Marple Newtown Elementary Schools

Summer Reading

The Marple Newtown School District requires a Summer Reading Program throughout its four elementary schools. Summer Reading has been shown to do the following for the student:

• Encourage a love and enjoyment of books
• Provide exposure to a variety of genres
• Increase vocabulary knowledge
• Increase reading fluency
• Develop background concepts and general knowledge
• Provide models of good writing
• Provide maintenance of reading skills learned during the school year
• Provide a sense of participation in a community of readers

We are sure that you will agree that these are all valuable outcomes of Summer Reading!

Below you will find two reading lists:

The first list is a Required Summer Reading List. Please locate the grade level that your child will be entering in the fall to see the required books. One fiction book and one nonfiction book are required per grade level. There is a choice of fiction books, and they are listed in order of increasing difficulty. Please consider your child's reading ability when making your fiction selection. All students will read the same nonfiction selection. We are providing both a fiction and a nonfiction form on which your child should make notes to assist with their recall of the books. These forms should be returned during the first week of school in the fall. If your child struggles with the book, it is acceptable to read it to them or with them, but encourage their independent reading whenever possible.

The second list is a Suggested Summer Reading List put together by our district librarians to help you in choosing high quality children's literature for your child's appropriate age level. Many parents have requested additional titles so that they can keep their children reading all summer long! Special recognition will be given to readers who have completed a certain number of extra books. Just have your child complete the Special Recognition Form and return it to the school librarian within the first two weeks of school in the fall.

Both our Required Summer Reading List and Suggested Summer Reading List have been given to area bookstores and libraries so that all books are available for your purchase or for borrowing. This is a great opportunity to take your child to the local library or bookstore (and maybe get some Summer Reading for Mom and Dad, too!)

Have a safe and happy summer. Enjoy reading!

Culbertson Elementary School | Loomis Elementary School | Russell Elementary School | Worrall Elementary School