Building a Summer Reading List
While your student may want to avoid anything remotely academic during the summer months, reading helps prevent the summer slump.
Why It Matters
- Reading over the long break helps retain learning.
Spending the summer curled up with a few good books often leads to gains in reading skills and helps prevent a backward slide academically, frequently called “summer slump.” - Now is the time to pick up classics.
Whether or not your student intends to pursue a four-year liberal arts education, many literary works are considered classics and influence discussions and other works, as well as casual conversations. - Retain academic achievements.
Your student may soon take ACT or SAT tests as part of the college admissions process. The majority of these standardized tests depend upon critical reading of text passages and answer options. In addition, the tests are timed, so being able to read and process information quickly is important, and more reading practice will build speed. Exposure to sentence structure and extensive vocabulary enhances writing and essay skills.
What Your Student Can Do Now
- Set a reading schedule.
Summer reading doesn’t have to have a formal timeline, but a goal, such as reading two books a week or for an hour a day, can help your student get the most benefit from summer reading. - Create a reading list.
Some books may be assigned over the summer, especially if your student plans to take 11th grade literature classes. In addition, lists of recommended books for college prep and college-bound readers abound online to get the list started. - Get to the library or bookstore.
Many public libraries offer summer programs as well as online lending capability. If finances allow and your student likes to collect or reread books, buying a print or electronic version may be preferred.
What Your Student Can Do Later
- Make connections.
Even light topics or fantasy novels often deal with universal themes such as personal conflict, right and wrong, and coming of age. Your student can relate what they’ve read to real-life experiences now and in the future. - Reflect on the material.
Encourage your student to compare and contrast works from different authors or different books from the same author. What did your student particularly like or dislike about the book or material? What inspired ideas and opinions? This type of critical thinking is a valuable skill to have in college and any career.
What You Can Do
- Make it easy to read.
Work with your family to designate one or more spaces for quiet, comfortable reading. Even setting aside an electronics-free zone or time can encourage reading by the entire family. - Read along.
Read some of the same materials your student is reading at the same time. This way, you can discuss what you thought of certain events or ideas to help build connections and articulate individual reactions, thoughts and opinions. - Reinforce reading.
Your student may benefit from watching a movie or series based on a book or listening to an audio version. Or perhaps finding other authors with a similar style will unlock new discoveries. Seek different ways to reinforce what your student is reading and maybe agree to disagree.
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Next Steps
Be sure to complete the survey questions at the end of this article to be entered into the 529 deposit giveaway!
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