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As the school year winds to a close, fun activities, friends, vacation and summer camps are on the minds of many students. Reading usually doesn't make the top of the list of summer fun. Families with school-age children may be familiar with the concept of “summer slide” - the loss of academic skills when school is not in session and attributed largely to a lack of reading during this extended time.
Concerningly, researchers estimate that by the time a struggling reader reaches middle school, summer reading loss has accumulated to a two-year lag in reading achievement.
Although the term “summer-slide” is becoming more widely recognized, there is still a considerable number of parents who are unfamiliar with “summer slide.” A statistic shared by Deimosa Webber-Bey, a Senior Librarian with Scholastic, shows that 47 percent of parents are unaware of the “summer slide” concept. She speculates that if this gap in information to parents can be addressed, then we will begin to see progress in reducing the reading gap.
So the question then becomes, how do you make reading a fun, engaging, consistent habit for your child during the summer? The Department of Education has a few suggestions to help encourage and promote reading with your child:
- Join a summer reading program at your local public library. Many public libraries offer summer reading programs and activities.
- Let your children choose books of their choice and interests.
- Graphic Novels are great options. The reading levels are usually easier than chapter books and the pictures are engaging. Many struggling readers enjoy graphic novels. While this may not always be the choice during classroom reading, summer is a great time to read these.
- Have them read with a friend. Start a small book club. They can read, talk about the book and have some snacks.
- Provide incentives. For example, if your student likes to play video games, give video game time after they do their daily reading.
- Model reading as an enjoyable activity. When students see the adults in their life reading for fun, they are more likely to as well.
- Have consistent family reading times. Make reading part of your family time together.
- You can read a series together as a family.
- Read about places you go during the summer. For example, if you go to the beach on vacation, you could find books about interesting ocean animals. You can pair a fiction and a nonfiction book together.
- Create crafts that go along with the book.
- Dress up as book characters and act it out. Put on a play at the end of the book.
There are many ways to make reading more engaging and fun, especially in the summer. Make reading a part of your child’s summer...it is far too important to “let it slide.”
Library Media Specialist Amanda Forbes shares her knowledge in literature, library media, and technology, and in supporting students in literacy and digital information skills. If you have questions, please contact Amanda at .
