读书读书 (2012-06-23 02:22:50)

今年假期的读书主体：Dream Big! Read!

美国学校放假了，但是暑期读书却是一件大事，首先，每个学校都会针对不同的年级推出一个读书单。公立学校的稍微简单一些，只是作者和书名，而私立学校却要详细很多，给出读书的GUIDANCE，并且要求有一篇必读书目（根据年级而定，有的年级不止一本），在回答了一系列问题之后，基本上就是读书报告的雏形了。有的学校要求设计该本书的封面，当然不是毫无章法的，要求在封二放上主要任务，封三放上如此这般的内容和信息。而有的学校给出读书的四个层次，其中最低的一层，用自己的话来复述这本书，是得不到任何学分的。
Exceptional: Student relates personal insights he/she had using very specific quotes or selected sections directly from the book to illustrate his/her new understandings.
Exceeded: Student relates how and what he/she learned from the book giving actual experiences as illustrations/examples. Be sure to include information that shows you read the book.
No Credit: Students retells story and relates which parts he/she liked or disliked.
No Credit: Student retells the story in the student's own words.
这个要求让我还是吃了一惊的。年纪越高，越是不能只是写下书名和作者就成为你暑期阅读的作业了。
每个学校都把自己的暑期阅读计划和要求放在网上，我只要勤奋一点，就可以得到无尽的资料和信息。我找了周围几家私立学校，就已经很长的LIST的了。
因为读书，我们的交谈就有了无尽的内容。每次想到这个，我就会由衷地感到高兴。
下面转贴一片一家私立学校要求开学后升入六年级的学生在暑期里看的书：
Sixth Grade Summer Reading:

Examining Point of View, Cultural Diversity, and Friendship



Hello, Sixth Graders!

You were asked to read at least one of the following two summer reading books: The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg and Extra Credit by Andrew Clements. The two common themes which you will explore are: friendship and cultural diversity. You will also examine point of view. 

Please read the descriptions below and respond to the guided questions that follow.

The View from Saturday

Plot: The sequence of events is out of order. You will find yourself traveling forward and backward in time.
Point of view: This story has five different narrators. Each narrator has a very distinct voice.


There are two major themes: Friendship and Cultural Diversity.

One important theme is the meaning of friendship.  The theme is explored by showing how the students in the novel cooperate with and respect each other.
The diversity of each student is celebrated and each of their stories is important. This theme is explored by showing how each character’s individual experiences led them to success in both the Academic Bowl and also their friendship with their teammates.
Extra Credit

Point of view: takes place from two points-of-view, Abby's and the boy's in Afghanistan, who is chosen by his teacher to write as a representative of his community.


There are two major themes: Friendship and Cultural Diversity.

Children from very different lives cultivate a friendship.
The other important topics in the story include: Life in Afghanistan, rock-climbing, keeping secrets, brother-sister relationships, and the importance of letter writing.
Summer Assignment: Here are a few questions for you to ponder. Please jot down your responses which correspond to your reading and bring them with you to school. I’m curious to hear your discoveries!

Guided questions for The View from Saturday:

1. Study the cover of The View from Saturday. What does the picture on the front represent?

2. Consider the name of the group: "The Souls." Why is this name important? What does it tell us about the four individuals who make up the group?

3. " ‘In the interest of diversity,’ she said, ‘I chose a brunette, a redhead, a blond, and a kid with hair as black as print on paper." What does this mean to you?

4. This story is told from many points of view. What would happen if the story were told from the point of view of only one person?

Guided questions for Extra Credit:

1. On the first page of the story, Afghani student Sadeed thinks that his teacher is going to "recommend him for a special honor," but when he finds out that his teacher wants him to help write letters to a girl in America, he is very disappointed. How does this letter writing eventually turn into a "special honor" for Sadeed?

2. The rock wall at Abby's school in Illinois and the mountains of Afghanistan are symbols in Extra Credit -- they stand for something else. What do they represent?

3.  By the end of the story, Abby and Sadeed have a greater understanding of each other's lives and cultures. After finishing the book, talk about what else you think Abby and Sadeed learned from exchanging letters.

4.  What would happen if the story were told from Abby’s teacher’s point of view or Sadeed’s sister’s point of view?

5. What other books have you read that celebrate friendship or focus on cultural diversity?

其次图书馆会推出一系列和读书有关的活动，在聪聪放假前的两天，图书馆管理员特地来到他们学校，告诉他们SUMMER READING PROGRAM从哪一天开始，请在那一天让父母带孩子们去图书馆注册。在各地的图书馆的网站上也有很多推荐阅读，并且有一些学校的读书单的连接，或者是获奖书单的连接，比如：

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/bbya

第三，有些商家，首当其冲的自然是书店也会推出很多活动，B&N为了鼓励孩子读书，看8本书可以免费得到他们提供的书中的一本；银行TD BANK免费给给孩子10美元，如果你看完了十本书的话，当然，你得写出十本书的名字和作者。

暑假，让我们一起看书吧。