As summer approaches, I know there is a lot on parents' minds. We are thinking about camps and playdates, juggling work and new routines. Our to do list feels never ending - order sunscreen, check if those bathing suits and sandals still fit from last summer, find activities our kids can do in between their other activities, and make sure our fridge is stocked with snacks. Lots of snacks. I know I'm grossly oversimplifying the mental list here. We know it is much, much longer than this.
As a trained teacher, I also think a great deal about something called "the summer slide" around this time of year. This refers to a trend teachers see when kids come back to school in the fall. It is very common for children to lose a significant amount of academic skills each summer. Researchers estimate that kids forget about 20% or around 2 months of learning each summer in both reading and math simply from being away from the classroom. I don't bring this up to add to your growing list but to offer a powerful solution to this issue - summer reading can be your North Star. Let's talk about what I mean.
Using books as our kids' summer reading curriculum can be a simple, impactful way of helping our children both maintain and grow as readers while they are away from school. Plus, books can inspire so much activity during long summer days. Books are brimming with ways to talk with your child about interesting topics, learn new words, connect ideas together and spark creativity. Here's what I suggest doing to unlock a summer of magical reading potential:
Sit down with your child with a pen and paper in hand and say, "summer is coming up and we will have more special time together. I'm really looking forward to that! I want to start collecting books that we can read together! I want to build a few collections for us that fit together. What are you interested in reading about? Which topics are you excited to learn more about? Is there a series you've been wanting to read? Is there an author you're loving right now?" Depending on age and personality, it will vary how much you need to lead this conversation. As you listen, jot down your child's suggestions. Just the act of recording their ideas will make them feel excited, heard and motivated by this project. I would strongly suggest pulling out both non-fiction topics (ballet, construction vehicles, black holes, caterpillars) and fiction topics (friendship, going to a new school, kindergarten).
After listening to your child, pick out 2 topics/authors/series to start that feel deeply interesting to your child. Perhaps you pick books about dinosaurs and books by beloved author Mac Barnett. Maybe you choose the A-Z Mysteries series and books about moving to a new city. Next, start collecting books. Don't underestimate your local public library here - you can even search their collections online and often times order the titles you want from their website and pick them up at your convenience. You can also find books on online used bookstores. Depending on the age of your child, you may need 1 book a week or 1 book a day. You may need to repeat this process a few times across the summer but choosing two solid "units" will take you far.
After collecting books, you have truly done 90% of the work. Now, when you read each day you can start by saying, "Let's see what new information we learn about zebras today" or "Let's see if Oliver Jeffers' 3rd book is written in a similar style to his first two." Pause to ask questions as you read - about the characters, comparing information, your child's predictions, etc. If you haven't already taken my Golden Tools course, this is a great way to learn how to start asking your child questions as you read.
Using this thematic approach, you and your child can run with these themes outside of reading time. Perhaps your son wants to now build a solar system replica out of play dough after reading about space. Perhaps your daughter wants to make a life-size drawing of the human body after reading about becoming a doctor. Maybe your older child wants to write a letter to her favorite author. With a few art supplies and books in tow, your child can create a lot with his or her learning. And, of course, the more ways our kids play with what they are reading about, the more they will hold on to these books and what they've taught them.
I hope that your summer is filled with watermelon popsicles on hot days, extra long wet bathing suit hugs and lots and lots of rich reading together.
Comments