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:
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 .