June 2023

Bright Ideas for Reading, Writing, and Building Background Knowledge All Summer Long

In this issue: Building Background Knowledge / “DIY Summer Camp” Toolkits and Guides / Summer Writing / Children’s Books & Authors / Especially for Teachers / Events & News

Building Background Knowledge

Summer is finally here! Here at Reading Rockets, we've got some great resources and ideas to help nourish kids’ minds all summer long — through reading, writing, listening, exploring, and creating. Dive in!

Pairing Books, Activities, and Experiences to Build Background Knowledge

What is background knowledge, and why is it so important for reading comprehension and motivation? In this introduction, you’ll also discover simple, everyday activities that helps build a child’s knowledge about the world. When kids have lots of experiences to draw on, they have a better chance of making a connection with what they read!

Summer Learning, Side-by-Side

Children are full of questions about the world around them, and summer is a perfect time to tap into your child's interests. Here are some ways to start a journey of discovery together. (In English and Spanish)

Explore more:

“DIY Summer Camp” Toolkits and Guides

Our companion site, Start with a Book, offers free, downloadable toolkits and guides to enrich summer and afterschool learning at home or through youth programs. Explore weather and climate, music, birds, space, civics, multicultural stories, and more!

NEW! Weather Wonders

Make your own weather station, explore extreme weather, make weather-inspired art, celebrate weather and community. Understand how climate impacts your community and the world and make a plan to help. Weather Wonders is a 5-day program that connects books and writing with hands-on activities and other active learning opportunities.
Join us ... to explore, read, write, play, invent, and learn — all about weather and climate.

We Are Storytellers: Exploring Multicultural Folktales, Fairy Tales and Myths

Reading and writing go hand in hand. Explore multicultural folktales, fairy tales, and myths through shared read alouds and independent reading. Then try some of the writing, oral storytelling, poetry, mapmaking, and other creative activities featured in our activity guide.

Tune in to Music!

Imagine making music with your body, inventing simple instruments with recycled materials, playing conductor, building community through call-and-response singing and group dances, creating a music time capsule, drawing to music, designing an album cover, exploring voices and songs of social change, and writing original jingles, parodies, and raps. Tune In is a 5-day program that connects books and writing with hands-on activities and other active learning opportunities.

New Podcast ‘Reading Comprehension Revisited’ debuts on 6/28

Natalie Wexler explores misunderstandings about reading comprehension with researcher Hugh Catts and educators around the country in this highly-anticipated podcast from the Knowledge Matters Campaign. This six-episode series drops on Wednesday June 28th, perfect for summer learning!
Listen to the trailer, and spread the word!

Summer Writing

Give kids a chance to exercise different kinds of writing muscles this summer — from poetry to nature journals to persuasive writing. These engaging writing activities are perfect for at home or as a group activity in summer programs.

Nature Journals

Science and math explorations give your growing reader a chance to strengthen observation and writing skills by keeping a special journal to fill with sketches, notes, and graphs. Try these ideas to get your child started. (In English and Spanish)

7 Great Ways to Encourage Your Child’s Writing

If your child struggles with writing, it’s important to find new and exciting ways to encourage them to write. Here are some creative strategies to try.

Mary Amato’s Tips for Keeping a Writer’s Notebook

Find out why it's a good idea for young aspiring writers to keep a journal, and get practical tips on journal writing from children’s author and writing coach Mary Amato. She says, don't forget to bring a writing journal everywhere you go! Learn more about kids and writing in our video interview with Mary Amato.
Explore more writing ideas for kids at Start with a Book.

Writing SOS

In this special Reading Rockets video series, experts answer real questions from families about writing and how to support their children’s literacy at home. Our Writing SOS experts answer your questions about writing motivation, handwriting, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, technology, and more. (Produced in partnership with the National Education Association)
Featured Question: “My child says she hates writing, but she has a wonderful imagination. How do I help her get comfortable with writing down her ideas?”
Literacy specialist Kyley Pulphus suggests a few ways for parents to encourage their children to find comfort and expression in writing.

Children’s Books & Authors

Head in the Clouds: Guest Post from Nonfiction Author Sandra Nickel

Sandra Nickel, the author of the wonderful new picture book biography about a trailblazing scientist, Breaking Through the Clouds: The Sometimes Turbulent Life of Meteorologist Joanne Simpson, joins us to share her appreciation and enthusiasm for clouds. Sandra has some amazing ideas to lead kids to learning about clouds, weather, and weather-related words and expressions. You and the kids in your life will never look at the sky the same way again!

Listen and Learn with Audiobooks

Audiobooks are a wonderful way to expose your child to complex language, expressive reading, and fantastic stories. Kids can use their own imaginations to visualize the people and places they’re hearing about. Here, you’ll find guidance on what to look for in choosing audiobooks as well as listening tips. (In English and Spanish)

More great audiobook resources:

Our Summer Booklists

Our annual summer booklists make it easy to find great books kids will enjoy during the long, lazy days of summer. This list can be a springboard for helping your kids choose books on topics that pique their curiosity — that’s what really motivates children to want to read.

Especially for Teachers

Teachers Won’t Embrace Research Until It Embraces Them

We’re re-upping this post from Margaret Goldberg, literacy coach and co-founder of the Right to Read Project because it touches on thoughts many teachers have right now about literacy instruction in their schools. Margaret says:
“I understand why advocates, researchers, and policymakers who feel the urgency of our literacy crisis are frustrated when teachers don’t embrace reading science. But my entry into the world of reading research was difficult, and while I take pride in my determination to learn, I understand why other teachers might be deterred. If we want teachers to apply research, it may be helpful to think about why they aren’t. I’ll open my own experience up as an example.”

Summer Reading for Teachers

Alongside your stack of summer reads (Mysteries? Science fiction? A re-read of a favorite novel?), you might want to add one or more of these excellent books to help build your knowledge about teaching reading and writing.
The Knowledge Gap — Natalie Wexler
Focuses on a long-overlooked issue lying at the heart of what is known as the achievement gap: the failure of most elementary schools, and especially those serving low-income children, to systematically build knowledge of the world.
The Writing Rope — Joan Sedita
Weaves multiple skills and strategies into five fundamentals of a comprehensive writing curriculum: critical thinking, syntax (sentences), text structure, writing craft, and transcription (spelling and handwriting).
Language at the Speed of Sight: How We Read, Why So Many Can't, and What Can Be Done About It — Mark Seidenberg
Cognitive neuroscientist Seidenberg digs deep into the science of reading to reveal the ways human beings learn how to read and process language.
The Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading — Christopher Such
Offers an introductory guide to the science behind reading and its practical implications for classroom teaching in primary schools.
Reading for Life — Lyn Stone
Bridges the gap between research and practice, translating academic findings into practical suggestions and ready-to-use techniques..

Events & News

National Book Festival
August 12, 2023 | Washington DC

The Reading League Annual Conference
October 2-4, 2023 | Syracuse, NY

International Dyslexia Association Annual Conference
October 12-14, 2023 | Columbus, OH

Making the Most of Neuroscience for Teaching Reading
Psychology Today

Judy Blume Kicks Off ALA Annual, Talking Censorship and Thanking Librarians
School Library Journal

Jason Reynolds Is Just Getting Started
School Library Journal

Expanding Your School’s Nonfiction Collection
Edutopia

U.S. reading and math scores drop to lowest level in decades
National Public Radio

Why advocates say early sign language learning for deaf children is crucial
PBS NewsHour

Literacy Success Does Not Happen Overnight
ExcelinEd

Mississippi Is Offering Lessons for America on Education
The New York Times