Last week, we discussed the challenge of avoiding the reading slump that strikes many kids over the summer months. We’re not the only ones thinking about this topic, and we’re excited to see how other people tackle the challenge of keeping kids learning and growing all summer long.
In that spirit, the Summer Learning Association sponsors Summer Learning Day on June 21st, facilitating events all around the country that are designed to ensure that kids continue to be safe, healthy and engaged throughout the summer. The website offers tips and resources for planning your own event and highlights plans for Summer Learning Day as diverse as a family swim, a spelling bee, a luau and a career day among others.
It’s not too late to jump on the bandwagon. Will you be hosting a summer learning event? If so, what’s on your agenda?
Summer is right around the corner calling to mind images of sprinklers, kick ball, sandals and ice cream cones. But whatever summer means to you, unfortunately it’s very rarely associated with kids burying their heads in a book. An abundance of studies show that during the summer, most elementary school children experience some sort of reading slump, especially those who are already struggling learners or those from less privileged backgrounds.
One commonly quoted statistic is that reading loss can be prevented if a child reads just six books over the summer! This seems like an eminently achievable goal so as parents, educators and policy advocates, let’s make it happen for the students we know… here’s how:
- Create recommended reading lists – At the end of the year, provide kids with lists of approximately 10-20 books so they have enough to hit that magic “six” threshold.
- Find every day reading moments – Life provides countless opportunities to read to a child during the day. Read grocery store labels, street signs, all the catalogs that come in the mail. Our favorite is to turn the volume off on the TV and watch with closed captioning once a week.
- Ask questions – Read and discuss. ‘Nuff said.
- Take advantage of summer reading programs – Public libraries often promote summer reading affiliated with local schools and offer incentives for reading, recommended lists, and just plain access to books.
- Create incentives – Even non-monetary incentives work well to encourage reading. Perhaps each book read in the target six read might equate with a day free from chores or a popsicle or special time with mom or dad. You can certainly get creative here based on what you know your child enjoys.
- Bring books wherever you go – Store a book or two in your car or purse or laptop bag to have on hand at the doctor’s office, bank, or park, so reading can happen anywhere at any time.
- Check out the Internet – There are many, many reading-related websites with games and stories that kids will love. Some examples are Starfall, PBS Kids, and Reading is Fundamental. Some of these sites even create read-a-thons to introduce healthy competition from reading.
- Plan a book swap – At the end of the year, encourage the kids in your class or in your neighborhood to get together and put one lightly-used favorite book into a grab bag and pull out a new one to be read by the end of the summer.
- Organize a book club – Choose one book to discuss with friends by summer’s end over lemonade and treats.
- Buy a journal – Writing promotes reading, so get a journal and invite your child to write down his or her summer experiences every day.
- Choose books that kids love and can read – Reading shouldn’t be an onerous task, so check out the books your kids are reading to ensure that they are choosing books at their reading level.
If you like these ideas, you can find even more recommendations in the following articles…
- Prevent Summer Reading Slump
- Summer Reading Resource for Parents
- Reading Rockets
- Summer Reading Loss
Enjoy your summer and don’t forget to share these ideas with parents and fellow educators!
