SUMMER READING for MMS:
Summer is a time to break out of usual reading patterns and explore new interests, ideas, and authors. Reading should be viewed as a portal to lifelong learning. It is not a chore, but a mechanism to help students discover themselves through literature. Reading can also bring a lifetime of pleasure and enlightenment. Research strongly suggests that reading, like most skills, improves with practice and decreases when we don’t engage in it for even a short time, so we encourage students to read over the summer from a variety of genres.
To connect this philosophy to the English curriculum at Middlesex, incoming students are asked to read at least three books over the summer of their choice. In selecting these books we ask that each book be from a different genre. Some ideas of genres are science fiction, historical fiction, realistic fiction (includes sports fiction, romance, etc.), fantasy, mystery, non-fiction (biography, autobiography, informational), and adventure/suspense novels. Parents may help students select books by referring to the resources located on the DPS Parent Curriculum Wiki @ http://dpsk-5parents.wikispaces.com/Literacy.
Upon completion of each book, students must write a review of the book. To help students develop their book reviews, we have included a set of suggestions that may help guide their thinking. These reviews should include the title, author, genre, and total pages.
| In a book review, it is helpful to… |
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Students should complete their review prior to September as sixth grade teachers will be expecting them to bring hard copies on the FIRST DAY of school.
SUMMER MATH for MMS:
As a way to assist your child in transitioning to the middle school, the Middlesex Math Department
in collaboration with their elementary school colleagues, has created a Grade 5‐6 Summer Math
Packet. To access the packet, please visit the MMS website at http://www.darienps.org/middlesex and
look for the link. The purpose of the packet is threefold, to:
- Reinforce skills that are deemed secure for all exiting fifth graders
- Identify areas of relative weakness for review that can be revisited independently
- Reduce the need for extensive review at the beginning of the school year, so new concepts
can move forward
All concepts and skills reflected in the Math Packet have been previously taught and reviewed.
There should be no need for specialized instruction – just time, space, and occasional guidance. An
answer key has been provided to assist as well.
If you find that your child could use some additional practice and reinforcement, there are a number
of websites available that your child will be familiar with from elementary school.
The first two sites are links to Fall 4 Math.
These other websites are more interactive in nature.
- http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/
- http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/grade_g_3.html
- http://www.coolmath‐games.com
- http://www.aaamath.com
Although this packet is not a requirement, we feel it can help ease the transition to middle school and
help students reinforce their skills prior to the start of 6thgrade. Don’t wait till August to start your Summer Reading/Math. Good luck at MMS and have a great summer!
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