It’s that time of year when testing is winding down, classroom celebrations are taking hold, and the whiffs of summer are permeating the air. What better time to talk about summer reading with all your favorite middle grade books!
Why Summer Reading?
Experts agree that summer reading is a great way to prevent the summer slide – where students have the potential to lose the academic gains they’ve made over the school year. This is especially true for students who may struggle with reading and writing. Specifically, by sixth grade, the cumulative effect of summer reading loss creates a gap of 18 months or more between struggling and proficient readers. Over time, this summer reading loss accounts for about two-thirds of the gap between economically disadvantaged students and their wealthier peers. Summer Reading, therefore, is great for building vocabulary, comprehension, strengthening writing skills, and building background knowledge.
Most importantly, it can be fun!
Inspiring Students and Kids to Read This Summer!
While students are still in school, Rebecca Alber recommends the following ideas to drum up excitement for summer reading:
- Invite students to give booktalks to the class. Want a great way to have students celebrate what they’ve read all year? Have them share their favorite books to inspire summer reading lists.
- Introduce students to book series. Banish the “I don’t know what to read next” whining with great book series that students can race through.
- Consider setting up a social media platform for students to share their favorite summer reads. Middle schoolers are probably all talking to each other anyway, so why not steer their conversations towards great summer reads?
- Advise families to take their kids to bookstores and the library. Send a note home with a list of libraries and bookstores (independent if possible) in the area and region. Have them travel to someplace new to check out a new bookstore!
At home, Reading Rockets recommends the following ideas:
- Read with your child every day. Whether this is family reading time or sitting down and reading aloud to your kid (please, please, please read aloud to your middle schooler!), having a daily reading schedule should be part of the routine!
- Start a kid’s book club. Keep it simple, keep it fun, and encourage reflection. Check out Read Across America’s tips for book clubs.
- Connect the reading to real life. You might already have a vacation planned this summer or you might want to explore somewhere new. Either way, find ways to reinforce what your children are reading about through all your trips and activities this summer.
Finding Books
Chances are your library already has a summer reading list ready to go for children. They are the first and best resource for you. If you want more ideas on where to find books to read, check out the following.
- Best of Book Lists. Here is School Library Journal’s Best of Middle Grade Books 2024 list. Browse their archives for more books!
- Children’s Literature Expert Maria Salvadore has booklists from 2008 until present along with more book ideas on her popular blog.
- Check out the classics. There are amazing new middle grade books all the time, many featured on this blog. There are also books that have been recommended throughout the ages. Diversify your reading list as best as you can!
What are your plans for summer reading with students and kids? Share in the comments below!