Summer: Time for Fun in the Sun…
And for Reading!
If you can believe it, summer is here! And especially after a year of speed bumps, misses, and lack of consistency, reading this summer is even more important than it has been in the past! Children really need to spend time this summer reading so that they are continuing to exercise the skills they will need come next school year. Just like exercising keeps muscles in shape, reading keeps the brain in shape. If you don't exercise, you lose muscle, and if you don't read, you will lose literacy skills. Summer reading is very important for maintaining a child's current grade level skills and for pushing forward to develop skills above the current grade level.
While summer reading is extremely important, it should also be fun for kids. The following are a few tips from Reading Rockets to make reading enjoyable for your children this summer:
1. Read aloud together with your child every day.
Make it fun by reading outdoors on the front steps, patio, at the beach or park. Also, let your children read to you. For younger children, point out the relationship between words and sounds.
2. Set a good example!
Parents must be willing to model behavior for their children. Keep lots of reading material around the house. Turn off the TV and have each person read his or her book, including mom and dad.
3. Read the same book your child is reading and discuss it.
This is the way to develop habits of the mind and build capacity for thought and insight.
4. Let kids choose what they want to read, and don't turn your nose up at popular fiction.
It will only discourage the reading habit.
5. Buy books on tape.
Listen to them in the car, or turn off the TV and have the family listen to them together.
6. Take your children to the library regularly.
Most libraries sponsor summer reading clubs with easy-to-reach goals for preschool and school-age children. Check the library calendar for special summer reading activities and events. Libraries also provide age appropriate lists for summer reading.
7. Subscribe, in your child's name, to magazines like Sports Illustrated for Kids, Highlights for Children, or National Geographic World.
Encourage older children to read the newspaper and current events magazines, to keep up the reading habit over the summer and develop vocabulary. Ask them what they think about what they've read, and listen to what they say.
8. Ease disappointment over summer separation from a favorite school friend by encouraging them to become pen pals.
Present both children with postcards or envelopes that are already addressed and stamped. If both children have access to the Internet, email is another option.
9. Make trips a way to encourage reading by reading aloud traffic signs, billboards, notices.
Show your children how to read a map, and once you are on the road, let them take turns being the navigator.
10. Encourage children to keep a summer scrapbook.
Tape in souvenirs of your family's summer activities picture postcards, ticket stubs, photos. Have your children write the captions and read them and read them aloud as you look at the book together.
Like in previous years, Deep River Elementary School will be participating in the Connecticut Governor Summer Reading Challenge. The theme this summer is Tails & Tales. Students will be getting a folder with the Summer Reading Challenge materials, which include a journal to list the books they read over the summer. Also included is an age-appropriate booklist.
Additionally, there will be materials regarding offerings from the Deep River Public Library. Some of them include a Comedy Magic Show, a virtual Bedtime Story with Wonder Woman, and a zoom program with an educator from Riverside Reptiles.
We cannot stress enough the importance of summer reading. The impact for students for the coming next school year, 2021 - 2022, and for the future is incomparable. We hope that you will support us in promoting summer reading to your child this summer!
Happy Summer Reading!
Sincerely,
Dr. Ricci & Ms. Macaione
Below you can find links to all the materials that will be sent home with students should you need to access additional copies:
Summer Reading Journal
Message to Parents & Students
Grades K-2 Summer Reading List
Grades 3-4 Summer Reading List
Grades 5-6 Summer Reading List