Dear Incoming Sixth Grade Families,

We wanted to let you know about the summer reading requirements for students entering sixth grade at BB&N. All incoming sixth graders should read the Young Reader’s Edition of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba (ISBN: 978-0803740808). Students should be ready to explore the plot and analyze the story when they return in September. They do not need to take notes, but please have them bring the book to school with them the first week back.

Our hope is that parents will read either the Young Reader’s Edition or the New York Times Bestseller Edition along with their child. There is also a picture book version of the story for students who have siblings in younger grades. The opportunity to have communal discussions around one book is invaluable, and we hope that all members of your family will find a way to participate and engage in this activity. 

William Kamkwamba’s story of grit, creativity, and thirst for knowledge is an important lesson for both adults and children to take in. Kamkwamba’s abilities to recognize a problem and pursue a solution are skills that we ask of our students to practice every day. As teachers, we feel that this memoir directly connects to many service learning projects the sixth graders will engage in throughout the year, and Kamkwamba’s memoir exposes us all to what education means beyond the traditional sense of the word.

As always, the more students read over the summer, the more prepared they will be for sixth grade. We encourage them to take a book with them wherever they go. In addition, a great way to keep up with writing skills is to journal about summer adventures.

We hope you all have a relaxing and safe summer, and we look forward to getting to know all of you soon.

Sincerely,