GT Newsletter May June 2018

INSIDE:



Book Stacks
pages 2 - 3


Learning Fun
Experiences

page 3

Summer Reading
Recommendations
pages 4 - 5


Supporting
your Child
with Summer
Reading
page 6
MAY/JUNE 2018


Joy Read



By Annalissa Hardy, 6 Grade Language Arts Parents,
th
League City Intermediate


What are you doing this summer? My reading, which facilitates a deeper Our summer edition
students are excitedly buzzing about understanding of the text. If of Good Thoughts
this topic, and often the summer your child considers themselves a
plans I hear most passionately techie, it may be that they will feel provides tips, tools, book
discussed by my advanced students happiest reading books in a related
are tech-related, primarily involving genre. Some popular titles in my recommendations and
more time for video games! Less classroom include “Ready Player much more to support
often do I hear what my teacher heart One,” “Epic, Dirt Bikes, Drones,
most desires: what are you reading and Other Ways to Fly,” “The Silver your child’s reading
this summer? We know that students Eyes, The Six, The Leveller,” and
who stop reading in the summer risk two beautiful graphic novels with while on summer
suffering from the dreaded “summer serious gaming-related themes,
slide,” a tendency for kids who put “Level Up,” and “In Real Life.” break! We hope that
up the books to lose some of their As always, while these are tween you find the resources,
achievement gains. We also know and teen books, check reviews
that it is far more likely that middle- and summaries for content articles and book
grade students will become lifelong appropriateness for your child. To
readers if they are reading books further our digital natives’ interest recommendations
that they have chosen, and then read in reading, consider Goodreads.
joyfully, for pleasure. Self-selected com, an online platform where helpful in supporting
books come with a bonus, the more students can review, discuss, log, your child this summer!
prior knowledge a reader has about and discover new books. Happy
the content of their book, the more reading!
connections they can make while
Happy Summer Reading,

Glenda Holder
Check out CCISD’s
summer reading resources here! 1

Building a Great Summer



with Book Stacks



By Alyssa Toomes, CCISD Literacy Coach


Discovering ways to inspire your child to hit the books in music lovers collect albums and art lovers collect paintings.
the summer can be a challenge as a parent of a gifted child. Encourage your child to plan for their summer reading.
Many children have spent the school year improving their This strategy doesn’t have to take the form of a formal list.
abilities to read texts at increasingly difficult levels. They Instead, a summer reading plan can look more authentic.
have been encouraged to read genres beyond their tastes As I look at the stack of books on my nightstand, I am
and sometimes required to read about topics that may not reminded that I plan in a convenient way. Sometimes if
be of their choice. As summer arrives, with it comes an we make the task of preparation complicated, it becomes
opportunity for kids to have a strong voice in the texts they avoided. A book stack can be a quick and easy way to plan
read. Let’s encourage students to build book stacks that for summer reading.
create renewed interest in passion topics or personal quests
that continue to grow strong reading habits. Avoid Strategic Abandonment

Avoid Dormant Text difficulty may be a concern for you as a parent of a
gifted child who can read above their grade
Reading with a Plan level. Beware of the
The importance of pressure you may be
volume when it comes placing on your child to
to reading achievement What is a Book Stack? read increasingly difficult
can’t be stressed texts. This pressure may
enough. Theories High school English teacher and literacy consultant, Penny be misguided. “If we
abound as to the direct Kittle suggests, “We all have rollercoaster reading lives. hope to attract students
link between amount Give students a stack to choose rather than one book.” to engage in voluntary
of reading and the Book stacks are simple. They take little time to create and reading, and especially
development of reading provide young readers with a visual goal to work towards. voluntary summer
proficiency. Richard reading, then we must
Allington, author of Start with a conversation about interest or passion. You work to ensure that every
“Summer Reading may think you already know your kid quite well and can potential summer reader
Loss,” emphasizes the determine what books should be included in their book will be able to locate many
importance of summer stack, but I encourage you to avoid making these decisions books he can read and
reading as, “Children for your child. This will give your reader the opportunity books he will want to read
who read during the to choose the texts that make up their stack thus increasing voluntarily.” (Allington,
summer months were their motivation to read over time. Choices of books to 2013). Research has proven
less likely to experience read during the summer can be a controversial topic. that if children will read
summer reading loss Many experts, such as New York Times blogger, Tara high interest texts over the
and more likely to Parker-Pope, believe that studies “confirm that children summer they can maintain
have their achievement learn best when they are allowed to select their own and even continue to
remain steady or to books.” (Pope, 2010). improve their reading skills.
modestly increase,” Gifted children can see
(Allington & McGill- Next, visit the library or book store alongside your child themselves as failures if they
Frazen, 2012). Dormant to search for texts to include in their stack. Remember to struggle to read text that is
reading can break down provide an opportunity for choice and interest to drive too difficult. Human nature
the strong strategies and your book hunt. Make it a fun adventure to help motivate is to avoid activities where
habits your child has your young reader. Book stacks can be topic based, such we see ourselves as failures.
worked hard to achieve as, “Strong Female Characters” or “World Wars”. They “Easy reading” is actually
all school year so it is can also be focused on a beloved author or series. Book good for us! Celebrate the
important to prepare for stacks may include lots of variety to keep interest high long days of summer with
summer reading with a for those who just want to get lost in good stories. Giving high interest, easy reading
plan. students opportunities to self-select books prepares them and build a strong book stack
to become literate adults who know how to find books that will keep their attention
Readers have plans. they want to read (Allington, McGill-Franzen, 2013). past the first week in June.
They collect titles and Whatever your child chooses to include in their stack
authors the same way will be good if they choose the books and read them.

2 continued on page 3

continued from page 2 child’s personal collection.
Once your child has chosen their books for their stack, it’s I heard once that “It takes a lot of easy reading to make reading
time to prioritize their choices. Encourage your reader to easy.” This quote reminds us that reading doesn’t have to be a
decide what books they want to read first. These will end up chore. Avoid the “summer slide” and encourage your reader
at the top of their stack once they have built it. Help them to dive into their passion through books. Making a summer
make choices based on your summer schedule. Longer texts reading book stack will provide your child with a renewed
may be saved for a family road trip, while shorter texts may motivation to pick up that book and lose themselves in the
be a great way to get their summer reading rolling. Snap a pages.
picture of their book stack and cheer them on by sharing
it with friends and family. This will encourage your high References
achieving child, and show them how important it is to you Allington, R.L. (2002) You can’t learn much from books you can’t read.
that they continue to grow as a reader. Educational Leadership, 60 (3), 16-19. Allington, R.L. (2002) You can’t

Build a Spine Poem learn much from books you can’t read. Educational Leadership, 60 (3), 16-
19.
As your child completes a book in their stack, they will
begin to build their completed book stack. This Parker-Pope, T. (2010) “Summer Must Read for
book stack will hopefully grow over Kids? Any Book.” The New York Times, 2, Aug.
the summer and may include books 2010, well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/
that originally didn’t make in their summer-must-read-for-kids-any-book/.
planning stack. A fun way to keep
your child focused on increasing “Summer Reading: Closing the Rich/
their completed book stack Poor Reading Achievement Gap.”
is to build a spine poem. Spine Summer Reading: Closing the Rich/Poor
poems are created when you line up Reading Achievement Gap, by Richard
the text spines with the titles showing. By L. Allington and Anne McGill-Franzen,
arranging them in a certain order, you can Teachers College Press, 2013, pp. 12–13,46,102.
build interesting poems that celebrate your


How to Turn Your Summer one; Building is to column
as table is to legs.

Activities into Learning Then try a FORCED
ANALOGY. Compare two
Fun Experiences dissimilar things: How is
the beach like a classroom?

By Amy Allen Need something to fill their
time when they are back
from your excursions?
As I am planning my summer schedule, filled with camps, Find out what they were passionate about at camp, at the
day trips and vacations, I always ponder how to get my kids museum, or even at the park.
to think about their experiences in a deeper way without
taking the fun out of the day. Here are a few tips and tricks I Encourage them to continue to learn about that passion and
have picked up along the way: allow them to create a product. It can be a piece of art, a game,
a poem, a scavenger hunt or mystery, a STEM challenge, a
Asking OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS is a great way to get letter, a cartoon, an advertisement, or a prezi. The sky is the
your kids talking about their experiences. Ask questions that limit. Share some ideas with them, provide the materials, but
require their opinions and feelings that cannot be answered then just let them create. Want better products? Let them
with a simple yes or no. Here are a few examples of open research other products similar to their own. Look at several
ended questions: What is the first thing you noticed? When examples and help them to compare them. What do they
you look more closely what details do you see? How do you like? What do they think could be improved? How would
think the artist felt when he painted that? they design their product? Remember learning is more
about the process and then the product.
COMPARING and CONTRASTING
Find ways that things in your immediate environment are As the summer quickly approaches I wish you many unique
similar and different. Be creative. Look for comparisons in and creative experiences with your students. Who knows
architecture, art, animals, inventions, and nature to name a maybe you will reignite a passion of your own and create
few. your own product this summer.

ANALOGIES are great ways to make connections. Use your Need some ideas? Check out our list of summer activities in
skills in finding comparisons to create analogies like this the Houston area.
3

story did you notice them the most?
VE Summer Reading Recommendations
SIXTH GRADE The objective of WAVE is to nurture a love for • What do you think was the author’s message in the novel?
reading, while stimulating thought through
abstract concepts in literature. Although CCISD
Give examples of where you noticed the message.
does not have required summer reading, the
• How does the setting enhance the main theme(s) and/or
program’s expectation is that WAVE students
conflict of the story? Why?
read at least four books of their choice over the
summer. Doing so will better prepare them for
• How would the story be different if told from a different
the rigors of WAVE and expand their literary
point of view?
foundations. For your convenience, we have
• What connections do you make to your own life, while
listed some recommendations for summer
reading this book?
reading that are at the secondary level and
support the 6 grade theme of relationships.
th
• What other books does this remind you of, and why?
Other Free Choice
may
Students
choose any other
novel that relates Cultural Novel Choices
to the sixth For those who love Social Studies, these books will support
grade theme of the 6 grade Contemporary World Cultures Curriculum:
th
relationships. This
is a time to try League City Intermediate “Piecing Me Together” by Renée
something new and Watson
read something that “Blood Red Horse” by K.M. Grant
has similar literary “I am Malala” (Young Reader Edition)
value and rigor to “The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: by Malala Yousafzai
the books on our Knud Pedersen and the Churchill
suggested lists. Club” by Phillip Hoose Westbrook Intermediate
Over the summer, “Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the “Refugee” by Alan Gratz
parents are Cultural
encouraged to Revolution” by Ji-Li Jiang “The Boy who Harnessed the Wind”
read with their “The Boy who Harnessed the Wind” (Young Reader Edition) by William
child and to have (Young Reader Kamkwamba
conversations about Edition) by William
the literature. Below Kamkwamba “Between Two Skies” by
are questions that Joanne O’Sullivan
will help stimulate “Inside Out and Back
book discussions: Again” by Thanhha “A Long Walk to Water”
by Linda Sue Park
• What did you like Lai “Esperanza Rising” by
A best about the story? “Between Two Skies” Pam Muñoz Ryan
Provide
specific
by Joanne O’Sullivan
W examples of what “A Long Walk to “Piecing Me Together” by
“hooked” you.
• Does the main character change? Water” by Linda Sue Renée Watson
In what ways? Did you like him/ Park
her better at the end? Why? “Esperanza Rising”
• What themes (big ideas) did you by Pam Muñoz Ryan
notice in the story? Where in the
Lone Star Novel Choices

The Texas Lone Star list is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians from the Young
Adult Round Table. The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6, 7, or 8 to explore a variety of current
books. The Lone Star list is intended for recreational reading, not to support a specific curriculum.

“Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora” by Pablo Artaya “Frogkisser!” by Garth Nix
“Last Day on Mars” by Kevin Emerson “Between Two Skies” by Joanne O’Sullivan
“The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children “Miles Morales: A Spider Man Novel” by Jason Reynolds
and Their Holy Dog” by Adam Gidwitz “York: The Shadow Cipher” by Laura Ruby
“Refugee” by Alan Gratz “Scythe” by Neal Shusterman
“Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World” by “Short” by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Shannon & Dean Hale “Well, That Was Awkward” by Rachel Vail
“Van Gogh Deception” by Deron Hicks “Wild Bird” by Wendelin Van Draanen
“Four-Four- Two” by Dean Hughes “Piecing Me Together” by Renee Watson
4 “Warcross” by Marie Lu “Beanstalker and Other Hilarious Scary Tales” by
Kiersten White
“Heartless” by Marissa Meyer
“Impyrium” by Henry Neff

WAVE Summer Reading Recommendations

SEVENTH GRADE



Students may choose any grade level appropriate novel that Walk a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes Challenge
relates to the seventh-grade theme of conflict. At the beginning of the year, we focus on conflict and unearthing
our personal stories. Below are some titles that will help support
Throughout the summer, we encourage parents to read with our 7th grade theme of conflict and are some options you might
your child and to have conversations about the literature. Below enjoy:
are questions that will help stimulate book discussions.
• “Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek” by
• What did you like best about the story? Provide specific Van Wagenen, Maya.
examples of what “hooked” you. • “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson
• Does the main character change? In what ways? Did
you like him/her better at the end? Why? • “The Warrior’s Heart” by Eric Greitens
• What themes (big ideas) did you notice in the story? • “No Summit Out of Sight” by Jordan Romero
Where in the story did you notice them the most? • “March” by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
• What do you think was the author’s message in the • “Unlikely Warrior: A Jewish Soldier in Hitler’s Army”
novel? Give examples of where you noticed the message. by Georg Rauch
• How does the setting enhance the main theme(s) and/or • “Every Falling Star” by Sungju Lee and Susan Elizabeth
conflict of the story? Why? McClelland
• How would the story be different if told from a different • “Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian
point of view? School Football Team” by Steve Sheinkin
• What connections do you make to your own life, while • “Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith” by
reading this book? Deborah Heiligman
• What other books does this remind you of, and why? • “Vincent & Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers” by Deborah
Heiligman
WAVE Summer Reading Recommendations


EIGHTH GRADE




Students may choose any grade level appropriate novel that told from a different point of view?
relates to the eighth-grade theme of change. • What connections do you make to your own life,
while reading this book?
Over the summer, we encourage parents to read with their • What other books does this remind you of, and
child and to have conversations about the literature. Below why?
are questions that will help stimulate book discussions:
• What did you like best about the story? Provide Among the book choices, “Blood on the River” by Elisa
th
specific examples of what “hooked” you. Carbone is highly recommended by your 8 WAVE team.
• Does the main character change? In This novel will help students be set in the
what ways? Did you like him/her first few weeks of school for inquiry into
better at the end? Why? the social, economic and political factors
• What themes (big ideas) did you of the colonial era in U.S. history. It will
notice in the story? also prepare eighth graders to explore
• How does the setting enhance the historical fiction as a literary genre and
main theme(s) and/or conflict of the coming of age as a literary theme. A
story? Why? student who reads “Blood on the River”
• Where in the story did you notice as one of their choices will start the year
them the most? with a positive step forward.
• What do you think was the author’s
message in the novel? Give examples
of where you noticed the message.
• How would the story be different if





5

Summer Resources

(Click the activity name for more information.)

Book Clubs Farm to Market • Moody Mansion
• Freeman Library • Froberg Farms • Moody Gardens
• Barnes & Noble • Morehead Farms • Ohana Surf School
• Half Price Books • Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market • NOAA Fishery – Sea Turtle
• Blue Willow Bookstore • Pick Your Own Farms Tours
• Destiny Quest, Spaghetti Book • Texas A&M Seacamp
Club for Kids Art Classes • Tall Ship Elissa
• Art School for Children
Museum Information • The Ceramic and Pottery Center Nature Centers
• Museum of Fine Arts Houston • The Glassell School of Art • Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature
• Art Explorers • Hobby Lobby Center
• Art Detectives at Bayou Bend • JoAnn Fabrics • Houston Arboretum and Nature
• Reading at the Renzuli • Texas Art Supply Center
• Museum District • Sims Bayou
• Art Car Museum Galveston Island • Armand Bayou
• Houston Zoo • Pirates! Legends of the Gulf
• Miller Outdoor Theater Coast
• Pier 21 Theater

Supporting Your Child for advanced academics is to develop
and maintain the ability to read
with Summer Reading for an extended amount of time, to
enjoy reading, and to make reading
By Jenna Zucha, English Leadership Spring High School a daily habit. We want your child to
understand that by not only reading,
but also thinking and talking about
It’s hard to believe that high school is just around the corner what they’re reading, they are well
for your child—wasn’t it just yesterday that they were on their way to developing those critical thinking skills
heading off to kindergarten? Now they are about to embark that are so necessary for academic success. Whether they
on a new chapter in their lives, and you want to make sure are getting lost in the future world of Neal Shusterman’s
that they start off full of confidence and excitement. As a “Scythe” or wandering the streets of Kennedy-era New
Pre-AP English 1 teacher, this is the time of year where I Orleans in Ruta Septys’ “Out of the Easy,” we want your
begin fielding questions from incoming parents; everyone child to see that stories are at the heart of humanity, no
wants to know how they can best prepare their child to be matter what genre they belong to.
successful in a high school English classroom. Believe it or
not, the answer is simple—READ. Yes, that’s I encourage you to read with your child this
it. READ. Make reading a priority for your summer. Have them pick a book, fiction
child and I can absolutely guarantee that or nonfiction, and create your own book
your child will be successful not only in the club. Carve out time every day to read and
English classroom, but in their other subjects discuss together, even if it’s in that brief time
as well. between pick-up and drop-offs. Let your
child know that you value them as a reader
So now you’re thinking to yourself, “My and as a critic, and encourage them to make
child already reads, but it’s science fiction/ connections between the text and the world
young adult/fantasy. Shouldn’t they be around them. By doing this one simple
reading ‘the classics’ to be prepared for thing, you will not only be preparing them
advanced academics?” My answer to that for high school, but for the rest of their lives.
is also simple—NO. The best preparation








6

• Armand Bayou Summer Camp • Texas A&M University Galveston Campus
Opportunities Outreach Programs

• G.V. Krishnan’s CompuCamp 2017 at • Texas A&M at Galveston Family Fun
UHCL Fridays
Students aged 10 to 17 who are not content just to use a
computer but need to understand the guts of applications and • Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented
programming will find satisfaction at CompuCamp. This high (TAGT) Summer Enrichment Program
level, hands-on training is so complete that participants with Listing
a working knowledge of an operating system like Windows TAGT offers a comprehensive listing of enrichment programs
(Mac and Unix users welcome, too!) will leave with a and camps for gifted learners. Check
thorough understanding of the ins out the link below to see all the
and outs of computers. Summer offerings.

• Galveston College Kids • The Grand 1894 Opera
College Camp House - Summer Theatre

• Kids U at UHCL Opportunities Camp
Kids U offers powerful learning (Cl
(Cl
(Cl
(Click the camp name for more information.)ick the camp name for more information.)ick the camp name for more information.)ick the camp name for more information.)
experiences during week-long • The Houston Museum
summer camp sessions for of Natural Science
students from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade. Grades are as Summer Camp Opportunities
of 2017-2018 (the grade student just completed). Organized
around themes of Technology, Math, Writing, Science and
Early Childhood. The camps are perfect summer enrichment • UHCL Hawk STEAM Academy
opportunities!
• UTMB Summer Student Programs
• Moody Gardens Summer Camps UTMB at Texas A&M at Galveston offers several summer
programs geared for intermediate and high school students
• Rice University Summer Tech Camps and each summer. There are application deadlines so check into
Academies these quickly.
• Upstage Arts Camps and Classes
• Space Center Houston Summer Camp
Click here for more information on selecting the right summer
camp for your child.

QUICK LINKS eam! Glenda Holder




Director of
Advanced Academics
• How to Discuss Books with Your Kids (Even and Gifted and Talented
When You Haven’t Read Them!) [email protected]

• Reading and Writing Summer Challenge

• Goodreads Follow us on the

new
• Lone Star List CCISD GT
• Best of Books 2018 Connect with your GT T Facebook group!

• Nonfiction Awards Finalists 2018

• American Experience Challenge

• 10 Cool Camera Apps

• 34 Best Photo Apps
7