Springton Lake Middle School
1900 N. Providence Road
Media, Pennsylvania 19063-2493
Telephone 610.627.6500
Fax 610.566.8665
www.rtmsd.org
James M. Wigo, Sr.
Superintendent of Schools
Robert Salladino, Jr., Ed.D., Principal
Donald DiPaulo, M.A., Assistant Principal
Kathy White, M.S., Assistant Principal
Spring 2015
Dear Fifth Grade Students and Parents,
As the end of the school year draws closer, we hope you’re making plans to enjoy your
summer, relax, and…read. There are many reasons to read: to learn something new, to keep
reading skills sharp, and also to dream, to laugh, to wonder, and to grow. Our SLMS Summer
Reading List has been designed to help students do all of this, as well as increase the amount of
reading they do in their free time and provide a number of common texts for students and
teachers to refer to throughout the next year.
This year our theme, Connecting Through Kindness, has been selected to provide a
common thread for comparing and contrasting the titles students will be reading, as well as to
inspire our students to be kind. We’re hoping these books help students find inspiration to be the
best person each of them can be. As you read this summer’s selections and discover young
people making connections, creating kindness, and searching for friendship, perhaps it will help
to keep this idea in mind.
Since reading can be a wondrous rehearsal for life, we’re encouraging both students and
their parents to read from the selections on this year’s list. This will create an opportunity for
you to have some great dinner table conversations this summer and to share family ideas,
feelings and experiences.
The sixth grade teachers are excited to offer Wonder, by R. J. Palacio, as our 6th allclass read. This book is a required read for all entering sixth grade students. This book
celebrates kindness, and to inspire our students to connect through kindness as they enter
Springton Lake, all sixth grade teachers will be reading the book and incorporating activities
based on the novel and its message. Students must also complete an attached Literary Text
Analysis for the novel. In September, students will be evaluated in their Language Arts class on
their understanding of the book.
In addition, all students are required to read the book Al Capone Does My Shirts, by
Gennifer Choldenko, and complete a Literary Text Analysis for the novel. In September,
students will be evaluated on their understanding of this book in their Language Arts class. AGP
and ELA students are also expected to read a third book of their choice during the
summer.
Please note that Springton Lake’s summer reading list is not optional: it is required.
Activities and lessons will reference these books, their characters and themes throughout the
school year.
Local bookstores will stock copies of each title, and the Middletown and Media-Upper
Providence Libraries will make additional copies of the books available for your use. A limited
number of ebook and audio versions of the titles will also be available through the Delaware
County Library System. The summer reading books will also be listed on both the district cable
channel (Channel 11) and the Rose Tree Media School District website.
Families can find an additional suggested list of titles by genre on the SLMS Library
webpage. These are being provided to offer a variety of titles that may be of interest to students
who are looking for additional ideas for other good reads. Should parents prefer that their child
not read a particular title for his/her grade level, parent may opt to have their child read from the
additional titles shared on the website. Parents will need to contact their child’s sixth grade
teacher in September, should they choose this option.
At the back of this packet, you will find a summer reading contract. We ask that both
students and parents read the contract, sign it, and return it to your fifth grade teacher by Friday,
May 29th.
REMEMBER:
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Read, sign, and return your summer reading contract by Friday, May 29,
2015.
Read Wonder and complete the Literary Text Analysis.
Read Al Capone Does My Shirts and complete the Literary Text Analysis.
ELA students read an additional book of their choice and complete the
Literary Text Analysis.
Enjoy your summer, relax, and READ!
Sincerely,
SLMS Language Arts Department
Connecting With Kindness
Grade 6 Summer Reading List 2015
Springton Lake Middle School
Directions:
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Every 6th grader will read Wonder AND Al Capone Does My Shirts.
Fill out a Literary Text Analysis (for each book) to organize your thoughts and
make it easier for you to recall important points when you return to school.
AGP/ELA students will read an additional book of their choice and complete a
Literary Text Analysis.
If your parents read a book, record their reactions on the parent interview form.
All Incoming Sixth Graders Read:
Palacio, R.J. Wonder. New York: Knopf Books For
Young Readers, 2012.
August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented
him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start
5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you
know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid,
with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that
he's just like them, despite appearances?
Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts.
New York: Puffin, 2006.
Twelve-year-old Moose moves to Alcatraz in 1935 when the prison is
home to notorious gangsters like Al Capone. His father has a good job
as a prison guard and his mother wants his autistic sister to attend a
special school in San Francisco. Although sad to leave his friends and
winning baseball team behind, things look up for Moose when he
befriends the irresistible Piper, the warden's daughter, who has a
knack for getting Moose into trouble.
Parents: Try reading the same summer reading selection as your child and then let them
interview you! 
SPRINGTON LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER READING
PROGRAM
OPTIONAL PARENT INTERVIEW
Once you and your parent have read your book(s), discuss these questions together.
Then, record your interview results below. Ask your parent to write any comments and
to sign the bottom of this sheet.
Student’s Name: ______________________ Parent’s Name: ________________________________
Book Title and Author: ___________________________________________________________________
1. Which character did you find the most interesting? Why?
2. What was your favorite part of the story? Why?
3. What lessons/morals do you think this book can teach?
4. What did you learn from reading this book?
5. Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Parent comments:
Parent Signature:
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Name_____________________________ Summer Reading Literary Text Analysis
Book Title:_________________________ Author:____________________________
Setting (Time/Place): ___________________________________________________
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION & GROWTH: Describe the main character. How does he/she
change or develop internally (on the inside) through the story? Explain what he/she is like at
the beginning of the novel, the middle, and then how he/she finally changed by the end. Give
specific text evidence from the story to support your ideas.
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CONFLICT/RESOLUTION: Describe the major conflict or problem that the main character
faces. How is this problem resolved?
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THEME: What was the main message or lesson about life the author chose to convey? How
does the author show the development of the theme? Use text evidence to support your idea.
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FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Give an example of figurative language used in the novel
(simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia). You could
also give an example of imagery. Explain why the author uses this figurative language
or imagery. How does it enhance your understanding of the novel?
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My Reaction: How was the author able to connect to me as a reader?
RATING: Rate this book on a scale of 1 to 10. What qualities of a good book does this
novel demonstrate or not demonstrate? Why did you give this rating? What was your
favorite part and why? Who would enjoy this book?
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2015
Grade 6
Summer Reading Contract
I have read the summer reading letter and understand that I am expected to:
 Read Wonder for our first 6th grade all-class read.
 Complete the Literary Text Analysis for Wonder.
 Read Al Capone Does My Shirts for our second 6th grade all-class read.
 Complete a Literary Text Analysis for Al Capone Does My Shirts.
 AGP/ELA students should read an additional book of their choice and complete a
Literary Text Analysis.
______________________________________
(Student Signature)
______________________________________
(Student Name Printed)
I have read the summer reading letter and understand that my child is responsible for
completing the following for the Summer Reading Program at Springton Lake Middle
School:
 Read Wonder for as the first 6th grade all-class read.
 Complete a literary text analysis for Wonder.
 Read Al Capone Does My Shirts for the second 6th grade all-class read.
 Complete a literary text analysis for Al Capone Does My Shirts.
 AGP/ELA students should read an additional book of their choice and complete a
literary text analysis.
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(Parent Signature)
______________________________________
(Parent Name Printed)
Please return this summer reading contract to:
Your 5th Grade Teacher
by Friday, May 29, 2015