4 Easy Ways to Foster Reading During the Summer
Summer learning loss is always a concern for parents and teachers. This is a legitimate concern because many students take a break that may influence what experts call summer learning loss or slide. However, there are several ways to prepare for summer reading in 2023.
Some educators will say that a student will benefit from immersing in some reading activities during the summer months. There are several literacy skills that kids can continue to work on even when they are not in school. Reading is one of the most important reading skills that every child should practice.
Families can support this by creating a positive learning environment that encourages kids to continue learning during summer. This may provide appropriate educational materials such as a learning space, books, and access to local public libraries. Some families send their children to summer programs to support their child’s literacy skills. What matters is having a plan in place that contributes to your child’s academic journey in the long run.
Parents also choose book clubs and paid reading programs to provide their kids a summer reading experience. Our parents’ role can negatively or positively influence summer reading loss. Although there are many things we can do as parents to engage in reading activities – this post focuses on 4 easy ways that foster reading during the summer months.
Discuss Favorite Book Topics / Themes
Raising lifelong readers is not always an easy thing to do for all families. Some kids see reading as a task, not an activity they enjoy. One way to foster reading is to ensure your child recognizes their favorite topic to read about. Discuss your child’s interest to narrow down what they like.
Some kids like fiction, and others prefer non-fiction books. Fiction books are created from imagination and include make-believe topics such as Disney characters or stories. Non-fiction focuses on facts such as history and biographies. Part of your discussion should include figuring out if your child prefers reading online or reading books in print.
If a child has a passion for animals, then he/she may be interested in reading nonfiction books about animals. If Disney characters attract him/her, he/she will most likely enjoy reading a fiction book about a Disney character story. Some kids like mystery books, comic books, or graphic novels. Consider providing books in different languages to foster reading in multiple languages.
10 Spanish Book Websites to Support Reading at Home
Gather Favorite Books
Next, you can provide appropriate grade-level books you know your child will be interested in. Once you discuss your child’s interests, you must find and provide the books he/she prefers to read. There are several ways to ensure that kids can access books at all times.
This may include visiting a local public library to borrow some books. Public libraries are excellent resources for books and movie access using a free library card. There are a variety of online resources that provide access to books.
If you can purchase some books, you may want to consider a thrift store (they often have cheap books), a local book store, or an online store such as Amazon. Just make sure to purchase books they have selected themselves, or try to purchase the topics you now know they would like.
See a collection of favorite Spanish books for kids
And a list of the Top Teenager Books
Plan a Reading Routine
Because some kids are reluctant readers, parents must make them accountable for their learning. This may not always be an easy task, but persistence will ensure that they see the importance of reading and how reading influences academic performance. Reading also influences a child’s critical thinking.
Discuss a reading routine that they would agree to do regularly. This may include maintaining a reading log and a list of self-selected books. You can start by asking them to list books they want to read. A summer reading list will give the child a reference point as they go through books. If your child is too young to make a list, this is a great opportunity for you to list yourself with some input.
A reading routine should include specific days they would read and time reading. Summer plans should be part of what the routine would be like. If your child is attending a summer program, adjust the reading routine based on the days they attend the summer school program.
Travel with Books
Having access to books is one of the reasons why many kids rarely read at home. For this reason, providing access to books is an important step in fostering reading during the summer months. As you plan your summer vacation, pack up some books.
Ask your child which book to take for the car ride or read on the plane. Note that it is ok for a child to read the same book more than once. Ask questions about their reading so that they see you are interested. If they read the same book more than once, ask a different question about the characters or the theme.
Reading is a lifelong activity that provides kids access to the world in various ways. Engage your kids in reading activities that would benefit their reading development. Making kids accountable is an important part of ensuring kids continue growing during the summer months. Use the below request form to download a free reading log to help kids read all summer. Remember that reading activities must be planned with intention regularly. Share your own ways of fostering reading at home.
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