We need to accept that for some students, reading is an oasis of joy and comfort. For others, it is a harrowing chore used only out of necessity during the school year. One of the joys of my teaching career has been connecting both types of students with their new favorite book. Here are some strategies and suggestions as you think about your child’s summer reading.
All Reading is Good Reading
Some believe that students need to be reading the classics to maximize their learning potential. This concept is not supported by research. In my experience, well-intentioned parents pressuring students to read books that are not enjoyable for them, especially during the summer months, backfires. The only goal in summer reading is to develop a love of reading and maintain literacy.
All reading exposes us to new ideas, pushes us to take on new perspectives, and enriches our vocabulary. Reading the same YA book for the hundredth time, exploring a new genre, listening to an audiobook, reading a classic, and flipping through a comic are all equally valid summer reading options.
Accommodate Learning Differences
If your child has a learning difference, reading for pleasure can be an oxymoron. Part of finding the pleasure in reading is making sure that your student has all of the supports and accommodations that they need to be successful.
Talk to your child about what their teacher and school do to help them read during the school year. Try to find these accommodations at your local bookstore, library, or online source. Remember, most library catalogs and online sources have toggle switches for font size, dyslexic font, and read-aloud options that make accommodating these differences quick and easy.
Magic of Audiobooks
For reluctant readers or students with a reading disability, audiobooks can be a gamechanger. Some parents may not think of audiobooks as “true reading,” but in fact, the vocabulary development, information evaluating skills, and understanding of plot and characters is just as effective with audiobooks as with written text. Students do not have to be following along with a written text as they listen for this to be good reading. They can be going on a walk, shooting hoops, driving to a summer job (safety permitting) or doodling. I find that I am doing most of my academic textbook reading through audiobooks. If anything, this has helped me apply, evaluate, and read more information than I could have ever accomplished sitting at a desk taking notes.
Celebrate whatever works for your student. Whatever they are doing that is working for them is the “right way to read.”
Specific Assigned Summer Reading
Some schools and AP classes assign specific books for summer reading. In addition to accommodating your student’s reading needs with dyslexic font or audio, it can help to chunk these texts out. Help your student look at their calendar and set out a reasonable time frame to finish each of the sections of the book. Check in with them as you reach different milestones.
Another great strategy for getting through assigned summer reading is to go through and read books together. I will never forget my mom reading The Jungle with me on audiocassette on a long car ride. Neither of us liked the book but we got through it and the experience is a bonding one that I cherish.
Befriend your Librarian
Librarians are amazing humans who are highly skilled and knowledgeable and read a lot of books. They are usually passionate about getting students invested in reading and are happy to help. Encourage your child to talk to their librarian and get a sense of their suggestions for summer reading. I have found many of my own favorite books this way.
If your student’s school gives a choice list for summer reading, this is a great time to use your local librarian as a resource. Students often read the first book on the list or one that sounds most impressive. Your local librarian is likely familiar with all the books on the list and can tailor suggestions to your student’s unique needs and interests.
What’s Appropriate to Read?
The paranoia and politics surrounding age-appropriate reading has gotten out of hand. Many reasonable parents looking for information are finding it harder and harder to sort through the noise. Only your family can make the right decision for your child about what is appropriate for them.
My parents did not allow my siblings and I to watch a lot of television or movies. However, we were allowed to read whatever we wanted whenever we wanted. I feel like this was one of the best decisions that my parents made and has made me into the reader that I am today. My Catholic parents unapologetically allowed and encouraged me to read everything from The DaVinci Code to the latest Stephen King novel. If I have my own children, I will have the same policy. My best suggestion is to use books as launching pads for conversations. It is more important than ever that students understand how to evaluate the truth behind the information that they consume, and summer reading is a great place to start having these tough conversations.
Parenting is not one-size-fits-all, and each parent must decide what is right for their family. I think the best source for this information is Common Sense Media. I use this resource all the time to evaluate books for my middle schoolers. I love that this resource doesn’t tell me what books children and teens should read, it just gives information. This information can help you not only decide what books are right for your family, but also what conversations you might want to have with your child as they read.
Looking to set your student up for success this next school year? Whether it is catching up on skills that students fell behind on in the previous year, getting ahead with summer reading, or building up executive functioning tools, we at BES are here to help.