Off the Shelf - News from Fort River Library

Congratulation to Ms. Ludington on her upcoming retirement! She will be dearly missed by all students and staff in the library. Over her 20 year career at Fort River she has helped many thousands of children find books that they LOVE. Here is a recent update that she posted in the June Principal Newsletter:

Dear Families and students,

For those of you who don’t know, this is my last year at Fort River. Being the Fort River Librarian has been the best job I could have ever imagined for myself. The Fort River administrators and my colleagues throughout the building have ALWAYS been superior professionals to work with and wonderful, interesting individuals to know.  It has been so rewarding to teach so many children over my 20 years at Fort River. Watching students grow as readers AND as individuals, has certainly been a highlight of my career!

Please take a look at the link for the MCBA Mashup booklist for summer reading suggestions. Many of the librarians find great books for our own reading off of these lists.

This list of books was created for Amherst and Union 28 students by the school librarians. It’s based on the state MCBA list with some modifications.

2018 MCBA Mash Up List

https://padlet.com/lobenstineh/8p3ofmgcm3r2

This padlet was created by Heather Lobenstein, the librarian at Shutesbury Elementary School.

Happy Summer, Happy Reading,

Fran Ludington, Librarian

ludingtf@arps.org

Amherst LWV Young Readers Day on July 26

The League of Women Voters Amherst is sponsoring a "Young Readers Day" at the annual book sale this summer on which all children who come will receive one free book. The 2017 Book Sale will be held at the Fort River School on South East Street.

Here are the important dates:

June 30 - July 18: Book donations at Fort River School ONLY

July 25: Children's Day for Summer Academy students at Crocker Farm School

July 26: Young Readers Day at Fort River School

July 28-30 (Friday-Sunday), 9-4: Sale open to the public

August 4-6 (Friday-Sunday), 9-4: Sale open to the public

Click here for a printable flyer.

Summer Reading at the Jones

From the Jones Library:

As the school year draws to a close, we're getting ready to support and encourage summer reading. We'll be offering summer reading programs for all ages, so there is something for everybody!  Visit the Summer Reading page to learn more.  And keep an eye out for special fun activities at the Jones Library all summer long.

Reminder:

Summer Hours Have Begun

Just another reminder that have begun at the Jones Library.  The library will be closed on Sundays beginning June 5. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, the library will close at 8:30 pm, beginning on June 7.  Regular hours will resume in September.

Summer Reading for Rising Middle School Students

FYI: the following is a message from ARMS 
Below is the ARMS Summer Reading List for 2016.  You can also access it through this link: ARMS Summer Reading List 2016 Link   It is also available at the ARMS website at arms.arps.org
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ARMS Summer Reading List 2016
Dear families of rising 7th and 8^th grade students,

The Amherst Regional Middle School English Department and Library are excited and pleased to announce this summer’s summer reading expectations!
During the school year Independent Reading is a major and much-loved part of the English Language Arts curriculum. We believe that Independent Reading:

• Develops good, regular reading habits.
• Nurtures stamina.  Staying with a book requires concentration, something increasingly lacking in our high-tech culture.
• Is a way to pull back from the (at times) social craziness of middle school.
• Escaping into the world of a book builds empathy when you see beyond yourself and beyond the present moment (so important for our preadolescents).  
• Allows students to see that there is power for seeing oneself in literature—you are not alone.
• Builds community by sharing good reads and talking about books together.
• Helps you solve problems with exposure to characters and situations that are new and different.
• Builds vocabulary.
• Creates better readers.  Better readers make better writers, speakers, thinkers and communicators.

It seems natural to extend Independent Reading into the summertime; research shows that students’ skills can regress when they do not read over the summer.  
We, your ARMS English teachers and librarian, cannot wait to get started on our lists of summer books and encourage you to read all summer!  Bring a book to read with you wherever you go this summer: Puffer’s Pond, Mill River, downtown, camp, or on vacation.  For the reasons above, we expect all rising 7th and 8^th grade students to read at least the equivalent of 2 books over the summer.   Of course, as people who love books, we encourage students to read MORE than two books. These can be:

• 2 books or more you are interested in reading
• In place of two books, read many magazines, newspapers, stories, and poems

If you are looking for great reading suggestions, our ARMS librarian, Peter Riedel, has compiled and attached a list of excellent, current adolescent literature as well as some classic titles.
This summer reading letter and the list of book ideas with short synopses can be found on the ARMS website.  Local libraries, too, are ready to help you discover great summer reads.
In the fall, your 7th or 8th grade English teacher will be asking you about the best books you read this summer to kick off the new year’s Independent Reading. Happy reading!
Any questions? 
Contact English Curriculum Leader Heather Sullivan-Flynn at Sullivan-FlynnH@arps.org
You are free to choose any 2 books you want to fulfill Amherst Regional Middle School's summer reading expectation, but here is a list of recommended and popular titles to help you make a choice.
Award Winners for Middle School Readers from 2016
(John Newbery Medal, Michael L. Printz Award, Pura Belpre Award, Coretta Scott King Book Award, Stonewall Book Awards, Schneider Family Book Award, Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award)

• All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
• The Boy in the Black Suit, by Jason Reynolds
• The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club, by Phillip Hoose
• Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans, written and illustrated by Don Brown
• Echo, by Pam Muñoz Ryan
• Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir, by Margarita Engle
• George, by Alex Gino
• The Ghosts of Heaven, by Marcus Sedgwick
• Gone Crazy in Alabama, by Rita Williams-Garcia
• Hoodoo, by Ronald L. Smith
• Roller Girl, written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson
• Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March, by Lynda Blackmon Lowery
• The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
• X: A Novel, by Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoon

Most-Read Titles at Amherst Regional Middle School

• Cherub Series, by Robert Muchamore
• The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, by Jeff Kinney
• Divergent Series, by Veronica Roth
• I'll Give You the Sun, by Jandy Nelson
• The Iron Trial, by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
• Keep Holding On, by Susane Colasanti
• Leviathan Series by Scott Westerfeld
• Matched Series, by Ally Condie
• Maximum Ride : The Manga Series, by James Patterson and NaRae Lee
• The Maze Runner Series, by James Dashner
• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
• Morality Doctrine Series, by James Dashner
• The Ranger’s Apprentice Series by John Flanagan
• Sisters, by Raina Telgemeier
• Smile, by Raina Telgemeier
• This One Summer, by Mariko Tamaki
• Wonder, by R.J. Palacio

New and Old “Classics” for Middle School Readers

• 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
• Call of the Wild, by Jack London
• The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas
• Dune, by Frank Herbert
• Emma, by Jane Austen
• Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolien
• Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson
• Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne
• White Fang, by Jack London
• The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck

Poets and Poetry

• Maya Angelou (1928 -2014 ) Maya Angelou: Poetry for Young People, Carlson, Lori M. (editor)
• Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States
• Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) Emily Dickinson: Poetry for Young People
• Robert Frost (1874-1963) You Come Too: Favorite Poems for Young Readers
• Nikki Giovanni (1943- )Vacation Time
• J. Patrick Lewis ( 1942 - )When Thunder Comes: Poems for Civil Rights Leaders
• Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) Edgar Allan Poe: Poetry for Young People
• Joyce Sidman (1956 - ) What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms & Blessings

-------------------------------------
ARMS Lectura de Verano 2016 
Estimados familias de ascendente estudiantes de 7º y 8º grado,
El Departamento de Inglés y Biblioteca de la Escuela Intermedia Regional de Amherst-Pelham  están emocionados y contentos de anunciar las expectativas de lectura de verano de este verano!
Durante el año escolar lectura independiente es una parte importante y un amado plan de estudios de Artes del Idioma Inglés. Creemos que la lectura independiente:

▪ Desarrolla buenos hábitos de lectura, regulares.

▪ Nutre resistencia. Permanecer con un libro requiere concentración, algo que falta en nuestra cultura cada vez más alta en tecnología.

▪ Es una manera de retirarse de la (a veces) la locura social de la escuela intermedia.

▪ Escapar en el mundo de un libro genera empatía cuando se ve a sí mismo más allá y más allá del momento presente (tan importante para nuestros preadolescentes).

▪ Permite a los estudiantes ver que hay energía para verse a sí mismo en la literatura, que no están solos.

▪ Construye comunidad compartiendo buenas lecturas y hablando de libros juntos.

▪ Les ayuda a resolver problemas con la exposición a personajes y situaciones que son nuevas y diferentes.

▪ Construye vocabulario.

▪ Crea mejores lectores. Mejores lectores hacen mejores escritores, oradores, pensadores y comunicadores.

Parece natural extender lectura independiente en el verano; las investigaciones muestran que las habilidades de los estudiantes pueden remitir cuando no leen durante el verano.
Nosotros, los profesores de inglés y bibliotecario de ARMS, no podemos esperar para empezar a trabajar en nuestras listas de libros de verano y le animamos a leer todo el verano. Lleve un libro para leer con usted dondequiera que vaya este verano: charca de Puffer, Mill River, en el centro del pueblo, campamento, o de vacaciones. Por las razones anteriores, esperamos que todo ascendente estudiantes de 7o y 8º grado a leer al menos el equivalente a 2 libros durante el verano. Por supuesto, como personas que aman los libros, animamos a los estudiantes a leer más de dos libros. Estos pueden ser:

▪ 2 o más libros que usted está interesado en leer

▪ En lugar de dos libros, leer muchas revistas, periódicos, historias, y poemas

Si usted está buscando grandes propuestas de lectura, nuestro bibliotecario de ARMS, Peter Riedel, ha compilado y se adjunta una lista de excelente literatura para el adolescente actual, así como algunos títulos clásicos.
Esta carta de lectura de verano y la lista de ideas para libros con sinopsis cortas se pueden encontrar en la página web de ARMS. Las bibliotecas locales, también, están listas para ayudarle a descubrir grandes lecturas de verano.
En el otoño, el 7º u 8º grado maestro de Inglés estará haciendo preguntas acerca de los mejores libros que leyó este verano para dar inicio a la lectura independiente del nuevo año escolar. ¡Feliz lectura!
¿Alguna pregunta?
Contacte a  Heather Sullivan-Flynn, Líder del Currículo de Inglés a Sullivan-FlynnH@arps.org
Usted es libre de elegir cualquiera de los 2 libros que desea para cumplir con las expectativas de lectura de verano de Escuela Intermedia Regional de Amherst-Pelham, pero aquí hay una lista de títulos recomendados y populares para ayudarle a tomar una decisión.
Ganadores del Premio de Lectores de Intermedia del 2016
(Medalla Newbery, Premio Michael L. Printz, Premio Pura Belpre, Premio libro Coretta Scott King, Stonewall Book Award, Premio Libro de Familia Schneider, Premio Robert F. Sibert libro Informativo)

• All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
• The Boy in the Black Suit, by Jason Reynolds
• The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club, by Phillip Hoose
• Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans, written and illustrated by Don Brown
• Echo, by Pam Muñoz Ryan
• Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir, by Margarita Engle
• George, by Alex Gino
• The Ghosts of Heaven, by Marcus Sedgwick
• Gone Crazy in Alabama, by Rita Williams-Garcia
• Hoodoo, by Ronald L. Smith
• Roller Girl, written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson
• Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March, by Lynda Blackmon Lowery
• The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
• X: A Novel, by Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoon

Los títulos más leídos en la Escuela Intermedia Regional de Amherst

• Cherub Series, by Robert Muchamore
• The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, by Jeff Kinney
• Divergent Series, by Veronica Roth
• I'll Give You the Sun, by Jandy Nelson
• The Iron Trial, by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
• Keep Holding On, by Susane Colasanti
• Leviathan Series by Scott Westerfeld
• Matched Series, by Ally Condie
• Maximum Ride : The Manga Series, by James Patterson and NaRae Lee
• The Maze Runner Series, by James Dashner
• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
• Morality Doctrine Series, by James Dashner
• The Ranger’s Apprentice Series by John Flanagan
• Sisters, by Raina Telgemeier
• Smile, by Raina Telgemeier
• This One Summer, by Mariko Tamaki
• Wonder, by R.J. Palacio

Nuevos y viejos "clásicos" para los lectores de la Escuela Intermedia

• 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
• Call of the Wild, by Jack London
• The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas
• Dune, by Frank Herbert
• Emma, by Jane Austen
• Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolien
• Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson
• Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne
• White Fang, by Jack London
• The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck

Poetas y Poesía

• Maya Angelou (1928 -2014 ) Maya Angelou: Poetry for Young People, Carlson, Lori M. (editor)
• Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States
• Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) Emily Dickinson: Poetry for Young People
• Robert Frost (1874-1963) You Come Too: Favorite Poems for Young Readers
• Nikki Giovanni (1943- )Vacation Time
• J. Patrick Lewis ( 1942 - )When Thunder Comes: Poems for Civil Rights Leaders
• Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) Edgar Allan Poe: Poetry for Young People
• Joyce Sidman (1956 - ) What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms & Blessings

Summer Reading Programs

A number of Local libraries are running summer reading programs:

In Amherst, the Jones Library, Munson Memorial Library, & the North Amherst Library are each having a summer reading program.    You can learn more about the programs here: http://www.joneslibrary.org/juv/readingclub.html 

The Jones Library program starts June 27th, & participants are given the goal of reading and reporting on 5 books over the summer.   Book reports may be oral, written, or artwork.  Informal book chats will be held every Mon & Fri from 3-4 pm in the Kids Biography Room.  There are also a number of fun events associated with the reading program.  Visit the link above for details.    The Summer Reading Club Party will be held Tues, Aug 11st at 3 pm.  

The Jones Library also has a Young Adult Summer Reading Program for students in Grades 6 & up.    

The Munson Memorial Library summer reading program starts June 15th.  Participants receive a book log to record the books read over the summer.   Participants must read 10 books to receive a prize, and can earn a second prize by reading 20 or more books.  After 10 visits to the Munson Library over the summer, each club member will receive a coupon for a free ice cream cone.   The book logs should be returned by Sat, Aug 29th.  The Back-to-School Party will be held on Tues, Sept 1st, at 3 pm.   

The North Amherst Library summer reading program includes children ages 4 to 14.  Participants receive a book log to record the books read over the summer.   All reading club members and their families are invited to our Summer Reading Club celebration. The party will be on Saturday Aug 15th, 11 am, at Mill River Park.  Reading program members who read 10 books or more will receive a prize and a certificate to be awarded at the Reading Club Party.  Reading logs should be returned by August 10th.  

Other summer reading programs:
Barnes & Noble has a summer reading program where participants who read 8 books qualify for a FREE book. The details are here:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/summer-reading/379003570/ 
The program's reading log can be downloaded at this link.  Completed logs are returned to a local B&N store, and participants can then select a free book on the Reading Journal list at the store.  

The Massachusetts Teachers Assocation & Red Sox summer reading program.  http://readingmatters.org/  
** Participants pledge to read nine books over the summer, one for each position on the ballfield. 
** List the titles of the nine books on the entry form and mail it in by July 10, 2015. 
** MTA will choose 100 winners at random. Each winner will receive a pair of tickets to a Red Sox game at Fenway in September.
** Five of the 100 winners will be chosen at random to become Grand Prize Winners. Grand Prize Winners will receive four tickets each and participate in an on-field pregame ceremony at the game in September.


The Importance of Summer Reading  -- Voices from Our Schools,Amherst Media
https://archive.org/details/93261VoicesFromOurSchools061715 
 Please enjoy the latest episode of Voices From Our Schools, featuring Crocker Farm Elementary Sixth grade students, Monica Cage and Brendon Stephen, as they discuss the importance of reading and summer book selections. They were wonderful guests who offered great insights and anecdotes.