Daniel Hand High School

Students in all grades are expected and encouraged to read over the summer.   Each English course has a list of suggested titles to help guide readers to make meaningful selections.   While there is no required reading list, consistent with English classroom expectations, students are expected to continue to work toward their personal reading goals and academic reading goal of two hours of reading per week.  As a result of that time reading, a minimum of four titles should be completed by the start of school.  Students in AP and/or certain Honors classes have specific requirements, see the Honors & AP Requirements page.

What the Research Says:

Two hours of reading per week is college-ready. Volume and time spent reading is the most effective way to improve reading rate. When it comes to comprehension, students should choose books of high interest and within or just outside their comfort level. The practice of reading longer form texts is essential to navigating complex ideas and developing critical thinking skills with which to interact with these complex ideas.

How it Looks in Class:

All students have been choosing books for independent reading in class; teachers have worked diligently to get students to become aware of their identities as readers and develop a “reading life.”  Teachers have conferred with individual students on a regular basis, encouraging and guiding them toward that one book—the one that makes a reader for life. Please continue this conversation at home and find out what your child has been reading all year and what you might want to read beside them!

The Madison Public Schools maintains an extensive ebook and audiobook collection through Sora which students can access using their Student ID number.   The Scranton Library should also be viewed as a resource and provides several digital library collections available to Madison residents. 

Each student is expected to enter their reading into a Summer Reading Google Form upon returning to school.

Enjoy your summer! We cannot wait to hear all about the books you selected to read.