Ms. Pretz’ Recommended Reading Lists
(Click on the hyperlink above to access recommended reading lists.)
Summer Reading 2021
Category Archives: Summer Reading
Summer Reading – 2021
All it takes is a stack of great books and a commitment to read every day!
To support our students with their summer reading goals, the ASIJ Elementary Library allows returning students to check out books during summer vacation. If your child is interested in participating in summer check out, please complete the summer checkout parent permission form below.
Click on link: Summer Checkout Parent Permission Form
- This form is required for returning students to check out books.
- This year, homerooms will have a specified time for students to check out their summer reading books.
- Students will be limited to 10 print books.
- All books are due on student orientation day in August.
Ms. Pretz’ Recommended Reading Lists
(Click on the hyperlink above to access Ms. Pretz’ recommended reading lists.)
(collated by Ms. Pretz – ASIJ ES Teacher-Librarian)
SORA App How To Access Tutorial and How to Navigate SORA Tutorial
Step 1: On your iPad install the SORA app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. On your laptop point your browser to soraapp.com.
Step 2: On SORA find The American School in Japan (tap).
Step 3: Then sign-in using your ASIJ Student Gmail login.
All ASIJ Student Gmail logins start with the students’ graduation year followed by last name and first initial. Example: 27jonesm@asijac.jp
All ASIJ Parents should log in using “The Gate” username and password is the number on the back of your ASIJ ID card.
Step 3: Tap the Explore tab (binoculars icon).
Step 4: Tap Open Book or Open Audiobook to read or listen to the book. Tap Options to renew or return the book.
Step 5: Go to the SORA bookshelf icon and click on OPTIONS to return a book early or to renew a book.
Please email tpretz@asij.ac.jp or help@asij.ac.jp for assistance using this app.
SORA SUMMER READS – WHAT’S NEW IN July?
SORA Summer Reads – What’s NEW in June?
If You Like…Tearjerkers & Books with Heart
As a result of several students requesting sad books, tearjerkers and books with heart, I have created this list of recommendations. Although I do not regularly seek out “tear-jerkers” or sad books, it came as a surprise to me as I was making this list that I had read most of the books on this list at some point in time in my life.
Then I began to dig a little deeper. Many of the books on this list will tug at your heartstrings. They are books with characters you will remember long after you have finished the book. Quite a few books on this list have won top literary awards in children’s literature.
Summer Check Out 2020
Summer Checkout Procedures: click here
The Google Form must be completed for each student no later than May 31st to allow time for the librarians to prepare for book pick-up beginning June 8th. Note: The maximum number of books per child is 10 books this year.
Not sure what to check out?
You must be logged into Destiny Catalog for these links to work.
Log in using your ASIJ Gmail username & password.
20 Minutes A Day, Goes A Long Way
Summer slide goes away!
Tips for Parents
Set aside 20 minutes every day for reading.
Share your enjoyment of books with your child.
Read the same book with your child and discuss it.
Continue to read aloud to your child, even after they read independently.
Encourage your child to choose a book to read aloud to someone else.
Broaden your child’s horizons by helping to select from a wide range of subjects & genres.
Encourage your child to read whatever they enjoy, even if it appears to be too easy or too hard.
If your child is multilingual, have your child practice reading in all their languages.
21 Questions to Ask Your Child about a Book
Interesting Articles about Reading
- 6 Tips for When Kids Refuse to do Their Summer Reading
- Summer Reading Tips for Parents
- Summer Reading Loss (includes advice for parents)
- Audiobooks or Reading? To Our Brains, It Doesn’t Matter
- Reading On Screen vs. Reading in Print: What’s the Difference for Learning
2020 Summer Reading Challenges and more
If you were unable to participate in one of the reading challenges during Distance Learning or want to participate in a challenge again, feel free to give it a go during summer vacation.
(Click on the link above for directions & more inspiration,)
Send your photos to tpretz@asij.ac.jp or send it to Ms. Pretz in Google Hangouts
Photos will be on display in the Elementary Library.
(Click on the link above for inspiration.)
Send your photos to tpretz@asij.ac.jp or send it to Ms. Pretz in Google Hangouts.
Photos will be displayed in the Elementary Library during Children’s Book Week in November.
(Click on the link to access the Goggle Form.)
Which grade level will check off the most boxes?
Return to the Google Form throughout the summer & check off as many boxes as you can!
1,000 Minute Reading Challenge
20 Minutes A Day, Goes a Long Way
Share with Ms. Pretz when we return to school in August.
(Print or download image below.)
Share with Ms. Pretz when we return to school in August.
(Print or download image below.)
How many different genres will you read this summer?
Share with Ms. Pretz when we return to school in August.
(Print or download image below.)
Maker Challenges
- Make A Difference Challenges – What can you design for others during the coronavirus pandemic?
- Makerspace Challenges with Mrs. Notter & Mrs. Davidson
Share with Ms. Pretz when we return to school in August.
Summer Checkout Success!
The bookshelves are looking mighty bare in the ASIJ Elementary Library. After three days of patrons visiting the library to checkout books for summer reading, the checkout statistics are phenomenal this year. Without bribes, prizes or golden stickers, over 2x as many books were checked out this summer than last summer.
Total Summer Checkouts 2015 3,944 books
Total Summer Checkouts 2014 1,806 books
My goal this year was to support and encourage independent reading and wild readers. I do not think I could have ended my first year as the ASIJ Elementary Librarian on a happier note.
Summer Reading “Returns”
Congratulations ASIJ Elementary Students!
These stacks are proof that students continued to work on their reading volume and stamina over the summer.
Is it lunch time yet?
Your Library Staff: Ms. Fields, Ms. Pretz and Ms. Ladd
ASIJ ES LIBRARY 