The ABC's of Summer Reading

With all of the fun activities summer has to offer, engaging your little reader may seem a little more challenging than in those cozy winter months. Reading during summer break helps children maintain the literacy skills they have been developing throughout the school year. Practicing reading in the summer months will better prepare your child for an easier transition back to school in the fall (and who doesn’t want that?).When working on literacy skills with your child over the summer keep in mind the ABC’s of improved reading:A - ACCESS TO BOOKS:Give your child access to a variety of books to stay interested and challenged throughout the summer months.4 Places to find books during summer:1. United Way of Lane County’s Summer Reading Spots Program—Every child who attends the Summer Reading Spots will receive a book to take home. Last year, over 2,000 books were put into the hands of local children. See the site locations below:Springfield site (June 23rd – August 20th):Willamalane Park Swim Center, 1276 G StreetTuesday – Thursday1:00-2:00pmEugene site (June 23rd – August 20th):Petersen Park, 870 Berntzen RoadTuesday – Thursday1:00-2:00pmCottage Grove site (June 16th – August 13th):Bohemia Elementary School, 721 South R StreetTuesday – Thursday12:30-1:30pm2. Neighborhood book exchange/garage sales3. Local library summer reading programs—Check out this link for all of the public libraries in Lane County! http://www.lanelibrary.org/home/libraries-of-lane-county4. Community Little Free Libraries—they are usually located near a community space, playground, or neighbor’s house. Click here to search for a Little Free Library nearby! http://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/B - BOOKS THAT MATCH READER’S ABILITY LEVEL:It is important to look over the books that your child is reading to make sure that they are still appropriate for his/her reading level. You can get a list of recommended books from your child’s school, the public library, or some book stores. One technique that is helpful in determining if a book is appropriate is the 5 finger technique.The 5 Fingers Technique:While your child is reading a book teach them to raise one finger for every word that is challenging or hard to understand. If your child raises 5 fingers the book may be too difficult and you should look for a different one. Being challenged is a good thing but if a young reader is having so much difficulty that they cannot understand the story they lose all of the benefits from reading.C - COMPREHENSION THAT IS MONITORED BY AN ADULT OR OLDER SIBLING:Have an adult or older sibling nearby during reading time to ask questions about the story and guide your child to a better understanding of the story.Ways to engage your child during reading time:• Book Walks—Take time before reading the entire story to look at the pictures  and guess what will happen• Ask Questions—Engage your child by asking about characters in the book and how they relate to people or things in real life• Use Props—Use finger puppets or props to help tell the story. This is a great visual for kids to see as they are reading the story.• Journal or Draw—Have your child write down some of the best moments in the story or create a picture to represent the story.Reading with your children, especially at an early age, gives them time to become comfortable with books and sets the example that reading is not only enjoyable, but a family activity. Older children also enjoy the time spent reading together especially with some interactive techniques. Reading can be an opportunity to bond with the whole family and play a major role in their educational success.No matter what your family plans are this summer, incorporating a book is essential to prepare your child for the next school year. Regardless of which technique you use, the most important thing is to keep reading!The information provided in this article was adapted from materials produced by the National Summer Learning Association.