Individualized, evidence-based literacy instruction

Mrs. Elliot

May 2019

Motivating Kids to Read During Summer Break

Parents often ask me how best to support their kids in reading, particularly parents of globally mobile families who may have a hectic summer schedule of travel.  Great news! Reading is the perfect activity to stave off boredom during long waits at the airport, flights or car rides, and even those hot summer days with nothing planned.

The more kids read, they better readers they become. The better readers they become, the more they want to read.  So how do we motivate our kids, especially those reluctant or struggling readers, to *want* to read in the first place?  After combing the research on motivating readers and gathering tips from teachers and parents, I have put together a list of ideas and resources for you:

LET KIDS CHOOSE:  

As often as possible, kids should be given the opportunity to read books of their choice.  Don’t stress too much about the “level” of the book.  Kids should be allowed to select books in the same way that adults do- based on interest, genre, topic or a host of other factors.  If your child selects a book that is too challenging to read on their own, see if you can find a way to support them, either by reading it together or finding an audio version of the book.  If your child selects a book that you suspect is too easy, great!  Studies show that students who engage often in high success reading (books that are “too easy”) develop into good readers.  ​

Live overseas and have trouble finding books?  Check to see if your child’s school has a lending library for the summer, or if you can sign-up for a digital library subscription through your hometown library.  Many libraries now have a partnership with sites like overdrive.com, which has an impressive collection of regular and audiobooks.  International schools sometimes have digital library offerings as well you can take advantage of over the summer, but this may not be advertised so ask your librarian! Start a weekly book swap so kids can get together to talk about books they have enjoyed and share them with friends.  Some educational websites offer great free reading content.  Two of my favorites are newsela.com, which modifies current news articles for different grade levels and readworks.org, which offers printable books and stories as well as support materials for vocabulary and content.  ​

BE PREPARED FOR "READING EMERGENCIES":  

In The Book Whisperer, Donalyn Miller writes about the importance of kids planning what books they would like to read next and being prepared for “reading emergencies”.  Talk to friends, read blogs or award lists, or just go to the library or book store and pick out a few books that speak to you.  Keep those books with you for “reading emergencies”, those times when you are bored at a restaurant, airport, or just out running errands.  Have a book at the ready for yourself and your child, so you can enjoy a great book while modeling good reading habits.  If your child isn’t reading independently yet, they can always look at a good picture book or listen to an audio book.

If you and your child have dedicated reading times at home, wonderful!  If you don't, that's ok!  When we read a few minutes here and there throughout the day, those minutes add up.  

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TRACK READING AND CELEBRATE:  

Look into incentive programs run by schools, libraries, or community centers.  Some libraries have challenges like reading a certain number of days and partnerships with sports teams or amusement parks to offer prizes.  Some even hold special events like read-in sleepovers or days where children can sign up to read with a puppy.  If no such events exist where you live or you will be traveling, find your own ways to track reading and celebrate.  See below for links to a customizable reading bingo board and a sample reading log, so kids can track and celebrate the many places they can read as they travel.  Activities like these help kids see reading as a community activity, as well as helping families track reading and celebrate accomplishments!

I hope these tips help you and your readers find and enjoy some great books!  Feel free to email me at reading@mrselliot.com if you have any questions, would like book recommendations, or if you believe your child might need support for a reading or learning disability.

Happy Reading!