Some teachers have assigned summer reading for students going into 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

Middle School English Recommended Reading List

Middle School Summer Assignments/Reading

Science
6th incoming:
Dr. Art's Guide to Science
Chapters 1-8 minimum
0-7879-8326-8

7th incoming:
Dr. Art's Guide to Science
Chapters 9-13 minimum
0-7879-8326-8


English
6th, 7th & 8th grade

READING

• Select and read a book/novel not yet read-something NEW! (not re-read)
• Book can be any genre -(Fiction, Biography, Memoir, Fantasy, Mystery, etc.), by a favorite author or even more bravely, by someone you have not yet read. 
• Consult class booklist (“Middle School English Recommended Reading List”). Also, converse with your nearby librarian, book store helpers, classmates, family and friends for recommendations. Find a book you LOVE, one that captures your attention, touches and ignites you in some way. Let the book be a little above grade level.
  
• Once the school year starts, if still searching for the ultimate book, select by Tuesday, 9/21! You’ll have about 3 weeks to finish!
• Projects surrounding that book-explanations and dates announced soon. You’ll need your book! Feel free to get an early jump on the festivities.  
  

WRITING

• This is not a writing about your above book- that is a separate project.
• For this assignment, manifest a short writing about any subject that ignites your creative voice. Piece could be fictional (made up), or a passionate debate about something important, a moment in time explored- an activity, a meeting with someone memorable, a specific place described, or even a movie or play review. Poetry or playwriting also encouraged!  We will do some “territory” brainstorming in the first week of classes if not sure what to write about
• Mainly have a point to trumpet, prove it fully through a tasty stew of daring description, spicy creativity and balancing logic. 
• Careful of “bed to bed narrative”- “I woke up, then this happened, that happened, this happened and finally, I went to bed.” It is your insight, perspective, uniqueness that resonates, not the list of events or actions. 
• Think keyhole size focus (“My Near Death experience surfing at Pleasure Point”) rather than too large in scope,  (“My Summer of Activities”)
• In the first few weeks of class, we’ll review some helpful techniques to get the most out of this assignment. 
• Length is arbitrary, figure 4-5 paragraphs, 500 words, longer if inspired, shorter if brilliantly constructed. For poems, at least 20 lines.
  

WRITING FORM AND RULES OF THE ROAD:

• Typed, double space; if handwritten, in pen, skip lines.
• In upper right corner, your name, grade level, date and assignment. 
• In middle of header line, colorful title. “Why Grandma Smacked me with a Zucchini” as opposed to “Summer Writing” or even “Meeting with Grandma”
• Writing due  TUESDAY, 10/5. If ahead of the wave, turn it in early!

Questions about the English assignment? Email me at sampad.kachuck (AT) mountmadonna.org. 

Performing Arts

Song Share Announcement - ALL GRADES participate

Begins Wednesday, 9/15. Choose a section of a song (no more than 90 seconds) that you like and are capable to share. Avoid lyrics with profanity, put downs of cultural, gender, ethnic or religious group, or that contain explicit sexual descriptions, or violent images. This is not about who sings well or who feels they do not. Nor is it a preliminary audition for the winter shows. Instead, the purpose is to establish a bond between the members of group by taking a personal risk. Singing can be a vulnerable experience. If the adventure sounds ominous, hang in there; it actually is a very liberating activity. We support one another while doing it. Everyone survives.  We appreciate that for new and for returning students (as well as for me, since I also participate), the experience creates a few butterflies. I truly understand hesitations about getting up in front of peers and singing. 

My recommendations:
1.    The selection can be short, even a minute is fine- 2 verses + chorus.
2.    Pick a song you like, in your vocal range, that doesn't jump too high or low.
3.    Avoid "Happy Birthday", "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" or "Star Spangled Banner"- or songs of that nature. None seem to work well.
4.    Songs that are rhythmic or percussive (Rap) are okay, but make sure lyrics are appropriate.
5.    As for accompaniment, some students have played guitar or piano while singing. Most, if not all, sing a cappella. Again, the experience is built around singing. 

Song share won't happen until Wednesday, 9/15. (Monday, 9/13 Performing Arts meets to discuss Song share, pass out syllabi, and audition information) On the field trips that start our year, new students should talk with their classmates about song share. They will see that everyone is in the same boat, no matter how much they posture. On Wednesday, let the veteran students go first and see how the room responds to one another while we sing. It may sound scary, but it is a "good" scary. Not like crossing the freeway blindfolded...

Auditions for the Winter Plays commence once Song Share completes. Auditions usually consist of a short monologue or scene from our selected play (to be announced), as well as a song from that same show. A short choreographed piece also will be presented.

Questions, contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

With respect
Sampad,
For the Performing Arts Directing Team - Mayana, Leah & Sampad