MAKE THIS SUMMER SIZZLE WITH READING! PRESENTED BY MELANIE CONDON

THE SUMMER SLIDE? “Experts agree that children who read during the summer gain reading skills, while those who do not often slide backward.” –Reading is Fundamental “Often it is the students who can least afford to lose the reading gains they’ve achieved during the school year who fall the farthest behind when they return to the classroom after a summer break away from formal literacy instruction.” – Reading Rockets Research has shown that teachers have to spend several weeks re-teaching skills in the Fall to catch students back up to where they were at the end of the previous school year. All of the hard work that students do to gain reading skills during the school year slides back if they don’t practice reading in the summer.

PREVENT SO… WHAT DO WE DO TO PREVENT THE SUMMER SLIDE? VALUE literacy in your home…not as a chore, but as an enjoyable way to spend time! Read TO and WITH your children. Have a variety of reading materials for your child to choose from, and let them CHOOSE what to read (Use the five finger rule!) Talk with your children about the books they are reading. Have them respond in a journal. Set up a time that is consistent for reading each day. Summer is busy, but if you make a set time, the reading will happen! Visit the public library and take part in the free programs there. Do the RHES Summer Reading Challenges! Take pictures of your children reading and send them to me. Complete the Summer Reading Bingo!

THE BEST WAY TO MAKE YOUR SUMMER SIZZLE WITH READING IS SIMPLE… READ LOTS OF BOOKS!

WHAT IS THE FIVE FINGER RULE?

RESOURCES RAZ-Kids (K-3)- students know how to log in from work in the classroom during the school year Reading Rockets website- readingrockets.org Scholastic.com (has many books and their DRA levels) Level It Books App (i-phone or i-pad) Loudoun County Public Library (The Summer Reading Program looks awesome!) Mrs. Condon and Mrs. Wieman ( , websites)