Latest news with #summerreading
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Opinion: Read with your child to avoid the "Summer slide"
School is out and summer is here. Parents may be seeking creative activities for their children to make the best use of their time and imagination. Let's not forget ways to encourage reading and fostering a love of books, during the school break, to slow down the 'Summer Slide.' That is where academic skills, including reading, tend to diminish during the summer months. A paper published by Home Libraries noted, '… on average, students' achievement scores decline over summer vacation by the equivalent of one month of learning.' So, what should parents and caregivers do to keep a check on that decline? One way is for parents and caregivers to try and remember being your child's age and what books you read and loved that stayed with you throughout the years. For me, it was 'I Love You, Stinky Face' by Lisa McCourt. For others, it might have been some version of Aesop's Fables, Dr. Seuss, or 'Good Night Moon.' If you take just 15-20 minutes per day to read to and with your children, you will spend quality time together while sparking a love for books and reading that will carry into continued learning as they grow older. Michelle Stantial, special education teacher in Houston, Texas, and owner of Woodland Havens Counseling, recently wrote about when she was younger and she and her mother took turns reading the 'Anne of Green Gables' series. Today? Who knows? Maybe it's Harry Potter, Pete the Cat, or some other popular book. 'Choose a chapter book that you both can enjoy — adventure stories, mysteries, or books with strong characters are great choices,' Stantial said 'Set aside 20–30 minutes a few evenings a week to read aloud together. Then, talk about the characters and what might happen next.' If you want to take it a step further, have your child dress like one of the characters in the book you are reading. Whatever you do to keep them engaged with books, it will lead to setting them up for success and offering quality time with them. This is important to know. The 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) concluded that average reading scores on the NAEP fell three points from 2019 to 2022. That was the largest decline since 1990. 'Understanding that it is in the first years of life that a child's future educational success is determined, you as a parent or caregiver are their first and most important teacher,' said Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County's Board Chair and former teacher, Alan Bergman. 'It is our passion and our mission to celebrate literacy efforts across the County.' As you think about this, keep the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard in mind. We have several reading opportunities and events for your child, so let's not have this summer be a forgotten chapter in their learning progression. Laura Gambino is the Chief Executive Officer of the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard Here are Summer reading events and activities sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County: sponsored programs (open to the public) include: locations at Taylor Park (Cocoa), Orchid Lake Housing (Cocoa), The HUB at Endeavor Elementary School (Cocoa), Coastal Health Systems (Rockledge), Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (Cocoa Beach), United Methodist Church (Mims), Just for Kids (Titusville), Neighbor Up – The Dock (Melbourne), Boys & Girls Club (Melbourne), and the ELCB office (Melbourne) story time sessions are held at various locations throughout Brevard County with themes that include Healthcare Heroes, a space-themed Soaring into Summer, and the Dog Days of Summer. Click to view our upcoming events: – register your child, aged 0-5, for a free book each month delivered to your home. Register here: – the first in Brevard County will open in Provost Park, Cocoa, in late July. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Spark a love of reading ib your children by reading with them
CBS News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Brooklyn Public Library kicks off summer reading program to combat learning loss
Brooklyn Public Library aims to keep kids reading over the summer Brooklyn Public Library aims to keep kids reading over the summer Brooklyn Public Library aims to keep kids reading over the summer As the school year winds down, families across Brooklyn are turning to their local libraries to help avoid the dreaded "summer slump," the learning loss that can occur during the two-month school break. The Brooklyn Public Library is stepping up with community celebrations as part of their summer reading initiative to keep young minds active. BPL offers face painting and fun at summer kick-off celebrations The library kicked off its seasonal programming with celebrations across its branches. In Sheepshead Bay, families lined up for face painting and musical entertainment, and children eagerly browsed the bookshelves, preparing their summer reading lists. "I read like a few hours a day," said 8-year-old Elene Gagnidze. Parents, too, are making plans to keep their children engaged with educational activities throughout the summer. "This summer we're staying put in Brooklyn, and we'll be here [at the library] pretty much every time there's something happening," said Jelena Krecelj, who lives nearby. As part of the festivities, BPL partnered with the WNBA champions, New York Liberty, to release 100,000 special-edition library cards. 15,000 books being given away across NYC The kick-off included a major book giveaway aimed at building home libraries. "Thanks to the New York Life Foundation, we are giving out 15,000 books — that's not just in Brooklyn, but citywide," said Fritzi Bodenheimer, spokesperson for the Brooklyn Public Library. "We know that when you have books at home, that has a very direct correlation to your ability to get great education and have a great job later on." Studies show students can lose as much as 20% of the knowledge they gained during the school year over summer break. Library officials stress that regular reading and educational play can prevent that slide. "It helps keep your mind sort of fresh and helps keep you going so you don't have that slide off at the beginning of the next school year," Bodenheimer said. Parents like Sophya Infante say they've seen the effects firsthand. "My father's an educator, and he's always told me that he's noticed that after the summer break, the kids lose that momentum tremendously," Infante said. "So in order to be continuously prepared and not lose any of the previous knowledge, you need to be very active in terms of reading, learning, brushing up on your math skills because it's just so easily forgotten." For many kids, summer is a chance to explore reading on their own terms, browsing books they actually like, not only the ones assigned in school. "I think it's really cool because kids will read a lot. Maybe they get interested in different types of books they like and they don't have," said Elene Gagnidze. The school year may be ending, but this summer, the learning doesn't have to. Have a story idea or tip in Brooklyn? Email Hannah by CLICKING HERE.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jenna Bush Hager's 3-Step Plan to Get Her Kids to Read More Books This Summer
Jenna Bush Hager is determined to keep her kids — Mila, 12, Poppy, 9, and Hal, 5 — reading this summer. 'I have a reading challenge going on in my house,' Jenna tells 'Summer slide is a real thing, and that happens when your kids are not in school for months at a time.' Because she allowed her kids to do whatever they want as part of a self-described 'brat summer' last year, one of her children ('who will remain nameless') had a reading score that declined so severely that a teacher approached Jenna about it. She doesn't intend for the same thing to happen this year. Jenna's first order of business is to ban iPads during the week. The second part is a bit more involved: For every minute of screentime they want, they will have to read for that same amount of time first. 'So if they're going to watch 30 minutes of television, they have to read for 30,' Jenna explains. 'Poppy was like, 'But what if I want to watch 8 hours?'' says Jenna. 'Well that's never going to happen, but get to reading, queen!' Every time the kids finish a book, Jenna plans to remind them of their accomplishment by taking a picture with them and the book and adding the photo to a bulletin board in their room. 'And they get special treats and such for every book they finish,' she says. 'It can be something simple like, 'I'm going to take you and me to go get a lemonade,' ... and just give them that one-on-one time.' There is one exception to the rule. 'Hal doesn't know how to read yet,' Jenna says and pauses. 'We've got to figure that out.' In all, Jenna is hoping for a relaxing summer with her family. 'Summer as a working mom can be hectic, but I've just decided this summer I want to slow things down,' she shares. 'I want to try to get home earlier. I want to do simple things with my kids, and also implement learning that's fun.' This article was originally published on
Wall Street Journal
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Summer Books to Get Lost In
The essence of a summer book isn't the subject matter, but the sense it can deliver of a pleasurable, even irresistible departure from everyday life. There are 16 lazy Sundays between now and the first day of fall, and we've picked out 16 works of intrigue or adventure that our critics plan to make time for. (Some are already available; most are forthcoming.) Each invites lingering for one more chapter, turning one more page and remaining a little while longer in another place or time. By Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child | Grand Central An archaeologist and an FBI agent investigate a woman's puzzling death in the New Mexico desert. The victim's possession of Native American artifacts suggests a connection to an ancient legend and a dark power. The authors offer their signature melding of science, suspense and the supernatural. (June 3) FICTION
New York Times
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Summer Reading Challenges Aren't Just for Kids
Last June, a merry band of book lovers marched down Clement Street, a shopping district in San Francisco. Accompanied by a high school drum corps, they carried flags and chanted 'Books! Books! Books!' Summer had begun and it was time to get reading. The parade marked the opening of an adults-only summer reading challenge held by Green Apple Books, a San Francisco bookstore founded in 1967, and Friends & Neighbors, a nearby community art space. Valerie Luu and Eric Lam, who started Friends & Neighbors in 2023, proposed the idea to the Green Apple store manager Eileen McCormick as an extension of their space's mission to foster connection — and as a way to bring 'sportslike enthusiasm' to reading. Participants competed to read the most hours over the course of three months. They could also aim for bonus categories, such as reading books from 10 different genres, or complete a 30-hour mini challenge. By summer's end, 521 reading logs and mini challenges were returned, accounting for over 18,000 hours read. And to the top readers went the spoils, including a hand-knit trophy and gift cards to nearby businesses. For decades, summer reading programs have helped keep children engaged while school's out. But in the last several years, more and more bookstores and literary organizations have expanded their challenges to adults, tapping into a passion for reading, a desire for community and a taste for nostalgia (and pizza). Some challenges focus on the number of books finished or minutes read; others use bingo cards to help participants diversify their reading habits with thematic (read a translated book) and situational (read outdoors) prompts. Powell's Books in Portland, Ore., piloted an adult summer reading challenge two years ago after hearing from many customers who were jealous of their kids' contest, which they've run since 2013. After its success, the bookstore shifted to an all-ages, bingo-style challenge last year: More than 2,700 people finished, around 1,400 of whom were adults. Powell's is one of many independent bookstores around the country that have opened things up to grown-ups, said Bry Hoeg, who manages the store's City of Books location. 'If they weren't doing it already, they started within the last year.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
