If you attended this week’s free webinar, “Avoid the Summer Learning Slide: Simple Solutions and Useful Tools”, you already know that reading over the summer is incredibly important. In case you missed it, here’s a video of the webinar on our youtube channel.
Studies show that students who read four or more books over their summer break do much better on tests in school in the fall, and their first quarter grades see a huge boost. Here are some tips to turn your kids into happy readers over the summer and solve next year’s bad grades before they start.
- Everyone picks a book, not just kids. At the start of the summer, parents AND kids should choose a book. Modeling is the best way to teach. When kids see that their parents are reading, they are much more likely to do so themselves. Pair reading with relaxation in the evening…for the whole family. And if you follow our second tip, you’ll find that your kids may fall in love with their reading time…
- Pick books that are kid-tested. Even boys will devour a book when you find the right material. Check out the ultimate teen book list on amazon, or these recommended reading lists from a private school library network for kids of all ages. When they are involved in choosing, they’re much less likely to push back. For younger kids, consider an online reading program like studydog.com, headsprout.com, or literactive.com.
- Consider an E-Reader. We all know that our kids love screens. Consider buying them books through a Kindle, Nook, or iPad. Kids like being able to customize colors and fonts, and it’s convenient to be able to carry so much material in your pocket. Anything that makes reading fun and easy is a great chance to get your kids involved in reading over the summer.
Getting your kids to read over the summer is well worth the effort, and with these strategies in place, you may find that they will love it!