Reading Is Not on Summer Vacation ~By Suzy Leopold

The Summer Slide!

As the school year comes to an end, some students will experience a summer learning loss or the “summer reading slide.”  Did you know that children can lose two to three months of reading progress if reading comes to an end on the final day of school?  The loss of three months, every summer, accumulates and becomes a cumulative achievement gap of 18 months, by the end of sixth grade.  

“Research shows the most damage to reading skills occurs outside school, during the summer months,” states Jim Trelease, author of The New York Times bestseller, The Read-Aloud Handbook. Even though the school doors are closed, it is important that learning and reading continue during the summer season.  Children who continue to read over the summer actually gain academic skills.

Reading books should not be on a summer slide.

Sustained summer learning that includes reading and new experiences provides many benefits for students when school is not in session.  Summertime reading provides positive effects on a child’s self-esteem, increased self-confidence and closes the achievement gap.  Learning opportunities, during the summer months, equal academic success, for the student once school resumes.  Reading during June, July and August, can make a difference in the likelihood of whether a student is on the path of preparing for college or a decision to drop out of high school.  Kids who read outside of school read the best.

How tall is your stack of books for summer reading?

How can you prevent kids from losing academic ground during the summer months?  How can you encourage family literacy activities while kids are at home for the summer? 

1.  As a parent, make sure you are seen reading by your children.  Model the importance of reading every day.  Reading to your child and reading by your child is great.  Reading at the same time is even better. 

2.  Provide a print-rich home that includes books, newspapers, magazines, and even comic books.  Label items in your home, for an emergent reader to read.  Beginning readers will delight in reading the word “door,” written on an index card that is taped onto the back door. If your family is planning a summer vacation, take books along with you. Keep books in the car.  Pack books in a backpack or a satchel for easy reading while traveling.  Perhaps the plan is for a day trip to the zoo, a museum, or to get out for a favorite summertime ice cream treat.  If so, a book should be tucked in a pocket or a purse, as you get out and about. 

3.  Visit your local library.  Your child should have his own library card to check out a variety of books to read.  Select books together based on topics of interest, or within a particular genre or written by a favorite author that are developmentally appropriate for your child. Select a stack of picture books for toddlers and preschoolers that an adult or older sibling can read aloud to the emergent reader.  Younger children also enjoy reading by themselves, while looking at the pictures.  Allow independent readers to choose their own books.  Encourage your child to select books from both fiction and non-fiction genres.  A simple rule of thumb for helping your child select books at his reading level is to have them choose a page, in the middle of the book, and read it. If they do not know five or more of the words, then the book is too hard for independent, pleasure reading.  Consider keeping a reading log and recording the books that your child read. Reading should be fun and memorable.

4.  Participate in literacy activities at your public library.  Most libraries have summer reading programs and special events that are fun and engaging.  Enjoy story time, guest authors, movies, make and take crafts and many hands on activities. Many libraries offer prizes for meeting a reading goal.

Summer literacy experiences will increase a student’s vocabulary, build background knowledge, and ensure summer learning gain. To help kids sustain reading skills, they must practice reading and read for enjoyment. 

Yes, students are on summer break.  However, reading and learning are not. Provide opportunities for your kids to read and have fun in the summer sun. Reading during the summer makes a difference. Summertime learning and reading will equal student success and create a lifetime reader.

Read more books!

As writers of children's literature, it is so important for us to promote the value of reading throughout the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter.  Reading, writing, learning and growing is not just for the classroom.  Reading together with your child or grandchild is a win-win for the child and for the reader. Smart summer fun that includes books, keeps kids learning and growing all summer long.  What picture books and/or chapter books are you and the kids reading this summer?

What is BookPALS? by Jan Godown Annino

More KIDLIT HEROES: BookPALS by Jan Godown Annino

 Open pages with the non-profit literacy group, BookPALS. 

This Q & A is with Natalie Rogers, my BookPALS coordinator. 
In 2013 BookPALS celebrated a grand 20^th anniversary. 
It is sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.

 Q: What or who is a BookPAL?

BookPALS are Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools. They are actors, performers, educators and community members who volunteer their time and talent reading aloud to public school children who need it most. BookPALS bring the magic of books to life, sparking children’s imaginations with their animated, engaging and fun delivery.

Q And what is a PencilPAL?

PencilPALS provide children firsthand experience with letter writing. Volunteers pair with elementary students and correspond by postal mail, reviving the lost art. Letters are exchanged on topics ranging from favorite books, authors and school happenings, to long term aspirations.  Reading, writing, and spelling skills improve when children write habitually in this way.  Children also gain a sense of pride in their own writing and in their own stories by sharing them with interested readers. Plus, research proves that the act of handwriting is far more beneficial than typing and texting, as it hones fine motor skills, improves memory and fosters more complex thinking processes.

Q How much does it cost the volunteer?

For BookPALS, it is simply the cost of gas to commute to a school. For PencilPALS, it is the cost of a stamp once or twice a month and perhaps some fun stationery. Books can be borrowed from public or school libraries. Book donations from organizations like First Book also help us arm our volunteers with literature that is read aloud and then donated to build classroom and home libraries.

Q Can anyone sign up?

The opportunity is open to anyone with experience in the performing arts or education. In addition to performers, retired teachers, children’s authors, film and theater majors, English and education majors also make up a vital component of our volunteer base.

Q Doesn’t the classroom teacher read to the children?

Yes, classroom teachers do read to children (or at least I hope they all do), but sadly, in this era of high stakes testing and accountability, they often aren’t allotted time to do the kind of reading BookPALS do, which is reading for pure pleasure. BookPALS don’t teach children how to read. We teach children how to LOVE to read. In doing so, we hope to create lifetime readers as opposed to just school time readers. Plus, BookPALS are trained to pull out all the stops—to do the voices, sound effects, bring in props, dress in costume when they can. Some teachers say that BookPALS teach them to be more animated readers! 

Q Example of BookPALS making a difference in communities?

 One 1st grader’s desk was situated in the back corner of the classroom, away from his classmates’ clusters of desks. He was not permitted to sit on the floor with the others during my readings. He sat alone at his desk, fuming, thumb twiddling, barely listening. During one reading, I caught his eye and smiled at him. He looked baffled. When I asked the class a question about the book, I looked him in the eye again, held his gaze, and silently encouraged him. He blurted out an answer. I acknowledged, gave another warm smile, and gently asked him to please raise his hand next time. A few visits later, he asked the teacher if he could sit on the floor, next to me. She hesitated, but agreed. Each visit thereafter, he sat right in front of me, listening intently, remembering to raise his hand, ever eager to share. Something magical happened to this marginalized student. He became an active member of our community of listeners, thinkers, questioners. With the help of some very clever authors, I had caught him . . . in the line of an imaginary book hook!

Q THAT is a splendiferous story, Natalie - congrats! And now, what is STORYLINE?

Storyline Online is a really fun, interactive, streaming video. The books are handpicked by the BookPALS National Director. Of course, the selections ultimately depend on securing publisher’s rights. But with the hope of giving children the best literature possible, Storyline Online strives to provide books from a wide range of topics that deal with the young minds of today. Visit www.storylineonline.net 

Q. How does a reader sign up?

Those interested in becoming a BookPAL or PencilPAL may sign up at www.bookpals.net We have chapters in 6 locations: Arizona, Florida, Los Angeles, New England, New York City, and San Francisco.  Simply choose your location and complete the online application. We promise you won’t regret it!

Group Blog: Thank you, Natalie Rogers
Thank YOU, Jan, for being one of our stellar BookPALS

Aww, back at you, & BookPALS.