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Summer Reading, Math, and Other Preparation


How do I find out what summer reading books I should be reading?

In late May, you will find the MS Summer Reading Lists here. Each grade level requires students to read books and complete assignments over the summer. Students should also keep a reading log of all their reading.

Are there other things that my student can do to prepare herself for her humanities classes at Bryn Mawr?
Don’t worry. We will meet her where she is. Students come from other schools with a range of mastery, and our teachers are prepared for that.

The best thing she can do is read and try to think critically as she reads: What message is the author trying to convey? What techniques is he/she using to convey it? What is motivating the characters' decisions/beliefs/actions?

If your student is interested in reading any of the books that her grade read at Bryn Mawr this school year, please see the books listed below:

5th graders (rising 6th graders) should be able to read Y and Z Lexile level books (Scholastic.org). They read the following books this year:
  • I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day
  • Jennifer Chan is Not Alone by Tae Keller
  • The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz
  • The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
  • Stella By Starlight by Sharon M. Draper
  • The Giver by Lois Lowry

6th graders (rising 7th graders) read the following books this year:
  • Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
  • More to the Story by Hena Khan
  • World Without Fish by Mark Kurlansky 
  • A dystopian book of students' choice (Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, or Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury) 

7th graders (rising 8th graders) read the following books this year:
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
  • March (Book Three) by John Lewis
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  • Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
  • One (or all) of the student choice books: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak,They Called us Enemy by George Takei

8th graders (rising 9th graders) read the following books this year:
  • The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
  • Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  • The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson
  • Romeo & Juliet by Shakespeare
  • Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

How should students prepare for their math classes at Bryn Mawr?
Summer math work is not required, but it is encouraged in order to keep skills fresh. Having a strong number sense is key as students move into math courses that become more abstract and incorporate more algebraic application. Sites like Khan Academy (free: www.khanacademy.org), IXL (some free practice: www.ixl.com), and Quizizz (free: https://quizizz.com/) are great to use at home. Virtual Nerd (www.virtualnerd.com) is a site containing how-to videos if students need a reminder on how to work through a particular concept. As another option, students can revisit math work done throughout the previous school year; retrying previous assessments or assignments is a great way to do this. Interested in challenge problems? Mathcounts offers access to challenging problems complete with solutions (free: https://www.mathcounts.org/resources/past-competitions).

Below are recommended summer workbooks which can be purchased through Amazon or other textbook sites. These workbooks may cover additional material, so pick and choose the topics that are right for your student to review. Use a workbook’s ISBN number to find it online. These are not the only options for summer work. Families should find materials that work best for their child.
We recommend that all students, regardless of level or performance this past school year, spend about 15-20 mins per day, three to four times per week, on math practice within the websites above and/or in the workbook below.

  • Entering 6th Grade Math Connects
      • Spectrum Math Grade 5
      • ISBN-13: 978-1-4838-0873-4

  • Entering 6th Grade Pre-Algebra
      • Spectrum Math Grade 6
      • ISBN-13: 987-1-4838-0874-1

  • Entering 7th Grade Pre-Algebra
      • Spectrum Math Grade 6
      • ISBN-13: 987-1-4838-0874-1

  • Entering 7th Grade Algebra 1
      • Spectrum Math Grade 7
      • ISBN-13: 978-1-4838-0875-8
      • Pre-Algebra Parent and Student Study Guide Workbook - not for sale
      • ISBN-10: 0-07-827786-8
        • Link to access the free, online PDF of this workbook

  • Entering 8th Grade Algebra 1
      • Spectrum Math Grade 7
      • ISBN-13: 978-1-4838-0875-8
      • Pre-Algebra Parent and Student Study Guide Workbook - not for sale
      • ISBN-10: 0-07-827786-8
        • Link to access the free, online PDF of this workbook

  • Entering 8th grade Geometry
    • Mastering Essential Math Skills Book 2 by Richard W Fisher
    • ISBN-13: 978-0982190111

  • What about any summer classes?
    Bryn Mawr offers math and English enrichment classes for students. Click here for all of our offerings.
 
Updated 7/2024
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