Upper Elementary Summer Learning
Of course, we know families have many plans and special trips and activities scheduled for summer vacation, so, ultimately, the summer is yours to navigate as you wish. However, studies have proven and we have directly experienced the positive benefits of continual reading and math practice between school sessions. Maintaining this practice makes for a much smoother transition into the next year and also helps reinforce the lessons and skills that were accumulating in the previous year.
We do believe that this summer practice can and should be FUN. Therefore, we have designed our summer recommendations to provide sufficient choice and play opportunities.
Our core expectations are:
1. Online Math Practice - IXL.com
2. Summer Reading and Letter to Your Teachers
Additional recommendations:
3. Spelling Games - SpellingCity.com
4. Typing Club
1. IXL.com
Every student has an account at IXL.com within our school account. We encourage the students to experiment and practice which lessons and exercises they wish to try. We can see their activity and progress. We are happy to email over recommended activities upon request, but otherwise we want the students to challenge themselves while enjoying the playful practice available through this helpful site. They can review lessons from their current grade level but we encourage them to start exploring the lessons in their upcoming grade level as well, starting with the A and B activities.
Our request and recommendation are:
18 activities in your incoming grade level for incoming 6th years
12 activities in your incoming grade level for incoming 5th years
9 activities in your incoming grade level for incoming 4th years
or
The student can have an agreement with Mr. C to finish one of our math workbooks
Login for New Students to Upper Elementary
login: firstnamelastname838 ex. Marcus Brutlag would have a login username of marcusbrutlag838
default password: peacetable (which can be changed later within the student account settings, some current students have changed their password and may have forgotten it so don't hesitate to contact us if they forget).
Login for Returning Students to Upper Elementary
login: firstnamelastname838 ex.marcusbrutlag838 (many of your children have already created their own user accounts as well)
default password: peacetable (which can be changed later within the student account settings, some current students have changed their password and may have forgotten it so don't hesitate to contact us if they forget).
*If you are okay with a little more screen time, we have also noticed that our students have enjoyed a site that is a little more game heavy than math practice but is still a fun way to keep math alive: Math Quest - http://roomrecess.com/pages/MathQuest.html
2. Summer Reading and Writing - 3 Books and Typing
We are doing things a bit differently this year. We will not be reading a class literary selection over the summer. We will read our first class selection together in the fall as part of our first novel study.
First Book - CLASS Literary Selection
PLEASE PURCHASE THE TITLE BELOW FROM AMAZON OR ANOTHER GREAT WEBSITE FOR USED BOOKS: THRIFTBOOKS.COM. We will be using these tein the class throughout the year, so this is part of the supply list as well. Thank you.
The pictures below are also links to amazon to purchase them.
We do believe that this summer practice can and should be FUN. Therefore, we have designed our summer recommendations to provide sufficient choice and play opportunities.
Our core expectations are:
1. Online Math Practice - IXL.com
2. Summer Reading and Letter to Your Teachers
Additional recommendations:
3. Spelling Games - SpellingCity.com
4. Typing Club
1. IXL.com
Every student has an account at IXL.com within our school account. We encourage the students to experiment and practice which lessons and exercises they wish to try. We can see their activity and progress. We are happy to email over recommended activities upon request, but otherwise we want the students to challenge themselves while enjoying the playful practice available through this helpful site. They can review lessons from their current grade level but we encourage them to start exploring the lessons in their upcoming grade level as well, starting with the A and B activities.
Our request and recommendation are:
18 activities in your incoming grade level for incoming 6th years
12 activities in your incoming grade level for incoming 5th years
9 activities in your incoming grade level for incoming 4th years
or
The student can have an agreement with Mr. C to finish one of our math workbooks
Login for New Students to Upper Elementary
login: firstnamelastname838 ex. Marcus Brutlag would have a login username of marcusbrutlag838
default password: peacetable (which can be changed later within the student account settings, some current students have changed their password and may have forgotten it so don't hesitate to contact us if they forget).
Login for Returning Students to Upper Elementary
login: firstnamelastname838 ex.marcusbrutlag838 (many of your children have already created their own user accounts as well)
default password: peacetable (which can be changed later within the student account settings, some current students have changed their password and may have forgotten it so don't hesitate to contact us if they forget).
*If you are okay with a little more screen time, we have also noticed that our students have enjoyed a site that is a little more game heavy than math practice but is still a fun way to keep math alive: Math Quest - http://roomrecess.com/pages/MathQuest.html
2. Summer Reading and Writing - 3 Books and Typing
We are doing things a bit differently this year. We will not be reading a class literary selection over the summer. We will read our first class selection together in the fall as part of our first novel study.
First Book - CLASS Literary Selection
PLEASE PURCHASE THE TITLE BELOW FROM AMAZON OR ANOTHER GREAT WEBSITE FOR USED BOOKS: THRIFTBOOKS.COM. We will be using these tein the class throughout the year, so this is part of the supply list as well. Thank you.
The pictures below are also links to amazon to purchase them.
The Next Great Paulie Fink - We ask that all grades read this awesome novel about tolerance and kindness this summer. We will be talking about it and using it as we open the year.
If the reading level is challenging, we are completely okay with both parent narration and audiobooks, so that all can join in the experience of story, which we value as highly as the practice of reading.
2nd Book - Select from our Top 100 Books to read before you Grow Up List to the right.
|
|
3rd Reading Pick - FREE READING CHOICE
The next required reading choices are completely up to the student and family. We do ask that selections are appropriately challenging, which we ask parents to gauge. There are many recommended books on the Lists pages on this website and we as fantastic resources when making our selections. Incoming 4th years have been approved to choose a graphic novel for this 3rd pick if that helps encourage summer reading.
Two helpful sites when making a decision (checking on theme and age appropriateness) and looking to purchase these books are commonsensemedia.org and thriftbooks.com. These sites are amazing resources for any parent!
The next required reading choices are completely up to the student and family. We do ask that selections are appropriately challenging, which we ask parents to gauge. There are many recommended books on the Lists pages on this website and we as fantastic resources when making our selections. Incoming 4th years have been approved to choose a graphic novel for this 3rd pick if that helps encourage summer reading.
Two helpful sites when making a decision (checking on theme and age appropriateness) and looking to purchase these books are commonsensemedia.org and thriftbooks.com. These sites are amazing resources for any parent!
Class Geography Text - This is just a heads up for the supply list for the upcoming year.
A CHILD'S INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD: We will be using it as we continue to study the globe. Returning Students should just hang on to their copy.
Writing Assignment - A letter to your teachers
You will be asked to write a friendly letter to your teachers over the summer. Please bring letter with you on the first day of school. It does not need to be typed.
Some things to write to your teachers about:
- your family (brothers, sisters, pets)
- your favorite things
- your summer
- what you are looking forward to this year
- questions you have for us about the coming year
The letter should be written to:
Dear Mr. C, Mr. Marcus and Ms. Jenny,
Use the sample letter below to see how to format your letter. You can type your letter or write it in your best handwriting. Be sure to have somebody help you check it, so that capitalization and spelling are corrected.
You will be asked to write a friendly letter to your teachers over the summer. Please bring letter with you on the first day of school. It does not need to be typed.
Some things to write to your teachers about:
- your family (brothers, sisters, pets)
- your favorite things
- your summer
- what you are looking forward to this year
- questions you have for us about the coming year
The letter should be written to:
Dear Mr. C, Mr. Marcus and Ms. Jenny,
Use the sample letter below to see how to format your letter. You can type your letter or write it in your best handwriting. Be sure to have somebody help you check it, so that capitalization and spelling are corrected.
3. Spellingcity.com - We recommend that students practice an average of 15 minutes per week.
- Each student is registered with an account to practice their vocabulary and spelling skills at spellingcity.com. They can practice freely on any preloaded lists, but I will also be creating personalized lists for returning students based spelling assessments at the end of the year. Personalized lists will be added in a couple of weeks. This is completely optional work, as it does include screen time to complete.
Sign-In information: Students will now use the "Sign in with Google" option and they will use their @villagegatestudents.com accounts, which are registered with with Spellingcity.com
- Each student is registered with an account to practice their vocabulary and spelling skills at spellingcity.com. They can practice freely on any preloaded lists, but I will also be creating personalized lists for returning students based spelling assessments at the end of the year. Personalized lists will be added in a couple of weeks. This is completely optional work, as it does include screen time to complete.
Sign-In information: Students will now use the "Sign in with Google" option and they will use their @villagegatestudents.com accounts, which are registered with with Spellingcity.com
4. TYPING CLUB - We recommend that students practice an average of 30 minutes per week.
Each student is registered to practice and challenge themselves with their keyboarding skills at our class portal sign in page at for typingclub.com https://village-gate-childrens-academy.typingclub.com/.
Returning Students
username: firstname(last name initial)838 ex. marcusb838
default password: peacetable
New Students
username: firstname(last name initial)264
defualt password: peacetable2
Some may have to check with a teacher to log-in but may also be able to use the @villagegatestudents.com accounts.
If you don't have an active user account yet, please contact Mr. Marcus at [email protected]
Each student is registered to practice and challenge themselves with their keyboarding skills at our class portal sign in page at for typingclub.com https://village-gate-childrens-academy.typingclub.com/.
Returning Students
username: firstname(last name initial)838 ex. marcusb838
default password: peacetable
New Students
username: firstname(last name initial)264
defualt password: peacetable2
Some may have to check with a teacher to log-in but may also be able to use the @villagegatestudents.com accounts.
If you don't have an active user account yet, please contact Mr. Marcus at [email protected]