Summer is a fun time to read because the goal is to read for pleasure! For the reluctant reader, try to get creative. Find out your child's independent reading level from his/her classroom teacher (an independent reading level means easy reading. In oral reading, a child would have one or less word calling errors in 100 words of text, with 100 percent accuracy on comprehension questions about the story. A student could read it alone with ease). You can either ask your child's classroom teacher for a summer reading list at his/her independent reading level or ask your local librarian for help. Your child may even be able to tell you too! Once you know your child's reading level, you can look up books of that level at the library through titlewave.com. If you have a youngling, you can still try out these creative ideas, except you'll probably be reading to your little one. Although, you're never too old to be read aloud to, so keep that in mind no matter how old you are! Here are those creative ideas to get you started.
1. Create a creative personalized special space for reading.
If you don't have one already in your home, create a special dignified space for reading, especially for those rainy days. In your indoor space, you'll want some pillows and anything to make it comfortable. Consider "reading buddies" which may be some stuffed animals, action figures, dolls or toys, but not too many so the space doesn't get overcrowded. Kids usually enjoy a small audience, especially when it's their trusted "playmates." A small light is a nice touch as well. You can use a nightlight or move your child's bedroom lamp to the floor, or wherever this special spot may be. Make this a big deal for you and your child by helping them set up the space. If you're excited about it, they'll be excited about it. Ask them, "Of all your toys, who has the honor of joining you in your special reading corner?" Your child can even make a sign for this spot and give it a name.
On a rainy day when your child is bummed for not being able to play outside, pop some popcorn and offer to join them in their special reading spot! You can even create an indoor fort with blankets, couch cushions and pillows-- another great place to read. Use a flashlight and read camp stories. Your child will surely be hooked onto reading.
Now, since it's summer, create a special reading spot in your backyard or somewhere outside! Trees are a great place to start. You can read in a tree (with parental consent of course), under a tree or in a tree fort. Putting a blanket outside and having a picnic with your "reading buddies" is always fun too. A sign is appropriate to create for an outdoor space as well. If you create one, I'd love for you share a picture on the blog. :)
Maybe you want to reinact your favorite story outside!? You can create flyers and tickets for a performance. If the sweltering heat is getting to you, create a Lemonade Stand and sell Lemonade. Now performing and selling lemonade is not reading you say? Look again! They are valuable literacy-based activities helping your child to critically think and apply their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills to real world experiences. If your child does most of the organizing and planning, LOTS of natural problem solving skills and reading skills are naturally incorporated... you'll be surprised.
2. If you're more apt to stay in an air conditioned home and are internet savvy, you can still enjoy reading with these websites:
www.starfall.com has lots of phonics and early reading activities that several local school districts use.
www.storybird.com is a fun site where kids can collaborate, retell and create stories online.
www.storylineonline.net has famous actors and actresses who will read aloud their favorite stories to you!
www.bookglutton.com is fun for the older readers who have experience with literature circles, but want to try it out online.
Family Literacy Bags: Adventures in Reading | Reading Topics A-Z | Reading Rockets is great for those younger readers to do with a family member. Reading Rockets is one of my all time trusted resources so I highly recommend these family literacy bags...which are a FREE download by the way!
http://interactbooks.com/ is a publisher of high quality interactive books for the iphone or ipad. Adults will have fun with this too. You use your touchscreen to interact with the illustrations and the text. It also has an option to highlight the text as it reads aloud to you. Great for building fluency skills.
3. Ask your kid!
Ask your little guy or little gal what they'd like to do/learn/create this summer. Their answer may require research and a trip to your local library. Learning new things involves reading in the process, especially if you let your little one take the lead. For example, a fellow mother friend of mine said her little girl wanted to create her own holiday this summer. What a fun idea! She said she wanted to have a Summer Christmas for animals! I immediately thought of Jan Brett's books (www.janbrett.com) for inspiration and suggested it to her. It's also a low cost idea to implement. Books can always come from the library, and use nature to decorate nature. For example, painting rocks would be a fun idea for this event and fine motor skills are naturally practiced.
Please share your ideas in the comments below if you've asked your child this question. Kids are super creative and imaginative, especially if we listen to them and let them be kids.
Happy Reading this summer! Let me know if you'd like more ideas or need me to elaborate on anything I've mentioned. Remember we want to make reading fun and enter the school year with a positive attitude. Reading is power and your child will feel empowered when they can say to their teacher and classmates what they read, learned and created over the summer.
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