Squash the Slippery Slope of the

Summer SlideBright Ideas for Students for Summertime Learning Fun

Presented by Billie Shea, Administrative Literacy SpecialistStanton Network School

Why is Summer Reading Important?

• “The studies show that students who read more, read better; they also write better, spell better, have larger vocabularies, and have better control of complex grammatical constructions (Krashen, 2009).” 1

• “Too many children spend their summer with no books to read (McGill-Franzen and

Allington, 2004).”2

• On average, children lose between one and three months of grade-level equivalency during the summer.3

1 Importance of Summer Reading, http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/summer/research.htm, downloaded 6/13/132 Ibid3 Anne McGill-Franzen and Richard Allington. “Bridging the Summer Reading Gap”, Instructor, May/June, 2003

What Mem Fox says…

“The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading. It isn’t

achieved by the book alone, nor by the child alone, nor by the adult who’s reading aloud—it’s the relationship winding

between all three, bringing them together in easy harmony.”

- Mem Fox, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever

How to Stimulate Summer Learning

•Be a good role model – Make sure your children see you reading.•Read to your children – This will stimulate their “reading

juices”.•Read with your children – This will allow them to read

more difficult books.•Discuss reading with your children – This raises their

thinking and gets them to ask questions.

How to Stimulate Summer Learning

•Give children books – The more they read books that they get to choose, the more children will want to read.•Have your children play educational games on the computer or

the iPad – There are a wealth of great educational Web sites and apps; your bag has some suggestions to get you started.• Take frequent trips to the public library – Library cards are free

and they open the world to everyone. Besides books, your local library has computers with access to great educational Web sites.

Fun Web Sites to Promote Summer Learning

NAME OF APP DESCRIPTIONArt Games http://www.kids.albrightknox.org/loader.html Cool Math 4 Kids http://www.coolmath4kids.com/Free Rice http://freerice.comGreat Websites for Kids http://gws.ala.org/ Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/Marvel Kids http://marvelkids.marvel.com/games/play/75/create_your_own_comic Math Playground http://www.mathplayground.com/NGA Kids http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/education/kids.html National Geographic Kids http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/ National Geographic Little Kids http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/littlekids/ National Geographic Education http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/?ar_a=1 National Library of Virtual Math Manipulatives http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.htmlOxford Owl http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/ Pass the Plate http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/passtheplate/index.html PBS Kids http://pbskids.org/ Science NetLinks http://sciencenetlinks.com/tools/ USA.gov Kids http://kids.usa.gov/ Wonderopolis http://wonderopolis.org/

Free Apps to Encourage Summer Learning

NAME OF APP DESCRIPTION

Alphabet Aquarium (Pre-K & K) Dive into the alphabet aquarium to go on a letter adventureApps Gone Free Find some great paid apps that are offered for free each dayBooksy: Learn to Read Platform Help Pre-K through Grade 2 students practice and develop their reading skillseBook Search Search for free books for iBooks and other eBook readersFree Books Get access to over 20,000 free eBooksiBook Download and read books on an iPad - The app is free but books may cost moneyKindle Download and read books on an iPad - The app is free but books may cost moneyMath Drills Lite Explore solutions to math problems using number lines, wooden blocks, facts, and hintsMath Ninja Lite Learn and practice math skills through a math gameMathmateer Free Build your own rockets and fly them to the stars and find that math can be funRead Me Stories Read a new book every day - children can read to themselves or have them read aloudReadup Have fun keeping track of your reading history Scholastic Reading Timer Encourage children to read – Set the timer to log their reading minutes every dayThe Jungle Book Read and listen to The Jungle Book, a beloved children's storyWord Mover Create your own "found" poetry

What Mem Fox says…

“The ideal three stories a day are one favorite, one familiar, and one new, but the same book three times is also fine.”

- Mem Fox, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever

Web Sites with Reading Picks

for Summer or Anytime• Drop Everything and Read Favorite Read Aloud Books – Check out this list of

great books to read aloud to your children • Guys Read – Jon Scieszka, First National Ambassador of Young People’s

Literature and children’s author, highlights books with special appeal to boys• Kids’ Reading List – Oprah’s picks for all age levels• Read Kiddo Read Ultimate Summer Reading List 2013 – See what great

children’s books James Patterson, award winning children’s author, is recommending for summer reading

What Mem Fox says…

“When I say to a parent, "read to a child", I don't want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate.”

- Mem Fox, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever

What’s In Your Bag?

Grades K-2 Grades 3-5• Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to

Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox

• Whoever You Are by Mem Fox• Sight Word Cards• Tools for Reading• Good Readers Bookmark• Addition and Subtraction Flash Cards• Writing Journal• List of educational Web sites and apps

• Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox

• If You’re Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School by Kalli Dakos

• Thinking Strategies for Better Reading• Super Six Strategies Bookmark• Multiplication and Division Flash Cards• Writing Journal• List of educational Web sites and apps

Don’t forget to pick up free books on your way out!