School's Out For Summer, But It's Still Important For Children To Read

Having children read over the summer is extermely important. Did you know that children who do not read during summer vacation can lose up to three months of reading progress? The reasearch is clear that this loss has cumulative, long-term effects. Fostering strong habits with reading is essential to closing achievement gaps, both in school and throughout life. Below are some tips to prevent summer reading loss:

• Model being a reader. One of the best ways for children of any age to become readers themselves is to see their parents and other family members reading daily. Books, magazines, newspapers - it doesn't matter, just set a good reading example.
• Reserve a specific time each day to read to your child and to have your child read independently. We make time each day and schedule events that are important to us. Reading must be one of them, as it's an investment in children's futures. If necessary, limit TV viewing, video gaming, and computer time in order to fit reading into your child's day, everyday.
• Help children get books and keep them motivated to read. Parents, day care providers, and any adult supervising children this summer can make reading fun by taking field trips to your local library at least once a week. Librarians can help pick out age appropriate books for everyone in your crew, and I know that a lot of libraries throughout the Chicago-land area have great summer reading programs for children of all ages which include goal setting, rewards, and special events.
• Other creative resources to keep children reading this summer include: http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/summer, http://openbooks.org

If I left out anything that you think would be a valuable resource to add, please let me know. Otherwise, have a very safe and happy 4th of July with family and friends! Don't forget to exercise your body as well as your mind this summer.