As the final installment to my literacy series this year, I would like to outline some tangible ways to promote reading during the summer holidays.
For most of us adults, one of the great joys of any vacation is to read a compelling book uninterrupted by the mundane tasks that normally occupy our lives. Although I am quite dogged about reading for pleasure every day, I realize many people simply do not make reading a daily priority. This leaves the holiday period for catching up on unfinished novels or tearing through the latest thriller or biography. However, I realize this is not always the case for all of our children.
LCC is fortunate to have a strong core of students who are avid readers. Nevertheless, some of our students would prefer to do just about anything else than read. We are doing our best to promote reading through greater choice of texts in literature circles, the school-wide books selected by the LCC Reads Committee and the reading lists at every grade level. As English teachers, we understand that reading is based more on preference and interest than on proscription. This is why we are moving away from studying only core texts and in the direction of greater choice.
In collaboration with the librarians and students, we in the English Department choose books for the reading lists that we feel are age appropriate and span a variety of reading interests and abilities. We strongly encourage students to consider carefully the choices they make by doing some Internet research and talking to older students about the books they enjoyed. Also, at the beginning of the school year, students share the books they have read over the summer, thereby promoting texts to their peers.
Although the choice of text is the single most important factor in a student’s successful completion of a book, there are other ways you can help at home to encourage your children to read over the summer. One idea you might explore is a technology- and activity-free hour every day. Set aside one hour when everyone in the family is quietly reading a book. This program, known more formally as “Drop Everything And Read” (“DEAR”), is an excellent way to promote reading. Parents model good reading habits and children spend more time in front of a book than they would normally in front of a screen. If you institute this regimen, you may encounter initial resistance. However, if you stick with it, I guarantee you will see positive results.
Some parents have an aversion to rewards systems; nonetheless, I would encourage you to celebrate your children’s reading achievements. You could establish a rewards program, whereby when your child finishes a book or a certain number of books you reward him/her with something special. I do warn you to make sure your child has actually read the book by asking a few questions. If you are reading the same text, which I highly recommend, you will have knowledge of the contents. If you have not read the book, you can scan the text, read the blurb and do a little Internet research. Open-ended questions, like “What did you like/dislike about the book?” or “What did you learn from the central character?,” work best, as they allow your child to speak freely about what they have read.
I have mentioned in previous articles that reading to your children is a very positive way to promote reading. Even teenagers enjoy listening to adults read books aloud. I would suggest you choose humorous or action-packed books for this activity. Reading a book in a serial fashion can create a desire for the next installment. Therefore, I would suggest you always try to read to a section in the book that will have your children craving more—a cliffhanger moment, for example.
For long car rides, I strongly recommend talking books. Of course, you will need to choose texts that appeal to everyone in the family. If you need advice on appropriate texts, I would suggest you speak with librarians, teachers, family friends and book store employees. Listening to a great story will wile away the long hours you may spend traveling to your vacation destination.
Above all, as I have written before, make reading a fun and pleasurable activity in your family. Summer reading can enhance students’ skills and foster their appreciation for (and, ideally, their love of) the written word. However, if it is seen as a chore or something only to be “done for school,” resistance will mount. If all else fails, you may want to share with your child the immortal words of Groucho Marx: “I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book.” Enjoy the halcyon days, everyone.
