erin Dionne
• A Snake Falls to Earth, by Darcie Little Badger
• The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros
• Journey for Justice, by Dawn Mabalon and Gayle Romasanta

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Rising 8th Grade Students

• With the Fire on High,  by Elizabeth Acevedo
• Night, by Elie Wiesel
• The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
• Animal Farm, by George Orwell
• Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
• Written in the Sky, by Matthew Kaopio

Additional Reading Lists:

2024 ALSC Summer Reading Lists
Lee and Low's Diverse Summer Reading List
Kid Lit Summer Reading List
Audiobooks: Student Raz-Kids accounts will still be accessible all summer and have audiobooks available at every reading level.
Further audio and ebooks are available via the public libraries, as well as through  www.overdrive.com