As teachers, we all know the importance of keeping kids engaged in learning, even during the summer months. However, getting students to sit down and read during their break can be challenging. That’s why I created a summer reading calendar filled with fun, effective activities to keep students excited about reading. In this blog post, I’ll share some of the best ideas I’ve found for getting kids involved in summer reading and how to keep them engaged throughout the summer months.
#1 Read-to-Me:
One of my favorite summer reading activities is the “Read-to-Me” challenge. This activity encourages students to read to a stuffed animal or pet, a younger sibling, or even a plant! Kids can improve their confidence, fluency, and comprehension by reading aloud to something or someone. Plus, it’s a great way to practice reading in a fun, low-pressure environment. It’s such a simple idea, all students feel like they can join in the fun.
# 2 Get Families Involved:
A “bingo” board is another fantastic summer reading activity. Students can create their own bingo board with categories like “ask a family member to spell a word,” “read and try a new recipe,” (with family help of course) and more. Try the calendar full of fun, family-friendly activities I created for my students. Have students fill in spaces as they complete them. Either find a BINGO or fill in the calendar. Students will be so happy and proud to bring it back in the Fall to show off their progress!
# 3 Library Summer Reading Program:
A great free option to get students involved is the local library. Most libraries have a summer reading program, I would show interest in the libraries’ summer program with my students and ask if they planned to sign up. I told the students they could share their library experience in the Fall.
#4 Create a Summer Reading Playlist:
Music can be a powerful motivator for reading. Encourage students to create a “summer reading playlist” of songs that they enjoy listening to while reading. This playlist can include classical music, relaxing nature sounds, or even pop songs that students love. By creating a fun, customized playlist, students can make reading a more enjoyable experience.
#5 Book Club:
Finally, consider creating a summer book club with your students. It’s a great way to keep students engaged in reading throughout the summer. Choose a book to read together, and set a schedule for regular discussion with peers or family members. By discussing the book with peers, students can gain a deeper understanding of the material and develop critical thinking skills.
Summer reading doesn’t have to feel like homework. Keep it simple and you can create a fun, engaging, and effective summer reading program for your students. Whether it’s a “Read-to-Me” challenge, a summer reading bingo board, or just encouragment to join the summer reading at the Library, the key is to make reading a fun and enjoyable experience for kids. By keeping them engaged and motivated, you can help prevent the “summer slide” and set them up for success in the upcoming school year. Click here to be taken to a made for you calendar of summer activities in my store.
One last summer reading activity I did was to have the children write a summer reading wish list or bucket list. This helped them brainstorm new ideas for books and get excited about crossing books off their list.
I hope this blog post has helped you come up with some ideas for keeping your students excited about reading throughout the summer! What are some summer reading books you suggest students put on their wishlist? Leave a comment below.
Below are some other Blog Posts you may find useful to help with reading ideas.
- Here are 3 steps from 4 Kinder Teachers that will help you create meaningful read aloud experiences.
- Katelyn’s Learning Studio has a great Blog Post with an Ultimate List of Reading Intervention Strategies.
- Check out this blog post with 6 tips to make your reading interventions actually work!
- Grade School with Suzy has provided strategies for helping struggling readers here.
- Kaylee B has provided some great ideas for motivating students to read, from Teaching with Kaylee B.
