5 Ways to Engage Students Over Summer Break

By Julia Baker, Ed.D. in Reading and Literacy, M.S.

Clinician At Strategies for Learning

Over the years, I have noticed that most students’ Lexile levels decrease when they return to school after the summer break. Lexile levels measure a student’s reading ability based on the Scholastic Reading Inventory test or standardized assessment. Researchers refer to the drop in Lexile levels as the “Summer Slide.” Summer reading loss or summer slide impacts academic performance; however, consistently reading during the summer break could lead to academic success (McCooms et al., 2011). Several school districts have implemented reading programs to combat summer reading loss, and as a result, have seen an increase in Lexile levels (Pitcock & Brekhus, 2016). To avoid “Summer Slide,” students need various options to engage in reading that inspires and motivates them to pick up a book. Creating opportunities for consistent practice in reading comprehension, made available over the summer, should increase reading achievements, engagement, and confidence (Roman, Carran & Fiore, 2010). Therefore, the likelihood of improving Lexile levels is achievable when students take part in reading over the summer break. If students do not have access to school reading programs, parents could implement the following suggestions to increase reading engagement and Lexile levels.

Prevent Summer Slide

1.   Lead by Example: If reading is a routine, it is a determining factor of students becoming lifelong learners. Seeing members of their family reading sets an example that reading is essential and enjoyable.

2.   Daily Reading Time: Keeping an abundance of reading material around the house will provide easier access to books. A student who reads for at least 20 minutes a day performs better on assessments.

3.   Trips to the Library: Regular trips to the library are great ways for students to explore books of interest and build quality time for reading. Regular trips to the library could also be an opportunity to create fun reading-centered activities like a scavenger book hunt. Before the scavenger book hunt, discuss books of interest. Then plan several activities in which your child can explore the library looking for those genres. Additionally, there are summer reading programs offered at the library.

4.   Summer Writing Journal: Combining fun summer activities with writing could be a way your child writes about their interest. While enjoying summer activities, your child could jot down information about those experiences then write about it later. Your child’s adventure could describe their favorite place to eat or a trip to an amusement park. To personalize their journal, have your child decorate their summer journal with a collage of pictures from magazines images.

5.   Audio Books: Listening to books is a good way for students to build listening comprehension skills. Depending on the student, audiobooks could teach critical thinking, introduce new genres, and introduce more challenging books above grade level.

These are only a few of many ways to engage students over the summer break. Overall, the objective is for students to become intrinsically motivated to read books.

Sources:

McCombs, J.S., Augustine, C. H., Schwartz, H.L., Bodilly, S.J., Mcinnis, B., Lichter, D.S., & Cross, A. (2011). Making summer count: how summer programs can boost children’s learning. RAND Corporation, 1-86 https://doi.org/10.7249/MG1120

Roman, S., & Fiore, C. D. (2010). Do public library summer reading programs close the achievement gap? The Dominican Study. Children & Libraries, 8(3), 27-31

Pitcock, S. & Brekhus, T. 2016. Cracking the code to a successful summer reading program. Education Week, Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.edweek.org/education/opinion-cracking-the-code-to-a-successful-summer-reading-program/2016/04

Learn about how we can support students over the summer.

Learn about what we are doing to crush COVID and Summer Learning Loss.