SUMMER READING REQUIREMENT 2024-2025

SUMMER READING REQUIREMENT

2024-2025

Every student entering Julia Landon is required to complete the summer reading and corresponding

assignment. This is due on the first day of school.

All students are required to read the summer reading.

Make sure you read the choice for your grade level for the 2024-2025 year.

There is an assignment for this book.

The Mind Map Assignment MUST be on an 8.5 x 11 paper (regular printer paper or

construction paper).

GRADE

Required

Reading

Fish in a Tree

Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Refugee

Alan Gratz

I Will Always Write Back: How

One Letter Changed Two Lives

Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin

Ganda, and Liz Welch

If you are looking for additional books to read, we recommend reviewing the suggested books for grades

6-8 on this reading list, at your own parental discretion:

https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-middle-school-children/

We love supporting local businesses! The San Marco Bookstore will have all your summer reading needs!

• In store or curbside pick-up!

• Visit www.sanmarcobooksandmore.com. Our books will be listed on the LANDON page under SCHOOL

READING LISTS. Direct link: https://www.sanmarcobooksandmore.com/landon-college-preparatory-

book-list

• The San Marco Bookstore will donate 10% of all sales back to our school to be used at our discretion. ALL

sales with a reference to LANDON will go toward the donation. This is the case no matter what books are

purchased and no matter when they are purchased throughout the year.

Assignment (ALL GRADE LEVELS MUST COMPLETE THIS TASK):

Follow the directions below to create a mind map for your required reading book. You may create the mind map on a blank

piece of paper, or on the computer, whichever you desire, but it must be on 8.5 x 11 paper (regular copy paper).

MIND MAP

A Mind Map is another way of “making notes” on a subject or a book, and it includes words, pictures, colors, and lines.

1. Write the title of the book you have read in the center of the page, and draw a circle around it. Think of this as your

central subject.

2. As you think of major or important facts or events, draw lines out from this circle. Label these lines with a phrase or

sentence or drawing. Think of these lines as your major headings.

3. As you think deeper about the book and uncover more details, themes, etc. which belong to the major event lines you

have already created, draw these smaller events/details as lines linked to the major event lines. The smaller

events/details are your subheadings.

4. Finally, for individual facts or ideas, draw lines out from the appropriate subheading line and label them.

5. As you think about the book and look over your map, new information may come to mind; link it to the Mind Map

appropriately.

NOTE: A complete Mind Map may have main topic lines radiating in all directions from the center. Sub-topics and facts will

branch off these, like branches and twigs from the trunk of a tree. You do not need to worry about the structure produced, as

this will evolve as you develop your mind map.

KEYS TO A GREAT MIND MAP:

• Use single words or simple phrases for information: In your Mind Map, single strong words and meaningful phrases can

convey the meaning more clearly than full sentences. Excess words just clutter the Mind Map.

• Print rather than write in cursive.

• Use color to separate different ideas: This will help you to separate ideas where necessary. It also makes your Mind

Map easier to remember. Color also helps to show the organization of the subject.

• Use symbols and images: Where a symbol or picture means something to you, use it. Pictures can help you to

remember information more effectively than words.

• Using cross-linkages: Information in one part of the Mind Map may relate to another part. Here you can draw lines to

show the cross-linkages. This helps you to see how one part of the subject connects with another.

Please go to the following website to view a sample mind map. This website is the source of this compiled information and

can provide additional information, as well: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htm