Required Summer Homework List
It is the mission of Renaissance Academy to help every child enrolled reach his or her greatest potential. To truly reach their best, children need to keep up with their learning all year long, and to facilitate this we give summer homework. This seems even more vital this year. Assignments are similar for everyone, but we expect very different levels of work from students of different abilities. Each child should do his or her own best.
The ‘three R’s’ are the way to keep skills current and great minds growing; throw in some sun, fresh air, water, sports, tree climbing, and play, and you have the recipe for a perfect summer.
*Reading – It’s a great to make a habit of reading every day. Books for each age level are assigned over the summer, use the rest of the time to read your own choices. For the assigned books, students need to turn in some work that shows they read and comprehended the book. Details are included in the reading list below. Students also need to arrive ready to take tests over the books, and discuss them with their class.
*Writing – Below find a list of prompts for students’ writing, and more details. Students should write at least once a week, most weeks. So with twelve weeks of summer, we require at least nine (9) writing samples. Four are due by Summer School Day.
*Arithmetic – Below find two math packets, part 1 due by Summer School Day, and 2 due the first day in the classroom. For R 4th-8th graders, these are assigned by their leveled math group teacher, new students have grade level review, and younger students have more varied options. The goal is to keep skills sharp and avoid summer learning loss.
It is very important for children to keep their brains active over the summer – studies show that children can lose up to three months of progress over the summer without some academic stimulus. We have worked to create a homework list that is engaging, not too
challenging, and has just enough to keep minds working.
Evidence repeatedly demonstrates the best way to improve reading is by reading; in all learning, skills improve through practice. Children should read or be read to daily, and take a minimum of half an hour a couple times a week to focus on math or writing.
The books can be ordered online, through a bookstore, or borrowed from the library. Please help your child succeed in the coming school year by supplying them with these wonderful books as quickly as possible and ensuring he or she completes these tasks.
Have a great summer!
Writing
Write at least once a week most of the weeks. There are 12 weeks of summer; at least 9 written pieces are required. On a sheet of paper, write in your best penmanship at least 2 times as many sentences as your grade level. (Note – If you have a great idea in your mind and want to write a book, or a story, or something else, you can turn that in instead.)
Beginning writers, make an effort and phonetic spelling is fine. You can draw pictures to add to your writing. Older students should write freely but still use correct capitalization and punctuation to your best ability. Cursive should be used in 4th grade and above.
Topic Ideas
* Imagine you were magically zapped anywhere in the world, write about where you went and what happened next.
* Take a trip to the zoo and write about it.
* Write about your favorite book, TV show, movie,…
* Go for a walk on the beach, and write about it. Think about our five senses – what did you see, hear, feel, smell, taste…?
* Describe a character from a book you just read.
* Watch a sunset, describe it in detail, use strong adjectives and adverbs.
* Help someone in your family, do an activity to the point of being tired/winded, etc., and tell us about it. What did you do? How did it help? How do you feel?
* Write detailed directions for how to do a household task – laundry, make a bed with fresh sheets,…
* Describe a member of your family.
* Use one of these starters and finish the paragraph:
This week I…
The most fun thing I did this summer was…
If I could have any magic power it would be…
I liked it when I went with my family to…
I just finished reading and my favorite part was when…
My dream vacation would be to…
When I grow up, I want to…
My favorite thing to do is…
I was sitting on my couch when I heard a mysterious sound. I looked up and Merlin the magician appeared. I…
I am really good at…
Four Writing Samples must be turned in by Summer School Day. You may turn in to teachers there or send to school by that date for full credit (and school year homework passes!).
Arithmetic
Each student has been given individualized math assignments to complete; it is review work based on their math group level. These are available in the links below. Packet #1 is due by the Summer School date, and Packet #2 due on the first day of school.*
Grades 1-4, Math Packets 1 & 2 are combined – Choose your own activities – 4 Pages due July Summer School Day, other 4 on first day in class.
Reading
It’s great to make a habit of daily reading, for many it’s a delightful part of a bedtime routine. The required books are only a few weeks of reading, then read your own choices.
- As we begin a year of studying the Middle Ages – Renaissance World History, every grade is reading books related to feudalism and the Middle Ages. Students Entering …
Grades 1-3: entering 1st graders read at least one, 2nd graders two, and 3rd graders read all three:
The Sword in the Stone (level 2) (Hello Reader) by Grace Maccarone, level 1.6, 32pp
Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House*) Mary Pope Osborne, level 2.5, 65pp (Questions Attached)
Minstrel in the Tower by Gloria-Skurzynski, level 3.4 64pp
Note- For children who want to read more, the Magic Tree House series is a great easy reader choice
Grades 4 and 5: entering 4th and 5th graders read all three: . *Marked books due Summer Day 7/20 *
*Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House*) Mary Pope Osborne, level 2.5, 65pp (Questions Included)
The Apple and the Arrow by Mary and Conrad Buff, level 4.8, 76pp (Questions Included)
Life as a Viking by Lassieur, Allison, level 5.6, 112pp
* Questions attached for two books, only one set required and choose any project for the other books.
Grades 6-8: entering 6th – 8th graders read all three. *Marked books due Summer Day 7/13*
*The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood, level 5.2, 216pp
The Apple and the Arrow by Mary and Conrad Buff, level 4.8, 76pp (Questions Attached)
Life as a Viking by Lassieur, Allison, level 5.6, 112pp
For each book, students need to turn in some work that shows reading and comprehension. For example, students may: write a traditional book report telling about the story, film them self giving a book review, make up a song that recaps the story, write a detailed summary, make a commercial for the book, write questions and answers, reenact a story skit, design a poster -must include written details, build a diorama- must include descriptive writing, or any idea that clearly proves that they read the book and know what it was about.
Students also need to be ready to take a test over each book and talk about them in class.
* Due by Summer School Day – 4 Writing Samples, Math Pack 1, *Book – to be read and a ‘work’ due,
also will be reviewed and discussed there.