When people think of summer, they probably think of the beach, swimming in the neighborhood pool, and backyard barbecues. What about reading? Your family is most likely going on a trip whether it be by car or plane, and books are a wonderful entertainment to have in case all your electronics decide to die.
Here are some reasons as to why you should read over the summer:
We avoid the “summer slump.” During the summer, students can lose skills that they gained during the school year. Reading can counteract the slump by increasing vocabulary, enhancing language skills, and avoiding the decline of their reading ability.
Being prepared for the school year. For the first few weeks of school, teachers may have to spend time re-teaching skills that have been lost during the summer. Reading can prevent this slide so that teachers can jump right into the new material.
Easily accessed entertainment. The public library or the bookstore are wonderful places to spend the afternoon. Why not check them out?
Also, if you need to motivate your reader, here are some ways to do so:
Model reading time. If you expect them to read for 30 minutes, you should too.
Provide incentives. Both the public library and the Darlington libraries are giving prizes to those students who read over the summer. If you need more information contact the local library or me (kward@darlingtonschool.org) for information on our summer incentive programs.
Make it an adventure! If you are planning a trip to the aquarium, read about it. Maybe you want your kids to know more about the origin of Coca-Cola before going to the World of Coke. Make connections between your day trips to what they are reading.
