Ensworth is a kindergarten through twelfth grade, coeducational independent school. The School promotes academic excellence and inspires students to be intellectually curious, to use their talents to the fullest, to be people of integrity, and to be contributors to society.
WE ENVISION A SCHOOL COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO FOLLOWING THE HIGHEST PRINCIPLES WITH THE GREATEST LOVE, AS CHARACTERIZED BY MORAL INTEGRITY, INTELLECTUAL VITALITY, DISCIPLINE, COMPASSION, HUMOR AND JOY.
Dear Middle School Students and Families,
I hope this letter finds you well and eagerly planning for a fun and enriching summer! This summer assignment packet is designed to help you stay academically engaged, build your confidence, and keep your skills fresh over the summer so you feel prepared for the year ahead. Below you will find the details of the English and Math assignments, along with the contact information for the English and Math Department Chairs.
For English this year, each grade level has a different required reading novel:
• Grade 6 - You Are Here edited by Ellen Oh
• Grade 7 - Flying Lessons & Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh
• Grade 8 - Westfallen by Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares
By engaging with the required reading and exploring additional grade-level books, we aim to foster a love of reading and critical thinking in our students. We believe that the summer work activities will not only prepare them for the upcoming school year but also provide valuable lessons and insights.
All summer assignments must be completed before the first day of school on Tuesday, August 18. Ensworth will provide students with a copy of each required reading novel. Please ensure that your child has access to additional books over the summer. If you need assistance obtaining these books or if you have any questions about the assignments, please contact Middle School English Department Chair Whitney Ruf (rufw@ensworth.com).
To help students begin the year feeling prepared for math, all Middle School students will complete a summer math assignment using an IXL Math workbook that will be provided to each student. The selected topics are intentional and designed to review important grade-level skills that will promote success for the upcoming year. If you need assistance or if you have any questions about the assignments, please contact Middle School Math Department Chair EmmaJulia Jones-Siegel (jones-siegele@ensworth.com).
We look forward to hearing about your summer adventures and seeing the thoughtful work that our students will produce over the summer. We hope you have a wonderful summer filled with discovery and joy!
Warm regards,
Dr. Doug Magee Head of Middle School
Reading
READING ASSIGNMENTS
1. Read the required book provided by Ensworth, Westfallen by Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares.
2. Read a minimum of three books that are new to you. A list of suggested books for Grade 8 students is provided in this packet and on Tigernet.
3. Record your reading on the chart included in this packet.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
Assignment #1: Literary Harkness Discussion
• You have two questions to consider as you read the novel. You will use the included organizer to collect evidence and prepare for a formal Harkness discussion and in-class writing.
• Complete the organizer using quotations from the book and explanations of the quotations.
• Explanations should be in complete sentences.
• Your teachers recommend that you complete this assignment in late July or early August so the story is fresh in your mind when you begin school.
Assignment #2: Letter to Your Advisor
Formatting guidelines:
• Include your first and last name and rising grade on each assignment.
• Type your assignments double-spaced using 11-point or 12-point, academic font (Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri).
• Your letter should be about one page in length.
ADDITIONAL PRACTICE
COMMONLIT READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS PRACTICE
Students who would like extra practice on specific reading skills should follow the directions below to join an online classroom. In the classroom, they will find a collection of targeted lessons and additional articles, stories, and poems to practice reading comprehension skills.
To join the CommonLit classroom:
• Go to commonlit.org
• Click on “Sign Up” in the upper right corner.
• Select “I’m a student.”
• Enter the class code: PFYN5L72
• Finish creating your account with your school email address (if you have one) or
Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown
Candace Fleming
NONFICTION
NONFICTION
Book List
SUGGESTED READING LIST
The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II
Candace Fleming
NONFICTION
Soundtrack
REALISTIC FICTION
Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws that Affect Us Today
Cynthia Levinson & Sanford Levinson
NONFICTION
Bye Forever, I Guess
REALISTIC FICTION
Boundless
Chaunte Lowe
Jason Reynolds
Jodi Meadows
The Steps
Wendelin Van Draanen
MYSTERY / THRILLER
Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer
Paige
Classey
MYSTERY / THRILLER
The Teacher of Nomad Land
Daniel Nayeri
HISTORICAL FICTION
After My Brother Sam
James Lincoln Collier
HISTORICAL FICTION
Anya’s Ghost
Vera Brosgol
FANTASY / SCIENCE FICTION
Max in the Land of Lies
Adam Gidwitz
ACTION / ADVENTURE
denotes visiting author
ASSIGNMENT #1: LITERARY HARKNESS DISCUSSION
Use the space below to prepare for the class discussion about Westfallen
Include the direct quotation* with the page number where you found your evidence. Then, explain how the evidence supports your idea. In your book, annotate the piece of evidence (underline, highlight, put a star or a note in the margin, etc.) so that you can point your classmates to the exact place on the page you are using as evidence.
Discussion Question: In chapter 29, Henry explains that being in the shed “brought the memories back. And the memories hurt. We needed to hold on to them, but it was easier to get through the day without them.” What does the novel suggest about the role of memory in shaping a person’s identity? Should people hold on to painful memories, or let them go?
* A direct quotation does not mean “dialogue,” i.e., characters speaking to each other. A direct quote means that you are writing down the exact words from the book.
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #1
EXPLANATION #1
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #2
EXPLANATION #2
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #3 PAGE #
EXPLANATION #3
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #4
PAGE #
EXPLANATION #4
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #5
PAGE #
EXPLANATION #5
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #6
PAGE #
EXPLANATION #6
LITERARY DISCUSSION CONTINUED
Discussion Question: Toward the end of the story, Alice thinks, “…where did the right version of history go when the wrong one took over? And then I started wondering was there really a right and wrong version? What did that even mean?” (Chapter 36) What does the novel suggest about whether there is a “right” and “wrong” version of history? How do perspective and power shape what people believe is true?
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #1
EXPLANATION #1
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #2 PAGE #
EXPLANATION #2
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #3 PAGE #
EXPLANATION #3
PAGE #
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #4 PAGE #
EXPLANATION #4
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #5
PAGE #
EXPLANATION #5
QUOTE / EVIDENCE #6
PAGE #
EXPLANATION #6
ASSIGNMENT #2: LETTER TO YOUR ADVISOR
In early August, write a letter to your advisor introducing yourself.
1. GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
Start by brainstorming about the topics provided in the table below. You may add additional topics.
TOPIC MY THOUGHTS USING SPECIFIC DETAILS
Three adjectives that describe me
In my free time, I like to...
Recent adventures, travel, or highlights from summer
My family, home, pets
Things I enjoy: music, books, movies, teams, animals, etc.
My “thing” - what I love to do
A little known fact about me that I’d like you to know
My notes about school
I enjoy __ most days at school
Some challenges I face at school
Strategies I use to overcome these challenges
How teachers can help me
I’m proud of...
I’m trying to get better at…
2. ADDITIONAL IDEAS FOR MY LETTER:
3. FINAL DRAFT:
• Reread your brainstormed notes and break them into two paragraphs:
Describe yourself and your life outside of school.
Describe yourself as a student at school.
• On your organizer, number your ideas in the order you wish to write about the topics.
• Type your letter using letter format: heading, greeting, body, closing, and signature.
• This letter will be read by your advisor and possibly shared with all of your teachers.
• Your letter must be printed BEFORE the first day of school.
Dear Rising Grade 8 Students and Families,
Math
We are excited to welcome you to Algebra 1 this fall! This is an important milestone in your Middle School journey as you enter your final year of Middle School and begin preparing for High School. We look forward to supporting you as you take on new challenges and continue growing as mathematicians.
To help you begin the year feeling confident and prepared, all incoming Grade 8 students are asked to complete a summer math assignment using the IXL Grade 7 Math workbook. The selected topics have been carefully chosen to review essential Grade 7 skills and ensure you have a strong foundation for success in Algebra 1 and future High School math courses. All assigned pages must be completed before the first day of school on Tuesday, August 18. Students will turn in their completed workbooks at the beginning of class. Below, you will find additional details about the suggested summer plan and the summer work assessment.
THE SUGGESTED PLAN
While students may complete the summer work at their own pace, we strongly encourage them to approach this work with care and consistency over the summer. This looks like:
• Spacing the work out over several weeks
• Showing their work/thinking when possible
• Checking their answers using the provided answer key in the back of the book after attempting each topic
These are all great habits that will support learning and build confidence.
SUMMER WORK ASSESSMENT
On Monday, August 24 or Tuesday, August 25 (depending on your schedule), students will take a test based on the summer work to help us better understand their readiness and support their learning moving forward. This assessment will include two questions from each topic directly connected to the workbook topics.
This will count as the first test grade for the semester and will be completed without a calculator. The test will consist of the following structure which allows students to demonstrate both their effort over the summer and their understanding of the material as they begin the school year.
Sincerely,
The Ensworth Middle School Math Department SUGGESTED MATH SUMMER PLAN
Follow the suggested plan to help you stay on track with your summer math work. The pages listed are required and must be completed before the first day of school. These problems focus on important skills you will need for success in your upcoming math course. After you finish a section, check your answers using the answer key in the back of your workbook to help you review your work and correct any mistakes.
You may complete the required pages at your own pace over the summer. If you would like extra practice or to challenge yourself, you can also work on additional pages in your workbook (completely optional). Take your time, show your work (when you can) and do your best on each problem.
For each topic, you will reflect on your understanding using the scale on the following page:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
I need help. I needed support from another person to complete this topic.
I’m getting there. I used notes, examples, or other resources to help me complete this topic.
I’ve got it. I was able to complete this topic on my own without help or extra resources.
I can teach it. I understand this topic so well that I could explain it or teach it to someone else.
