The 5 Building Blocks for Successful Summer Reading

Written by: Kimberly Falk
Experienced English Teacher and Tutor

“Where are the GOOD books?” The burning question asked of librarians and English teachers by reluctant readers everywhere.

Kids who “hate” to read have just not found the right books. Despite the resistance from the kids and the challenge of finding the right books, we can all agree that reading is important.

Why is reading important?

Reading builds mature vocabulary. Reading makes you a better writer. Reading is hard, and hard is necessary. Reading makes you smarter. Reading prepares you for the world of work, and reading WELL is financially rewarding. Reading opens the door to a plethora of post-high school options, and arms us against oppression. Reading could be considered the single most important skill any student needs for success at every level of life.

THE 5 BUILDING BLOCKS FOR SUCCESSFUL SUMMER READING

  • Kids need access to high interest reading materials at their independent reading level.

  • Kids need a specific, comfortable time and place to read, free of distractions.

  • Parents and teachers MUST model good reading habits.

  • Parents/teachers must stop asking kids to respond to their reading with multiple choice assessments and non-authentic questioning.

  • Provide a structured reading plan with a fun culminating event at the end of the summer.

 What Does Success Look Like?

  1. First, kids need the GOOD books. When kids say books are boring and reading is hard, they mean their struggle with prosody (phrasing and intonation) and automaticity (calling words correctly, without stumbling through the sentence) is so frustrating that comprehension is lost. Many kids benefit from following the text with an audio version of the book. Looking at the text at the same time as hearing the cadence, phrasing, intonation, and pronunciation of words develops prosody and automaticity. So, make it a family event to go to the library or bookstore and find books for everybody, or choose the same book to discuss together! See resources listed below.

  2. Create the right environment. As a family, choose a time that works best for everyone. Three times a week for 20-minutes to one hour is a place to start. Cool off during the hottest part of the afternoon, or wind down at the end of the day by reading together. Either way, setting a scheduled time is important. The place you read also impacts comprehension. Find a place where an adult can regulate the noises and distractions but is cool and comfortable for everyone. The Montgomery County Library (CBS West Branch) is amazing for reading environment. Libraries in The Woodlands also have great reading nooks.

  3. MODEL, MODEL, MODEL! Kids do what they see parents/teachers do. Reading for thee, but not for me is not going to convince kids that reading is important. The fact is,  reading is important for all of us to be life-long learners.

  4. Response to reading for enjoyment should be AUTHENTIC to life. After reading Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, I did not feel compelled to take a multiple-choice test or be verbally quizzed about the literary elements found in each book. Instead, I just wanted to talk and share about the impactful and emotional take-aways I had from my reading. Learning at the most intellectual level is led by our own curiosities. Whether you are each reading a different book or one book as a family, plan for authentic discussion about your reading.

  5. Make a rule that reading time takes priority. Follow the acronym: D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read). Write it on the family calendar. Do it all summer. Finally, plan a fun culminating event based on a connection to the book(s) you read. For example, prepare and eat special foods from the book, visit a museum, explore parks, Google appropriate day trips. Be creative and make it something to look forward to!

Suggested summer reading Resources

 

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER READING AS A FAMILY!

Sue AbbottReading