It’s no secret that students forget a tiny bit of what they learned during the previous school year over the summer. This is what is known as the “summer slide”. That’s why the beginning of each school year is filled with lots of practical review, so that students can brush up on what they learned in the previous year.
But did you know that there is one thing that you can to help your student stay engaged in learning over the summer? And it’s surprisingly easy!
Read.
Yep, that’s it. Simply put, reading helps students activate the learning part of their brain.
There are many ways that adults can encourage students to read.
Read aloud.
Students love to be read to. Pick a fun chapter book and read one chapter each day out loud. Audio books are another way for children to listen to great stories.
Make it a routine.
Throughout the summer, encourage young children to practice reading for at least 20 minutes per day. Make it part of an enjoyable routine. Let children pick books that interest them and are easy for them to read.
Make it fun.
Make the reading fun! Take books to the park or read in a hammock under the shade of a tree. Read in unusual places. Invite friends and family members to read together. Call a grandparent or other relative and read to them over the phone.
Join a virtual Drop Everything And Read session. Check out the events on our Facebook page for details on when each session is happening. Then grab your favorite book and join us to read.
The important thing is to have students actively engaged in some learning over the summer, and reading definitely is one of the simplest ways to do so.
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