Summer is a welcome break from the pace of the school year. But it’s so important to keep the learning going — to reinforce literacy skills, build background knowledge, and nurture children’s curiosity. Here are some practical, engaging ways to make summer a great time for reading, writing, exploring, thinking, creating, and learning with young kids.
Find lots of ideas to get kids reading, talking about books, and actively learning this summer in this new blog post from literacy expert Tim Shanahan.
“Often it is asserted that getting kids to read will make them love it. That certainly was true for me, but the research on these matters is not so sanguine. Sometimes kids just find reading to be difficult, boring, or lonely. I don’t think that problem is solved by sending kids off to read on their own. There is more to it than that. People read not just because they find it pleasurable. They read because they want to know things or because they want to do things that reading enables. They read because of the social connections it allows. As you’ll see, the activities I have recommended tend to have some kind of payoff or social connection. That’s not by accident.”
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.
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 (The Riot Brothers series). 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. Related article:Mary Amato’s Tips for Keeping a Diary
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 children started. (In English and Spanish). Related video:Nature Journals from our full interview with Melissa Stewart (No Monkeys, No Chocolate)
What “wood” we do without trees? Our newest activity kit is all about connecting kids with the trees in their community. Tree Trekkers gives kids a chance to learn all about trees — their role in the ecosystem and in climate change, their characteristics and life cycles, their many benefits to humans and to other species, the stories they tell us about our history, and how trees, forests, and parks have inspired art, music, and literature.
June 16-22 is Pollinator Week all across the country. Learn about the crucial role that bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators play in our natural world with Bug Buddies. In our free activity kit, you’ll find recommendations for great fiction, nonfiction, and poetry books, videos, apps, and hands-on activities to guide kids’ exploration of insects and their role in sustaining healthy ecosystems and lots of the foods we enjoy around our family table. Related resource:Learn more about Pollinator Week (Pollinator Partnership)
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. You’ll also find video clips from our interviews with award-winning authors including Carmen Agra Deedy (Martina the Beautiful Cockroach), Yuyi Morales (Dreamers), Marilyn Singer (Mirror, Mirror), Tracey Baptiste (The Jumbies), and Jerry Pinkney (Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales).
For most parents, it’s a challenge to keep kids reading and writing all summer. Dive into these 10 ideas to help make this summer full of fun, creativity, and learning. (In English and Spanish)
Consider organizing a book swap for your neighborhood or block. It can be a simple afternoon undertaking, or with more time and effort, a fun event that will become an annual tradition! (In English and Spanish)
The sense of wonder that nature provides is the same curiosity you want children to bring to a book. There are many simple, fun ways to read and learn together in the great outdoors. Have you ever gone on a book-nic or tried reading aloud under the stars by flashlight?
Discover what kinds of books are especially popular with children who struggle with reading. The recommended books are based on a Reading Rockets survey of parents and educators of children with learning and attention issues, including dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder.
Our sister site, Reading Universe, has lots of professional development resources for literacy teachers, including videos filmed in exemplary classrooms around the country. See great teaching in action on the Reading Universe YouTube channel.
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 by 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 by 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 by 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 by Christopher Such Offers an introductory guide to the science behind reading and its practical implications for classroom teaching in primary schools. Reading for Life by Lyn Stone Bridges the gap between research and practice, translating academic findings into practical suggestions and ready-to-use techniques. Reading in the Wild: The Book Whisperer’s Keys to Cultivating Lifelong Reading Habits by Donalyn Miller Advice and strategies on how to develop, encourage and assess key lifelong reading habits, including dedicating time for reading, planning for future reading, and defining oneself as a reader.
Reading Rockets is a national educational service of WETA, the flagship public television and radio station in the nation's capital. The goal of the project is to provide information on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.
Send your questions, comments, or suggestions to [email protected]. Our mailing address is WETA/Reading Rockets, 2775 S. Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22206. We look forward to hearing from you!
