781-944-8200 EXT. 337
RMHS SUMMER READING 2019
THEME: EQUITY & DIVERSITY
RMHS SUMMER READING 2019
SUMMER READING OVERVIEW
Welcome to the Summer Reading headquarters for RMHS! The English Department's goal is to engage all students by providing more choices about what they read over the summer. ALL students will choose one book to read that has been sponsored by a team of faculty members at the high school. Honors & AP students have additional required reading (scroll down for the requirements). AP students (both juniors & seniors) have additional summer reading requirements than SCP and Honors (scroll down for more info).
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We believe reading has numerous benefits, including building community. We also believe that choice leads to greater engagement; in fact, we have 25 titles for students to choose from this summer! We have enlisted help from the RMHS faculty to sponsor a book that falls under the theme of equity & diversity. This theme is evident in both the authors listed and the subjects & themes of the books. During a flex block in September, students will have a discussion with other students who have read their book and with the faculty team who has sponsored that summer reading book. A short reflective response will be turned in to the student's English teacher after this discussion.
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We have a wide variety of choices. This link will take you to the list of books to choose from this summer!
(You'll also notice each title is hyperlinked to the Amazon page that contains reviews for the book.)
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These books vary greatly in content, theme, and tone. Some books are for a more mature audience. Please read a bit about your book before deciding, and use your best judgment when determining if the content & themes of the book are appropriate for you. We deem mature content to be foul language, sexual content, substance abuse, or violence. Certainly, the teachers who have sponsored books with some mature content feel that the narrative power and value of the book makes it worthwhile of discussion and insight.
We also want every student to find a book that they are comfortable with reading, so please use these as guidelines. Suggested reading levels are just that: suggestions. If you have any specific questions, you may email the English Department Chairperson, Audra Williams, at the following email address: audra.williams@reading.k12.ma.us
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Happy Reading!
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SUMMER READING LOGISTICS
Logistics:
Who: ALL students need to read one book from the sponsored list. Honors students will need to read one additional book which is designated by grade and class (keep scrolling down). AP students will need to read all of the assigned books for AP (keep scrolling down) in addition to one book from the sponsored list.
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What: Each student will read one book of his/her choice. We strongly encourage students to stick with their choices, but the ultimate aim is to get every student to read a book that they enjoy. Students should take notes.
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Where: Any place is a good place to get lost in the power of a good story! (well, almost anywhere)
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When: Read the books over the summer. A book discussion will take place during a Flex block in September.
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How: Students are strongly encouraged to buy books to be able to mark them up as they go. You will find links to the Amazon page on the Summer Reading List doc, but we hope you will also support your local books stores. Certainly, the RMHS or Reading Public Libraries is are great resources as well. If students are having trouble procuring their choice, please ask for help.
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Why: Reading should be something that is both informative and enjoyable. While students don't always get to choose the texts during the school year, we want to give more freedom and choice to foster a love of reading. Also, RMHS has a strong community of readers among the faculty, and we are all excited to get students and faculty alike talking about and engaging with books!
SPONSORED BOOK CHOICES:
Please visit this link for Summer 2019 book choices!
GRADE 9 HONORS SUMMER READING REQUIREMENT
Additional Required Reading
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
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Before You Read
-Give some thought to where you’re most comfortable reading. In bed? On a comfortable chair? On the beach? Set yourself up to be without distractions for at least thirty minutes at a time.
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-Give some thought to when you read most effectively. In the morning? Mid-day? At night?
-Create a schedule for reading the books, and stick to it.
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Guiding Question
In this novel published in 1954, Bradbury describes a vision of the future. To what extent is the world he creates similar to our own?
GRADE 10 HONORS SUMMER READING REQUIREMENT
Additional Required Reading
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Before You Read
-Give some thought to where you’re most comfortable reading. In bed? On a comfortable chair? On the beach? Set yourself up to be without distractions for at least thirty minutes at a time.
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-Give some thought to when you read most effectively. In the morning? Mid-day? At night?
-Create a schedule for reading the books, and stick to it.
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Guiding Question
How does the play depict Puritan values and what does this represent about early America?
GRADE 11 HONORS SUMMER READING REQUIREMENT
Additional Required Reading
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Before You Read
-Give some thought to where you’re most comfortable reading. In bed? On a comfortable chair? On the beach? Set yourself up to be without distractions for at least thirty minutes at a time.
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-Give some thought to when you read most effectively. In the morning? Mid-day? At night?
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-Create a schedule for reading the books, and stick to it.
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Guiding Questions
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1. What is the nature of monstrosity?
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2. Despite being published in 1818, why do you think the novel is still relevant in popular culture?
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AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION
GRADE 11
Summer Reading Requirement
Read The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley (including the Foreword & Epilogue)
We will use this text as an entry into our study of language & argumentation. Annotate as you read, making note of what you understand as well as what confuses you.
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In order to prepare for our coursework, you will be required to keep dialogue journals on this text.
Select any 5 chapters that are arguably the most important to the story of Malcolm X. These chapters need not be sequential. For each of the 5 chapters, create a dialogue journal that is full of evidence and analysis to support your claim. One dialogue journal for a chapter should contain 5-8 entries (an entry is considered one quote and your response to it). Please type & keep all dialogue journals on a Google doc.
Click here for an example.
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Click here for a template for your own journals.
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Email audra.williams@reading.k12. ma.us with any questions.
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GRADE 12 HONORS ELECTIVES REQUIREMENTS
Additional Required Reading for Elective Choices
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Honors Film and Lit
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Diverse Voices
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
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Story Writing
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
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Poetry in Form
An Invitation to Poetry: A New Favorite Poem Project Anthology edited by Robert Pinsky and Maggie Dietz (read at least 50 poems of your choice)
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Philosophy of Literature
AP LIT. AND COMP. SUMMER READING REQUIREMENTS
The Requirement
Students should read all of the books listed.
The Books
1. How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
2. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
3. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevensen
4. The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger
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Assessment
In September students will be tested on their reading. Students should take notes. Make note of what you understand as well as what confuses you.
Your notes should help you remember details of character and plot; but more importantly, they should contain your personal observations about both the obvious and subtle ways that these texts relate to one another.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one." -George R.R. Martin
QUESTIONS? PLEASE EMAIL
Address:
62 Oakland Rd
Reading, Middlesex County 01867
USA
Email:
Phone:
781-944-8200 ext. 337