Summer is here and it's time to READ! Below you will find summer reading challenges, resources, reading recommendations, audio book information, and reading response activities to encourage your child to read, use technology in productive ways and enrich their summer learning experiences. Please don't hesitate to reach out for book, website, or app recommendations, assistance with passwords/access, or anything else. Email lemay@mendhamboroschools.org
Hilltop Library Website - This website is FILLED with resources, passwords to our subscription products, and more. Please "BOOKMARK" this website so your child can access it easily. The link can also be found at the top of the "classwork" section in your child's Google Classroom.
Hilltop Readers, join us on FLIPGRID this summer by sharing your summer reading experiences in three ways: Summary & Review, Act It Out, and Be A Book Critic. Click here and login with your Google account. Remember to click the "Topics Tab" in the upper right corner of Flipgrid in order to view ALL of the pages.
SUMMER READING CHALLENGES... Complete Mrs. LeMay's Reading Challenge, 5 Ws Challenge, Reading Challenge, keep a summer reading log and earn a trip to the library prize box OR try some of these summer reading challenges!
1) Barnes & Noble Summer Reading - Earn a free book by completing this journal.
2) Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge - Read - Celebrate - GIVE. For every two days in a row kids track their reading streaks, Scholastic will donate six books which will be distributed by the United Way to kids with limited or no access to books.
3) Visit the Mendham Borough Library to sign up for their challenge! Read the details from your public librarian HERE (you must be logged in to student Google account to view).
Camp Wonderopolis! Camp Wonderopolis® is the free online summer-learning destination that's full of fun, interactive STEM and literacy-building topics boosted by Maker experiments!
SUMMER READING LISTS....Check out some of these lists on my WAKELET, to help you find the perfect books for summer reading! Never tried WAKELET? It is free and easy to use -- a great tool for information curation
Books as Windows and Mirrors - In the Hilltop Library, students learn and discuss the concept of books as "windows and mirrors". In the fall we had lots of discussion about our book selections and practiced identifying and articulating how the book acted for us -- as a window, mirror, or both! The concept of children's books as "windows and mirrors" (Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop) is simple: that children's literature should contain diverse characters and experiences such that all children can find recpresentations of their own experiences and identities (mirrors), and be exposed to many experiences and identities of people unlike themselves (windows). Conversation starter - "What was the last book you read that acted like a window or mirror? Tell me why. Give me some cool examples from the story that show how the story acted this way for YOU.
ONLINE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HILLTOP STUDENTS...These online sources are available through the Mendham Borough School District subscription. Passwords were distributed on back to school night, and are available on my website.
CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE AND PRINT RESOURCES
Hilltop Subscriptions and Passwords (Brain Pop, Pebble Go, Encyclopedia Brittanica, etc)
ENRICH YOUR SUMMER READING WITH AUDIO BOOKS! At the Hilltop Library Media Center we spend time discussing the benefits of listening to audio books as a way to enrich and balance out our reading objectives. Mrs. LeMay shares her personal experiences with audio books, her favorites, and how wonderfully difficult it can be to get out of the car when you are listening to a great AUDIO BOOK! CLICK HERE for audio book resources. Click here for Mrs. LeMay's AUDIO BOOK recommendations.
PODCASTS FOR KIDS - there are so many! Click here to get an extensive list of Mrs. LeMay's favorites! (must be signed in with student Google account). There are podcasts about science, books, art, music, and more!
Listen to author Grace Lin read some of her Ting and Ling stories!
NATIONAL SUMMER LEARNING ASSOCIATION... Top 10 Easy Summer Learning Tips For Parents
Hilltop Elementary School Library Questions?? E-mail lemay@mendhamboroschools.org