Dear
Parents,
Summer is an
important time to continue reading in order to maintain and improve on reading
gains made over the year. Adults often choose easy things to read in the
summer, like a “beach read” or a fun book to read on vacation. Children can do
the same thing by selecting books that are easy to read and enjoyable.
What makes
for a good summer read? In addition to being an easy book, some students like reading
about summer time events, activities, and places.
Some ideas included:
·
Books
that are set during the summer time
·
Topics
like camp, beach or water themes, baseball, picnics, and more
·
Books
related to places visited or vacation spots
·
And
how if it is really hot, it can be nice to read about cold places or snow!
If you are
looking for ideas of book titles, here are a few to get you started.
Sasquatch (Grades 4-5)Towner Non-Fiction (Grades 4-5)
Washington Children's Choice Picture Books (K-3)
KCLS Booklists
Young Reader's Choice (by level)
Beverly Cleary (Grades 2-3)
Also, here are some wonderful articles on how to encourage your child to keep reading and writing over the summer:
·
“Summer Reading Tips for Parents” http://www.readingrockets.org/article/36
·
“How to Raise a Reader This Summer” http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/Jenn-Berman-Summer-Reading/379002685/
“Tips for Preventing the Summer Slide” http://blog.maketaketeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SummerSlide2.png
There has been a lot of writing happening this year! Here are some suggestions for students to keep the momentum going over the summer.
· Journal writing: Write about what happens during the days. It can be about the most exciting adventure or things that are boring and mundane. It can all make for good writing!
· Narrative writing: Write that story that you always wanted to tell! It could be a Small Moment story about one time in your life. Or it might be something like a fictional comic book.
· Information writing: Create a book that teaches something. It might be a recipe book, travel guide, or a how-to book.
· Opinion writing: Think about a problem you would like to change at home, in the community, or the world. What is something that bugs you? Explain your opinion and write about what you want to happen. Choose a real, authentic audience to write to such as a parent, newspaper editor, or person in charge. Book reviews and letters to authors can make for good opinion writing, too!
· Poetry and songs
· Letter writing: Postcards, thank you notes, and pen pal letters are all ways to write for a real audience and purpose.
Additional ideas for adults:
- Set up a regular time and place for writing. Build writing time into your daily schedule. Create an inviting place for writing and stock it with paper and pens.
- Set a timer to set goals for the length of writing. Can they keep the pencil moving for 20 minutes? Can they go for 45 minutes?
- Talk through the writing together before the child writes it down. How is it going to sound when they write it out? Discussing ideas and stories is a great way to generate thinking and plan out the writing. Be on the lookout for things that would make a great story to help the child think like a writer.
- Get friends together for a writing club. Writing with others is fun, peers can help each other, and it creates an audience to share with.
- Write at the same time as the student. This serves as a great model, and
encourages independence in the writer. And after you are done you can
share with each other!
- Looking for ideas? Feeling stuck? Look at books, articles, and any
text that mirrors the kind of thing that the writer wants to make.
Notice the things that the author did that could be replicated!
- Use technology. Typing the writing on the computer can be
motivating and engaging. Apps are another great way to
publish writing with pictures, animation, or comics.
