Dear Families,

Summer can be a season full of fun times and fond memories, but did you know that children may experience learning losses if they don’t read and write over the summer?  Research confirms, this and it is actually called the “summer slide” and the slide isn’t the one at the park. 

The best method for stopping the summer slide is to encourage reading on a daily basis. Set aside at least twenty minutes each day for your child to read a variety of materials at his/her independent reading level, where he/she can better learn to make necessary reading connections. Reading to your child, along with audio books, will help to develop their background knowledge and vocabulary. Thinking aloud while you read together helps to model important comprehension strategies. Consider building background knowledge about grade level topics of study by reading not only fiction and non-fiction selections from your local library, but also visiting museums and/or viewing age-appropriate videos and websites.

Please consider keeping a journal or scrapbook of summer adventures. Photos and souvenirs can provide great motivation for writing. Everyday writing can be encouraged through shopping lists, travel itineraries and note writing. In addition, word games such as Spill and Spell, Bananagrams, Scrabble, Boggle, and Bingo can be a fun way to develop spelling skills. Word association games such as Apples to Apples and Scattegories can help develop vocabulary in a fun way.

The class lists to the right provide Summer Reading Suggestions for students entering PK through grade five, along with the required summer reading titles for students entering grades three through five. Rising fourth graders are participating in summer book buddy groups and have already chosen their book.

For your convenience, in conjunction with the faculty and with support of administration, Super Summer Packets/Binders and subscriptions to Raz-Kids were sent home with students rising to first through third grades. New students will be receiving their summer packets and Raz-Kids information in the mail.

We hope you find these recommendations and resources helpful. Our goal is for your child to maintain the good progress he/she has made this year and enter the next grade with confidence and a love of reading!

With best wishes for a wonderful summer,

Joy Holmes-LS Literacy Specialist