Welcome!

Summer is a time for you to be able to do many things that you are not able to do during the school year. It is the hope of the English Department and the rest of the faculty at Cleveland that this will include making some time to read for pleasure throughout the summer. Numerous studies have shown that students who read regularly throughout the summer months are better prepared for academic work when they return in the fall and are able to hold on to more of the learning they acquired during the school year. To encourage you to read this summer, we will be asking you to do the following:

In the spring before you leave, make a list of books that you might have an interest in reading over the summer. Lists of books are available that have been suggested by your classmates, your teachers, counselors, and other other adults in the building, as well as books that are commonly taught at each grade level. None of the books on the list is mandatory, though the provided lists will identify some of the texts you will study in your English classes, in case you want to get a head start on your reading. Be sure to choose what interests you.

During the summer, read your book or books. In addition, try to read a newspaper, a magazine, or a favorite blog regularly. You are not required to keep a journal or to complete an assignment for your reading, but you might want to consider jotting down a few notes or a brief summary to help you remember what you read. Most important, read what you want, and try to read as much and as often as possible.

When you return in the fall, your English teacher will ask you to reflect on your summer reading at some point in the first two weeks of school in a number of possible ways, including a group discussion, a journal entry, a written response, and so on. This in-class activity will vary depending upon teacher and grade level, but in all classes it will provide an opportunity for your teacher to learn a bit about your reading interests and level.