8 BOOKS or 1,000 PAGES
IS ALL IT TAKES!
Dear Shark Families,
Summer break is fast approaching and we can’t tell you how important it is for your child to continue reading this summer.
All students are assessed in reading/ language arts within the first two weeks of school. Assessments are done in order to find a child’s just right reading level for instructional support. As parents, the gift you can give your child is continued reading support throughout the summer. Reading on a daily basis will help them to at least maintain their current reading level, enabling them to jump right into their new curriculum in the fall. Studies show that children slip back at a much faster rate than they move forward, and summer typically is a time when children spend less time visiting books. One specific study, out of the Harvard School of Reading, showed that children who read 8 books (at the child’s just right level) over the summer break actually improved their reading levels when assessed at the beginning of their new school year. Reading is the foundation of all other curricular areas – science, language arts, math, everything!
Please continue to read with your child this summer. The Dublin Public Library has a summer reading program. It is a great program that includes prizes to motivate children throughout the summer. Visit the library to sign up. Barnes and Noblehas a reading program called “Imagination Destination” where children can earn a free book for reading eight stories this summer. In addition, Half Price Books has a summer reading programs where students can earn a free book. Finally, bookadventure.com is a free online reading program that is similar to Accelerated Reader – where you can track your child’s comprehension and they take short online quizzes after reading a book.
We also highly recommend a book to parents called, 7 Keys to Comprehension, How to Help Your Kids Read it and Get, by Susan Zimmerman and Chryse Hutchins (ISBN 0-7615-1549-6). The book is written by reading teachers and specialists just for parents. It is an easy read that will give you the language we use in class and allow you to engage in challenging book discussions with your children this summer. Please consider purchasing this for your home library – you will be able to reference it for all the years of your child’s education.
Turn the TV and video games off a little and encourage some fun summer reading.
“The more you read, the better reader you become.
The more you read, the better writer you become.
The more you read, the better speller you become.”
By reading “8 just right” books or 1,000 pages this summer, your student can earn a “tasty” surprise next fall. Please complete the reverse side of this sheet and return it to your homeroom teacher by Tuesday, September 1st. Enjoy your summer - and keep reading!
~The Shark Team