The Gifted and Talented Reading and Language Arts program will challenge and enrich your child's reading and writing skills. The summer reading assignments are an integral part of this program, preparing your child for the rigorous academic standards of G.T. RLA.

Students must read two novels, one mandatory with questions (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne) and a second Reader’s Choice novel tested during the first week of school. These assignments align with the grade-level TEKS, which are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do in each subject.

Mandatory

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Reader’s Choice

The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

 If you have any questions or need clarification, please do not hesitate to email Ms. Taylor at dtaylor@lisd.org. Please note that a response may take up to two business days

All students enrolled in G.T. ELAR  and Honors ELAR are required to participate in Summer Reading assignments. The assignments are aligned with the grade-level TEKS and will prepare your child for future ELAR courses. 

Your child is required to read one novel of their choice from the list.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner----Science Fiction--(62 chapters- You will do an entry every other chapter, to where you will have 31 entries in total).

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick---Realistic Fiction (21 chapters one entry per chapter- If there are fewer than 30 chapters in a book, students will have two entries for some chapters)

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin---Mystery (30 chapters, one entry per chapter)

Annotating novels will strengthen your child’s understanding and enjoyment of books. Books may be purchased at Books-A-Million, Amazon, and Google. Longview Public Library has limited copies. Please note: if you are on a waitlist at the Longview Public Library, you are not guaranteed to receive the book before the start of school.

** Please follow the Dialectical Journal Guidelines below. **

Assignment

Students will complete a Dialectical Journal over the book. The journal must contain at least one entry per chapter or one entry every other chapter. All entries must be typed. Complete journal entries for at least one passage per chapter. If there are fewer than 30 chapters in a book, students will have two entries per chapter. 

Also, students will be given a test on their chosen book within the first week of school. The test will consist of multiple-choice and open-ended essay questions.

If you have any questions, please email Mr. Ford at jsford@lisd.org.

Over the summer, students are required to read one of the following novels: Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald or The Giver by Lois Lowry.

As part of this assignment, students should take notes while reading the novel in preparation for a final quiz scheduled for Friday of the first week of school.

Additionally, each student must complete a character analysis over two characters from their chosen novel. The character analysis should be typed using a size 12 font (Times New Roman or Verdana), double-spaced, and in paragraph form. This assignment is due on Friday, the first week of school.

If you have any questions, please email Mr. Ford at jsford@lisd.org or Ms. Haggerty at dhaggerty@lisd.org.