Preventing Summer Reading Loss
What Is Summer Reading Loss?
Summer Reading Loss aka The Summer Slide. One of the phrases that makes me shudder as a reading teacher! It refers to the academic reading loss that kids experience when their reading instruction and practice stops over the summer.
I saw it time and time again. It was pretty defeating for kids who worked all school year long just to come back to where they were at in January. This was especially true for kids who were already striving to reach grade-level and behind in reading but I do school-wide testing and I see it in kids at grade-level as well. According to a study published in the American Educational Research Journal 52% of kids lose skills related to English Language Arts.
I am big on giving my kids an 80's summer. We sleep in, have lazy days, play outside until the sun goes down and watch too much tv but one thing I won't budge on is reading. We continue our reading over the summer and I am here to share some tips so you can do the same! This post contains affiliate links, I might make a small commission at no cost to you which helps pay for my blogging platform.
Easy And Fun Ways To Prevent Summer Reading Loss
Create a Simple Reading Routine
Find what works for your family and stick with it. We like to read after lunch while we are avoiding the sun's strongest rays and at bed time. Maybe it's right after breakfast or dinner. It doesn't matter as long as it is consistent.
Make it short and enjoyable. 15-20 minutes is plenty each day. If you miss a day or two, that's okay! Make it a learning opportunity by talking with your child on why you missed reading and why it's important to get back on track. Try to pick back up as soon as you can or it will be the end of August before you know it.
Summer is the perfect opportunity to show your child that reading is important all year round. Keep reading for more tips!
Take Reading a Step Further
Reading is great and extending that reading with activities is even better. Pair a book with a craft, game or snack for your younger kids. Pinterest has endless ideas! My son's first grade teacher was amazing with this. She read the Mercy Watson series and then had a full on Mercy Watson party with toast (Mercy's favorite) and lemonade (from the 5th book) along with pig themed games and activities. As a result, my son was all in on these books, he even checked them out from his school library to read again at home.
I know I personally won't match this level of excitement but I know I can manage picking up some lemons and sugar and making homemade lemonade one day. It doesn't have to be a big ordeal but your child won't forget that time you read a whole series together and made homemade lemonade.
For older kids you can take a notebook and make it into a reading journal where your child can draw pictures or write about what they read. Let them decorate the cover however they want. If your child isn't thrilled about using the notebook you can set a 3-5 minute timer and gush over what they accomplished when they are done. Or make it into a competition where you both draw at the same time and when dad comes home he can judge which one is the best.
Make a point to discuss what your child read most times or talk about their writing/drawing afterwards. It's a great time to show your child you are interested in them and for them to make even more connections about what they are reading.
Writing, drawing or talking about reading helps deepen understanding surrounding reading. It doesn't need to be done every time but a couple times a week is amazing!
Choose the Right Books and Create a Home Library
Let your child's interests lead the way. Are they into graphic novels? Joke books? Animal stories? If they aren't a big reader think about what their other hobbies are. There is a book for every interest. Video games, sports, friendships, the opportunities are endless. Find what they're in to and run with it. There is a recommended book list at the end of the blog for baby-8th grade. Hope you find something new and exciting for your child to read!
We love visiting the library and Little Free Libraries but I always have books on hand so we never run out of fresh content. They get to visit the library at least once a week at school so I try to make home a similar concept by rotating books and keeping things fresh. Investing in a nice bookshelf to display books like this one will help your child be engaged in choosing their own books.
This is my dream and am hoping to buy a couple for books and craft supplies this year, beautiful unpainted pine rotating book shelf. I love it and how fun for your child to 'shop' for books off this shelf! I'm visualizing how nice this will look in my dining room for our craft supplies compared to the plastic cart I have now 😆
Fun Incentives That Work
Some kids will be excited to read all summer long and some just won't. Especially if they are having a hard time in school and are starting to view reading negatively. This is where I would bring out the incentives.
In the past I've created reward charts for things like potty training and chores and will do it again if I need to for reading. Prizes could include picking out a treat at the grocery store, staying up late, having a backyard camping night with smores, cash for their piggy bank, one choice at a store like 5 below, Pokémon pack... anything small but doable for your family that also makes your kid excited to keep their reading routine going.
Final Words
Visit my blog post, 10 Tips to Raising a Reader for more great ideas like playing word games or bringing books wherever you go. This is especially important during summer when you are on the run! I always pack books for cabin trips and we love spreading out a blanket and reading in the shade of a tree.
Keeping a reading routine during the summer doesn't have to be perfect but striving for consistency is key. Having a routine and maybe some incentives should keep that summer reading loss at bay.
If you have stronger concerns and don't feel equipped to meet your child's needs over the summer I highly recommend getting a tutor in your area. Your child's teacher is a great first stop in asking for recommendations.
Book Recommendations By Age
Preschool-3rd Grade Picture Book Recommendations: Pete the Cat books (these are the best and Pete is pretty groovy!)
The Bear Books (lots of rhyming and strong characters)
No David (every kid who finds themselves in even a little bit of trouble will love these books).
Kindergarten-3rd Grade Easy Readers: I love the 'I Can Read' books as they're easily marked for where your child is at on their reading journey.
Biscuit's Neighborhood My First I Can Read: The most adorable little dog and your brand new reader will surely gain confidence reading these books with you!
My favorite Berenstain Bears Stories Level 1: Perfect for a child who can sound out easy words by themselves and the Berenstain Bears are a beloved classic.
Amelia Bedelia stories Level 2: Perfect for the child who can read but still needs a little help. Amelia Bedelia is known for taking things literally! These are sure to get lots of laughs and keep you talking long after the book has closed.
Newer Reader Chapter Books: Fun to read with an adult but not always necessary depending on the reader.
Junie B. Jones: Everyone's favorite first grader is lovable and relatable, these books are sure to bring some giggles.
Mercy Watson: A pig who gets into some serious antics. These books are loved by kids and adults!
3rd Grade-8th Grade: This completely depends on your reader and how advanced they are. I've seen these books in elementary libraries and in my own middle school library which I run.
Sports: Jake Maddox Graphic Novels are great for the sports lover in your house. There are also a ton of regular chapter books that are sure to draw in even the most reluctant reader with short chapters and every sport imaginable from skateboarding to horseback riding to fishing.
Scary: K.R. Alexander writes the newest spooky books! I used these as a read aloud in my middle school classroom and kids were always begging me to read one more chapter.
Humor: Diary of a Wimpy Kid takes up two shelves in my library and they are almost always empty. Kids love them!
Time Machine: A new twist on the old classic, catch up with The Babysitter's Club Graphic Novels! These are hard to keep on my middle school library shelf.
Non-fiction: The Who Is/What Is/Where Are series are super popular. Find out the history of American with this boxed set. This series cover almost any person, place and event you could think of! Definitely worth checking out.
Fantasy: Wings of Fire is a great series for any kid who loves an escape from reality. These also come in graphic novels.
Happy Reading and Happy Summer!