We are excited to introduce the 2023 ‘Celebrating Our Differences’ Summer Reading Program for Ken Caryl Middle School. The purpose of our ‘Celebrating Our Differences’ Summer Reading program is to utilize literature to promote acceptance and inclusion. Through reading, we aim to foster an inclusive community where students feel connected to each other and empowered to make a difference.
Our objectives of the summer reading program are as follows:
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To increase rigor and higher-level reading for all students;
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To give students a choice in what they read;
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To have students choose from reading lists with high-interest, award-winning books;
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To prevent summer reading regression by keeping our students engaged in literacy activities all summer long;
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To promote acceptance and inclusion by engaging in books centered on that theme.
Over the summer, all KCMS students are required to read one book from the ‘Celebrating Our Differences’ summer reading list. We encourage parents and guardians to read the book along with their student. Students should be prepared to discuss the book in their ELA class at the beginning of the school year.
The ‘Celebrating Our Differences’ summer reading list was generated by staff at KCMS. It is composed of award winning titles from recent years. All titles are grade level appropriate and closely align with Jeffco curriculum. We chose titles appealing to a wide range of interest levels and abilities. Students are able to choose a book not on the summer reading list if it strongly connects to the theme of ‘Celebrating Our Differences’ and is approved by parents or guardians.
We have partnered with Jeffco’s Columbine Public Library, The Tattered Cover (Aspen Grove), and Barnes and Noble (Bowles) have also ensured that these books will be available throughout the summer. Electronic versions and audio recordings of these titles are also permissible.
To view the 2023 Summer Reading List, please click here.