5 Ideas to Make Summer Reading More Fun
Now that the school year is over, it can be challenging to keep students from falling out of essential literacy habits. How can summer reading be fun? How can students continue developing literacy skills outside of the classroom? Here are some tips for parents who are trying to keep their kids reading over the summer:
1. Read the Movie
If your child is struggling to get excited about their summer reading, maybe a movie night will help motivate them! There are countless movies based on books or books based on movies appropriate for every age group. If your child is looking for inspiration, here is a list you could look through. Maybe they have already seen the movie and will be surprised to know it was based on a book. They could choose a new story or read an old favorite.
2. Meet the Author
Our public libraries and local bookstores are open and hosting live events all summer! Introducing children to authors is so impactful because it helps remind them that the stories they read are written by real people who were inspired by real places and events. If your child is initially reluctant, you could search YouTube for their favorite book or author -- many do virtual introductions for their new releases.
Here is a link to the New York Public Library Events Calendar.
Here is a link to the Brooklyn Public Library Events Calendar.
3. Readers’ Theater
Bring a story to life by reading it out loud. Make it a family event by choosing characters and reading their lines with funny voices. Or one person could be the narrator, reading the story out loud, while another acts it out. You could switch roles after every paragraph or page if your child is building up their reading stamina.
4. Book Club
Talking about a story with friends or family helps increase investment and understanding, especially as books get longer and more difficult. If you want to create a family book club, you could share some of your favorites from childhood to reread together. Or, if your child has a summer reading list, encourage them to find a friend who wants to read the same book. They can set the pace together and meet in person or virtually to talk about what they read, their favorite characters, and what they think will happen next. Lexile.com is a wonderful resource for finding new books and engaging questions to discuss at all stages of a story.
5. Lead by Example
During the school day, quiet reading time is built into your child’s schedule. When everyone is silently reading together, the activity does not feel as isolating or boring. During the summer, if your child fears they are missing out on a more active or engaging activity, then they are going to rush through their reading or skip it altogether. To make them feel more comfortable, set a quiet reading time as a family, like at school, maybe first thing in the morning or to wind down before bed. Remember that your child is not expected to read during recess or lunch, so if you are watching TV or scrolling on your phone, they might find it more difficult to unplug themselves to read.
To talk through these tips and more, stay tuned for an NIA parent workshop on developing literacy skills! To get more information about summer literacy practices, feel free to reach out to NIA’s Manager of Curriculum & Instruction, Corinne Colosimo, at Corinne@niabklyn.org.