High School Summer Reading
2008
(631) 912-2156
English Department
June 2008
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
In anticipation of the challenges of a new school year, we would like to provide you with information about our Summer Reading Program. In order to maintain a high level of achievement in years to come, we are encouraging all of our students to pursue readings of their choice, whether it be poetry, fiction, non-fiction, drama, or whatever interests them. In the midst of our busy and hopefully, relaxing summer days, reading offers the opportunity to dream, escape and unwind. In the spirit of Andre Gide, “To read a writer is for me, not merely to get an idea of what he says but to go off with him and travel in his company.” We hope that our students experience this phenomenon and find an appreciation for reading literature.
The program offers a choice and a challenge to all students (with more rigorous requirements for our Pre-IB/IB-level students) and an assessment instrument (Summer Reading Assessment Options) that allows students to express their connection with what they have read. The assessment options aim at encouraging students to choose the type of presentation that will best showcase their knowledge of the text.
We believe that the text additions and improvements made to the summer reading program will only encourage our students to become active readers. The purpose and philosophy of our initiative this year was to honor the interests of our students to include texts that they are “passing to one another.” Young Adult Literature, by nature, deals with sensitive, sometimes controversial issues that exist in adolescent life. We encourage parents to carefully review the texts with their children and arrive at an appropriate choice together. If you need additional information on any of these texts, you should bring your questions to your English teacher or you may access the Destiny system via the Commack High School Library website. Additionally, students and parents need to sign the request form below and return it to their English teacher.
The booklist, summaries, assessment, sample assessment outline, and rubric can be found on the Commack School District website. Before leaving school in June, all of the Summer Reading information will be presented in class and students will possess a thorough understanding of what is expected of them. Since there are several titles per grade level, if they are not satisfied with their first choice, they are welcome to change their title throughout the summer. Upon returning to school in September, class time will be provided for instruction, student questions, and planning time for the assessment.
Students will be issued required texts before the last day of class this year on a first-come, first-served basis, and they will be expected to return “loaned” texts to their teachers in the fall. Students are welcome to purchase their own texts at local bookstores and/or borrow from local libraries. Both have been supplied with booklists and are stocked with ample texts.
We wish you, and yours, a happy, relaxing and productive summer.
Sincerely yours,
Raina L.
Ingoglia
English Department Chairperson
I_______________________________________would like to request________________________________
(Student name) (Title and author of First Choice)
______________________________,_________________________________________as my Summer Reading choice(s) for the 2008-2009 school year.
(Title and author of second choice) (Title and author of third choice)
____________________________ _____________________________
(Parent/Guardian Approval – Signature) ( Student Signature)