Encouraging Summer Reading
Tim Shanahan
Many who follow my blog and podcasts know that I discourage free reading time or independent reading time during the school day. That’s not because I don’t think reading practice is important, but because kids learn more from the directed reading activities that teachers should be providing within their ELA, social studies, and science classes.
Of course, it makes sense to have books available for when kids finish school lessons early. But setting aside 20 minutes a day for classroom reading is not a good use of instructional time.
It takes a lot of reading practice to improve reading achievement. Even summer reading may not be enough to give your youngster a measurable boost in achievement – though like many professionals who encourage reading, I suspect the benefits may accumulate slowly over childhood (Kim & Quinn, 2013).
Getting kids to read on their own – afterschool, weekends, and summers – is a different thing than reading under the supervision of teachers. Those kinds of independent reading won’t replace teacher-supported reading. Practice is good and we should encourage it as effectively as we can.
Summer is upon us, and I hope this entry will serve as a timely reminder to parents to get your kids reading.
I vividly remember my summer between 3rd and 4th grade. Mom decided it was a good idea to make me stay in after lunch to read each day. She even took me to the library to get me started. I’ve been a reader ever since. Gestures like that from parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, godparents, friends of the family, and coaches can have big impacts on kids’ interests. Accordingly, I have several suggestions for doing just that.
Often it is asserted that getting kids to read will make them love it. That certainly was true for me, but the research on these matters is not so sanguine. Sometimes kids just find reading to be difficult, boring, or lonely. I don’t think that problem is solved by sending kids off to read on their own. There is more to it than that. People read not just because they find it pleasurable. They read because they want to know things or because they want to do things that reading enables. They read because of the social connections it allows. As you’ll see, the activities I have recommended tend to have some kind of payoff or social connection. That’s not by accident.
1. Summer usually allows families to spend more time together. This can be a great opportunity to read with your kids. Children can learn a lot from being read to. If they can already read, then have them read to you, or better yet, take turns reading pages to each other. Make sure you discuss what you are reading. Ask questions, answer questions, explore the ideas together, but read.
2. As kids get older, help them find books, magazines, or newspaper articles they would enjoy reading – and you read some of them, too. Trips to the library together can be a great source for such material. Reading a book that your child is reading communicates your interest powerfully and facilitates deeper and more meaningful discussions. The point is to share the reading experience.
3. Even if you are not reading the same books, talk to your children about what they are reading. Ask questions such as what happened in the story or what might happen next, who is their favorite character, or who is the villain and why. This builds summarization and recall skills, and your interest will increase their interest.
4. Create a summer reading nook or spot in your home. Make sure there is good light and comfortable seating and try to set aside one TV/video-game-free night per week for family reading. Reading night can be a special snack night, too. There is nothing better than reading with a big bowl of popcorn or cookies and milk.
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Encouraging Summer Reading
by Michael Keany
Jun 9
Encouraging Summer Reading
Tim Shanahan
Many who follow my blog and podcasts know that I discourage free reading time or independent reading time during the school day. That’s not because I don’t think reading practice is important, but because kids learn more from the directed reading activities that teachers should be providing within their ELA, social studies, and science classes.
Of course, it makes sense to have books available for when kids finish school lessons early. But setting aside 20 minutes a day for classroom reading is not a good use of instructional time.
It takes a lot of reading practice to improve reading achievement. Even summer reading may not be enough to give your youngster a measurable boost in achievement – though like many professionals who encourage reading, I suspect the benefits may accumulate slowly over childhood (Kim & Quinn, 2013).
Getting kids to read on their own – afterschool, weekends, and summers – is a different thing than reading under the supervision of teachers. Those kinds of independent reading won’t replace teacher-supported reading. Practice is good and we should encourage it as effectively as we can.
Summer is upon us, and I hope this entry will serve as a timely reminder to parents to get your kids reading.
I vividly remember my summer between 3rd and 4th grade. Mom decided it was a good idea to make me stay in after lunch to read each day. She even took me to the library to get me started. I’ve been a reader ever since. Gestures like that from parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, godparents, friends of the family, and coaches can have big impacts on kids’ interests. Accordingly, I have several suggestions for doing just that.
Often it is asserted that getting kids to read will make them love it. That certainly was true for me, but the research on these matters is not so sanguine. Sometimes kids just find reading to be difficult, boring, or lonely. I don’t think that problem is solved by sending kids off to read on their own. There is more to it than that. People read not just because they find it pleasurable. They read because they want to know things or because they want to do things that reading enables. They read because of the social connections it allows. As you’ll see, the activities I have recommended tend to have some kind of payoff or social connection. That’s not by accident.
1. Summer usually allows families to spend more time together. This can be a great opportunity to read with your kids. Children can learn a lot from being read to. If they can already read, then have them read to you, or better yet, take turns reading pages to each other. Make sure you discuss what you are reading. Ask questions, answer questions, explore the ideas together, but read.
2. As kids get older, help them find books, magazines, or newspaper articles they would enjoy reading – and you read some of them, too. Trips to the library together can be a great source for such material. Reading a book that your child is reading communicates your interest powerfully and facilitates deeper and more meaningful discussions. The point is to share the reading experience.
3. Even if you are not reading the same books, talk to your children about what they are reading. Ask questions such as what happened in the story or what might happen next, who is their favorite character, or who is the villain and why. This builds summarization and recall skills, and your interest will increase their interest.
4. Create a summer reading nook or spot in your home. Make sure there is good light and comfortable seating and try to set aside one TV/video-game-free night per week for family reading. Reading night can be a special snack night, too. There is nothing better than reading with a big bowl of popcorn or cookies and milk.
READ MORE...