This summer I started my professional reading with No More Summer Reading Loss by Carrie Cahill, Kathy Horvath, Anne McGill-Franzen and Richard Allington, a book from the series Not This But That from Heinemann Publishers. This great little series provides a look at the current research and practical uses on various topics. It doesn't seem like the time of year to be reading a book on summer reading loss, I know. Yet I realize now that this is a good time of the year to be thinking about next year's summer reading for my students.
I had ended this school year with students decorating bags to fill with books of their choice to take home to keep and I enclosed a letter to parent stressing the importance of summer reading. Hooray, this is one point made in the book. We have covered providing access to books for kids and have engaged the parents some what. However, I had a nagging feeling as I excitedly talked up various books to students, as they filled their bags, that I was not really doing enough. Would they read the books over the summer? Would parents buy into the importance of summer reading? Or would it be like in my own house, where my kids start the summer with a book they are excited about, yet when that one is finished it is hard for them to continue the momentum. Or even worse would they not even look at their new books?
The book No More Summer Reading Loss brings up a great point, preparing for summer reading actually happens all year. If students have gained stamina, and practice independent reading they are likely to see themselves as readers and continue that practice in the summer. By giving students choice and guiding them to engaged reading we are helping our students see themselves as readers. Building motivation is essential. Teaching with best practices builds this motivation. When we provide choice to students, use shared reading experiences, allow for independent practice, teach strategies, share our own reading habits and build in time to reflect on new learning we are nurturing our student as readers. Which will naturally continue when we wave them off for the summer.
Knowing my students have benefited from these best practice this past school year, I am now imagining them excited about their books and perhaps even rereading them. I will continue this summer to look for exciting new titles to introduce them to in the fall. I will also reflect and think how I can include more collaboration between students, sharing books they have loved. How can I build engagement in free reading time? How can I provide more support over the summer next year? How can I further engage parents? So much to think about, I just hope the summer does not slip away too quickly.
