Squash the Slippery Slope of the Summer Slide Bright Ideas for Students for Summertime Learning Fun Presented by Billie Shea, Administrative Literacy Specialist Stanton Network School

Why is Summer Reading Important? “The studies show that students who read more, read better; they also write better, spell better, have larger vocabularies, and have better control of complex grammatical constructions (Krashen, 2009).” 1 “Too many children spend their summer with no books to read (McGill-Franzen and Allington, 2004).” 2 On average, children lose between one and three months of grade-level equivalency during the summer. 3 1 Importance of Summer Reading, downloaded 6/13/ Ibid 3 Anne McGill-Franzen and Richard Allington. “Bridging the Summer Reading Gap”, Instructor, May/June, 2003

What Mem Fox says… “The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading. It isn’t achieved by the book alone, nor by the child alone, nor by the adult who’s reading aloud—it’s the relationship winding between all three, bringing them together in easy harmony.” - Mem Fox- Mem Fox, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives ForeverReading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever

How to Stimulate Summer Learning Be a good role model – Make sure your children see you reading. Read to your children – This will stimulate their “reading juices”. Read with your children – This will allow them to read more difficult books. Discuss reading with your children – This raises their thinking and gets them to ask questions.

How to Stimulate Summer Learning Give children books – The more they read books that they get to choose, the more children will want to read. Have your children play educational games on the computer or the iPad – There are a wealth of great educational Web sites and apps; your bag has some suggestions to get you started. Take frequent trips to the public library – Library cards are free and they open the world to everyone. Besides books, your local library has computers with access to great educational Web sites.

Fun Web Sites to Promote Summer Learning NAME OF APP DESCRIPTION Art Gameshttp:// Cool Math 4 Kidshttp:// Free Ricehttp://freerice.com Great Websites for Kidshttp://gws.ala.org/ Khan Academyhttps:// Marvel Kidshttp://marvelkids.marvel.com/games/play/75/create_your_own_comic Math Playgroundhttp:// NGA Kidshttp:// National Geographic Kidshttp://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/ National Geographic Little Kidshttp://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/littlekids/ National Geographic Educationhttp://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/?ar_a=1 National Library of Virtual Math Manipulativeshttp://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html Oxford Owlhttp:// Pass the Platehttp://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/passtheplate/index.html PBS Kidshttp://pbskids.org/ Science NetLinkshttp://sciencenetlinks.com/tools/ USA.gov Kidshttp://kids.usa.gov/ Wonderopolishttp://wonderopolis.org/

Free Apps to Encourage Summer Learning NAME OF APPDESCRIPTION Alphabet Aquarium (Pre-K & K)Dive into the alphabet aquarium to go on a letter adventure Apps Gone FreeFind some great paid apps that are offered for free each day Booksy: Learn to Read PlatformHelp Pre-K through Grade 2 students practice and develop their reading skills eBook SearchSearch for free books for iBooks and other eBook readers Free BooksGet access to over 20,000 free eBooks iBookDownload and read books on an iPad - The app is free but books may cost money KindleDownload and read books on an iPad - The app is free but books may cost money Math Drills LiteExplore solutions to math problems using number lines, wooden blocks, facts, and hints Math Ninja LiteLearn and practice math skills through a math game Mathmateer FreeBuild your own rockets and fly them to the stars and find that math can be fun Read Me StoriesRead a new book every day - children can read to themselves or have them read aloud ReadupHave fun keeping track of your reading history Scholastic Reading TimerEncourage children to read – Set the timer to log their reading minutes every day The Jungle BookRead and listen to The Jungle Book, a beloved children's story Word MoverCreate your own "found" poetry

What Mem Fox says… “The ideal three stories a day are one favorite, one familiar, and one new, but the same book three times is also fine.” - Mem Fox- Mem Fox, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives ForeverReading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever

Web Sites with Reading Picks for Summer or Anytime Drop Everything and Read Favorite Read Aloud Books – Check out this list of great books to read aloud to your children Drop Everything and Read Favorite Read Aloud Books Guys Read – Jon Scieszka, First National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature and children’s author, highlights books with special appeal to boys Guys Read Kids’ Reading List – Oprah’s picks for all age levels Kids’ Reading List Read Kiddo Read Ultimate Summer Reading List 2013 – See what great children’s books James Patterson, award winning children’s author, is recommending for summer reading Read Kiddo Read Ultimate Summer Reading List 2013

What Mem Fox says… “When I say to a parent, "read to a child", I don't want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate.” - Mem Fox- Mem Fox, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives ForeverReading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever

What’s In Your Bag? Grades K-2Grades 3-5 Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox Whoever You Are by Mem Fox Sight Word Cards Tools for Reading Good Readers Bookmark Addition and Subtraction Flash Cards Writing Journal List of educational Web sites and apps Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox If You’re Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School by Kalli Dakos Thinking Strategies for Better Reading Super Six Strategies Bookmark Multiplication and Division Flash Cards Writing Journal List of educational Web sites and apps Don’t forget to pick up free books on your way out!