As we roll into summer, everyone is ready for a break. It’s time to spend our days outside playing, swimming, biking, and having fun! But don’t forget, reading can be a fun part of the daily routine, too!
You may hear teachers talk about the “summer slump” or “summer slide.” Children who forget to read at home regularly over the summer generally have skill regression, sometimes losing several reading levels between spring and fall. The good news is that it’s easy to avoid the summer slump! All it takes is a good book!
The Forest Park Library, on Des Plaines and Jackson, is a fantastic resource. The children’s library is downstairs, and the librarians are always happy to help you and your children find books that will pique their interests. They have family story times and a reading incentive program over the summer, so check it out! http://www.fppl.org/
Remember, your child will develop and keep reading skills the more he reads, but that’s not the only way to work on those skills. When YOU read to your child, you model fluent reading, and you allow your child to access reading materials that might be too difficult for her to decode, but that are motivating and interesting. Reading to your child is also a wonderful way to introduce a wide range of new vocabulary. So, when the kids pick books that are “too hard” for them, don’t be afraid to say yes! Sitting together for a read aloud each night might just become a favorite part of the day for the whole family!
We at Betsy Ross encourage everyone in our community to get out, exercise, play, enjoy the weather, and READ, READ, READ! Your children’s teachers are looking forward to relaxing with some good books this summer, too! Enjoy your summer, and we’ll see you in August!
