Reading:
In order for students to practice and maintain reading skills, we are asking that EVERY child
entering Grades 1-8 read at least 80 minutes a week, throughout the summer, and incoming 1-5 grade
students log that time using the SMA Sycamore site:

Log-in information has not changed for current students. If you need log-in information please email
Amanda Stewart, amanda.stewart@saintmaryacademy.com.

As part of this reading requirement, all students entering Grades 3-8 are required to read assigned
book/s. See list below. In addition, students entering grades 1-5 are required to read a second nonfiction
book of their choice.

These books will be used in engaging reading and back-to-school activities the first week of school.
Students might choose to keep a reading journal to help them remember key points—a great way to
practice writing skills also!

The assigned books, by grade level, are:
• Incoming First Graders:
o Read books of your choice: one fiction, one nonfiction, please bring books to class the first
week of school.

• Incoming Second Graders:
o Read books of your choice: one fiction, one nonfiction, please bring books to class the first
week of school.

• Incoming Third Graders:
o The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Catling, and one nonfiction book of choice, please bring
books to class the first week of school.

• Incoming Fourth Graders:
o The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes, and one nonfiction book of choice, please bring
books to class the first week of school.

• Incoming Fifth Graders:
o Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper, and one nonfiction book of choice, please bring books
to class the first week of school.

• Incoming Sixth Graders:
o Counting by 7’s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan, required
o Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, by James L. Swanson

• Incoming Seventh Graders:
o All students must read: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by: Dusti Bowling
o Boys must read: A Long Way Gone : Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by: Ishmael Beah
o Girls must read: The Distance Between Us ( Young Readers Edition) A Memoir,
by: Reyna Grande

• Eighth Graders:
o The Red Kayak, by Pricilla Cummings, required
o I Will Always Write Back, by Caitlyn Alifirenka, required

Math:
In addition to reading, we want to emphasize reviewing math concepts and math facts during the summer.
This year, we will be sending a log home for math. We expect K-2 to practice math facts for 30 minutes
each week, and 3-5 to practice for 20 minutes a week. Below you will find some resources and
websites for practice. We have noticed that are students are getting a little rusty with math facts. These
facts are key as students move to more complex math skills.
abcya.com

The app – Mathematical Run

Games can be played with flashcards, a deck of cards with two cards pulled, or two dice
High/Low – flashcards are shuffled and placed face down, the first card is flipped over and the player tells
the sum/difference/product. Before flipping over the next card, the player predicts whether the sum will be
higher or lower than the sum on the previous card. If correct, the player continues on to the next facedown
card, predicting whether the answer will be higher or lower than the sum before. The goal is to successfully
predict all the cards. If the player’s prediction is incorrect, all the cards are picked up, shuffled, and the
game starts over.

Ladders
Draw 6 vertical boxes. Students turn over a flashcard and have to put the answer on the “ladder”. The
answers must be recorded in order from least (bottom) to greatest (top). If the child draws a card and does not have a place to put the answer on the ladder, he loses his turn. The first player to complete his ladder
wins.

Who has more?
This is a game like war where each player turns over a fact, gives the answer, and the highest wins both
facts.
Concentration
Each player turns over two facts and attempts to match related facts

Simple Solutions allow valuable spiral review. In addition to fact work, students in 3-5 will continue
working with the Simple Solutions work from the school year. (They will bring home the unfinished
books). We are going to ask them to complete 3 pages a week and log this work. Finally, we are
requiring our middle school students to purchase the Summer Solutions for our upcoming 7th and 8th
grade students. These students will log their work as well. To hold students accountable, students will be
required to turn in the math log and their Simple Solutions/Summer Solutions at the beginning of next year.
The Summer Solutions does provide the answers in the back of the book. It is good for the students to
check their work. We will expect students to show their work when solving problems.
Here is the link to order the Simple Solutions books for incoming 7th and 8th grade.
www.SummerSolutions.net
School Code: H40059MAR
Incoming 7th will need Intermediate B
Incoming 8th will need Pre-Algebra

Your child will come home with a math log. However, if he/she loses it, you can print one here.