Summer Learning Program

At Long Trail School, we believe that learning takes place everyday in our lives.  During the summer, we are not as programmed as we are during the school year and have more flexible time to spend reading, brushing up on some skills, or reviewing some foundational information for a class.  We want our students to stay connected to the classroom but in a more informal, relaxed way.  The assignments listed below represent our 2024 Summer Learning program. To find your assignments, look at the grade you will be entering in the fall.

Read at least one book from your grade list below. When school starts, you will be sharing information about your reading choice with your classmates. Here are some suggestions on what information you should bring with you when the 2024-25 school year starts:

1. Title
2. Author
3. BRIEF summary (bullet points are fine – be sure to record the basic facts so you can share!)
4. Favorite character (and why)
5. Favorite quote and what it means to you
6. Recommendation (would you recommend your choice to a friend?)

Additional Assessments: Discussions and Activities

6th Grade Book List

• Count Me In. Varsha Bajaj.
• Prisoner B-3807. Alan Gratz.
• Ali Cross. James Patterson.
• 96 Miles. J.L. Esplin.
• Wishtree. Katherine Applegate.

7th Grade Book List

• Black Brother, Black Brother. Jewel Parker Rhodes
• Fever. Laurie Halse Anderson.
• Refugee. Alan Gratz.
• The Downstairs Girl. Stacy Lee.
• Asha & the Spirit Bird. Jasbinder Bilan.

Choose one book from the lists below and be ready to share your thoughts about this book with your classmates. When school starts, assessment will include discussions, notes and 1-2 page Analytic Essay on Theme (rubric). 

8th Grade Book List

• • Piecing Me Together. Renee Watson.
  • Six of Crows. Leigh Bardugo.
  • Chains. Laurie Halse Anderson.
  • The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks. E. Lockhart.
  • Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and The Carlisle Indian Football Team. Steve Sheinkin.

9th Grade Book List

• Dreamland (YA Edition): The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic. Sam Quinones.
• Grand Theft Horse. Greg Neri.
• The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets. Gayle E. Pitman.
• Dry. Neal Shusterman.
• In the Key of Nira Ghani. Natasha Deen.
• The Justice Project. Michael Betcherman.
• Two Can Keep a Secret. Karen McManus.

Choose one book from the lists below and be ready to share your thoughts about this book with your classmates. When school starts, assessment will include discussions, notes and 2-3 page Analytic Essay on Character Development (rubric). 

• Brown Girl Dreaming. Jacqueline Woodson

When school starts, assessment will include discussions, notes and 2-3 page Analytic Essay on Imagery  (rubric) . 

• Pick any book of poetry by Mary Oliver (there are over 30) and read it. You will be writing a summative analysis of the book in your first class in the fall. Additionally, please have two poems chosen/take notes for discussion in class.

Choose one book from the lists below and be ready to share your thoughts about this book with your classmates. When school starts, assessment will include discussions, notes and 2-3 page Analytic Essay on Context/Author Background (Paper 1 rubric).

• The Cemetery of Untold Stories. Julia Alvarez.