When my daughter was younger, starting in first grade, she was a part of a summer book club here in the neighborhood. There were six girls in the club and each chose a book for the whole group to read. After reading a book, the girls would meet and the mom of the girl who chose the book would host a discussion, activity, and snack. As the girls got older, they took over the meetings sans moms. The girls continued the book club all the way through middle school and it was the best summer activity ever. Not only did the girls enjoy choosing their own books and meeting to discuss them, book club guaranteed that they would read at least six books over the summer—a huge win in my book!
Book club made summer reading something to look forward to, which is exactly what summer reading should be about—fun! If you’d like to start a book club for your child, there are numerous online resources with helpful tips. I like this one from Imagination Soup: imaginationsoup.net/ultimate-guide-book-clubs-kids/.
Summer reading programs, which typically provide incentives for reading a certain number of books, are another fun way to keep kids reading when school’s out. The Chatham Community Library is holding a summer reading program called Color Our World. Readers aged 2-18 can participate in the program at any of the Library’s three branches (Pittsboro, Siler City, or Goldston) by picking up a reading and activity log, along with a free book, while supplies last. The program runs from June 7 – August 2, and all participants who read for at least 10 hours and/or complete 10 of the activities will be entered in a grand prize drawing. Visit the Library online at chathamcountync.gov (search for “library”) for more information and to see all of the other planned summer activities such as storytimes, clubs and games.
Chatham County Schools also has a summer reading program called Reach 20 for students in grades K-8. Students must read for at least 20 minutes each day and complete a learning log to win prizes when they return to school in August. Those who reach 20 hours of reading during the summer are eligible for the grand prizes. Find more information and reading logs here.
Besides book clubs and reading programs, there are many other ways to support your child’s reading during the summer. The most important thing is to let your kids choose what they want to read as research shows that kids are more likely to finish reading a book they choose themselves. Plus most children say their favorite books are ones they get to choose to read (Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report 8th edition). Popular fiction, magazines, graphic novels and comic books are all appropriate reading materials. Remember it’s the act of reading not the type of reading that matters most.
Something else to keep in mind is that books should be easy enough for kids to read on their own. You can use the five-finger rule to check if a book is too difficult. Ask your child to hold up five fingers and read one page of a book (not the first page). Each time your child doesn’t know a word, put one finger down. If all five fingers are down by the end of the page, then the book is too hard.
Here are a few more summer reading tips:
- Create a reading area and set aside a quiet time for reading each day. Or have your child pick a new reading place everyday–in a fort, under a tree, on their bed.
- Talk about the books your child is reading. Ask them what they liked, what they didn’t like, or who their favorite character was.
- Read aloud to your child every day. You can read a page, then your child can read a page.
- Find books online at nckids.overdrive.com (must have a library card).
- Keep it fun so your child wants to keep reading—no need to set rules on time or number of pages read.
Before I sign off, I want to leave you with one more fun summer reading resource provided by Reading Rockets (readingrockets.org): Summer Learning Tips to Go! This is a text messaging service that will send you three messages per week throughout the summer featuring hands-on reading activities. Text (855) 773-1019 toll-free with the word “READING” for tips in English and “LECTURA” for tips in Spanish.
Photo above from freepik.