Reasons for Summer Reading
Check out this list of ten reasons people should read every day. In addition to the emotional benefits (such as stress reduction and an increased sense of tranquility), reading every day will help young people become better students overall.
My students often complain that they have trouble focusing and remembering information. They want better scores on writing assignments, yet they lack skills in writing conventions and vocabulary development. Some of them feel like their classwork and/or homework takes too long (which is partly because they can’t read fast enough). In order to be prepared for the workforce, our students also need to be critical thinkers and problem-solvers. Reading is the best way to foster all of those abilities, and it will keep their brains active during the summer months when they are less stimulated by school. Here are three steps that will help you plan your summer reading:
My students often complain that they have trouble focusing and remembering information. They want better scores on writing assignments, yet they lack skills in writing conventions and vocabulary development. Some of them feel like their classwork and/or homework takes too long (which is partly because they can’t read fast enough). In order to be prepared for the workforce, our students also need to be critical thinkers and problem-solvers. Reading is the best way to foster all of those abilities, and it will keep their brains active during the summer months when they are less stimulated by school. Here are three steps that will help you plan your summer reading:
1. Develop an Incentive Program
Students who do not normally read for entertainment may need an incentive. My first suggestion is to explore the mySummer program through Anythink Libraries. Students can create an online account in which they set their summer reading goals and earn digital “badges” and such for each book they read. You might think this is only meaningful for little kids, but teens also like to have regular feedback when making progress toward a goal. If you choose, your family can decide on small rewards or outings as an incentive to read daily, finish books and/or meet a reading goal.
One of the best incentives is reading together. Most teens read less than they did when they were in elementary school. That is largely because reading is a more communal experience for little kids, which makes it more enjoyable. Oftentimes that enjoyment is lost when parents and teachers stop reading aloud to them. However, we can re-create that incentive for teens. Whether you want to read aloud, read the same book and talk about it, or just go to the library or bookstore to pick out books together, making reading a family activity will create a bonding experience that makes it more enjoyable. Many people also enjoy using Goodreads, which is a social media platform specifically for books.
One of the best incentives is reading together. Most teens read less than they did when they were in elementary school. That is largely because reading is a more communal experience for little kids, which makes it more enjoyable. Oftentimes that enjoyment is lost when parents and teachers stop reading aloud to them. However, we can re-create that incentive for teens. Whether you want to read aloud, read the same book and talk about it, or just go to the library or bookstore to pick out books together, making reading a family activity will create a bonding experience that makes it more enjoyable. Many people also enjoy using Goodreads, which is a social media platform specifically for books.
2. Be Strategic About Choosing Books
Deciding what to read can be challenging for those who don’t normally read for pleasure. It’s important for students to think of pleasure reading as both entertaining and a means for building fluency (speed) while reading. According to this article in Forbes magazine, the average college student reads about 450 words per minute in order to keep up his/her studies. (As a basis for comparison, the average adult reads only 300 words per minute.)
My general rule for myself is, if I’ve read a fourth of the pages in a book and I’m still not engaged, I abandon the book. It’s OK to abandon books you’re reading for pleasure. Reading some of the pages still helps you build fluency. Reading part of a book and “trying it on for size” will also help you develop your personal preferences so that you can choose something more engaging next time.
Before selecting some titles for summer reading, please skim through Kylene Beers’ article on Four Guidelines for Summer Reading. She offers some creative suggestions for choosing books. Additionally, you can find some lists of award-winning books on the American Library Association website (specifically the young adult section, YALSA).
Earlier this year I compiled a list of suggested reading for students in our Engineering and Biomed pathways. These books are by no means required for students, but they’re entertaining books that might appeal to some of our more analytical readers. (Students who signed up for AP Seminar and AP Language next year will receive a summer assignment from their future teachers, but that will mostly be comprised of short readings. They will receive instructions for that some time in May.)
My general rule for myself is, if I’ve read a fourth of the pages in a book and I’m still not engaged, I abandon the book. It’s OK to abandon books you’re reading for pleasure. Reading some of the pages still helps you build fluency. Reading part of a book and “trying it on for size” will also help you develop your personal preferences so that you can choose something more engaging next time.
Before selecting some titles for summer reading, please skim through Kylene Beers’ article on Four Guidelines for Summer Reading. She offers some creative suggestions for choosing books. Additionally, you can find some lists of award-winning books on the American Library Association website (specifically the young adult section, YALSA).
Earlier this year I compiled a list of suggested reading for students in our Engineering and Biomed pathways. These books are by no means required for students, but they’re entertaining books that might appeal to some of our more analytical readers. (Students who signed up for AP Seminar and AP Language next year will receive a summer assignment from their future teachers, but that will mostly be comprised of short readings. They will receive instructions for that some time in May.)
3. Consider Incorporating Audiobooks
Though they don’t provide as much intellectual benefit as reading the text itself, listening to audiobooks can also be pleasurable and they are great for those long summer roadtrips. If your family likes audiobooks, consider signing up for the SYNC program. SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for teens and they are offering two complete audiobook downloads a week. You can sign up at www.audiobooksync.com