Becoming a good reader involves skills and practice.  Students learn and practice their reading skills during the school year.  The practice should continue in June, July, and August.

Parents, principals, public librarians, school library media specialists, and reading teachers are a powerful force in the lives of students.  If they promote summer reading, chances are that a significant number of students will keep reading in mind as they enjoy their summer vacations.

 

Parents.

      Schools can help parents promote reading to their children.  Provide them with lists of books to read, including the 2005-2006 list of Young Hoosier Book Award books.  Encourage parents to share newspapers with their children, visit public libraries and bookstores, and be reading role models for their children.

 

Principals.

   Promote reading to incoming students and their parents by providing lists of books for summer reading and by helping parents and students understand the importance of reading to success in school.  Ensure that the school Web site features summer reading.  Encourage members of the staff to help make reading a priority in the lives of students during the summer months.  Share school summer reading plans with the local newspaper.

 

Public Librarians.

    Invite public librarians to visit the school to promote their summer reading programs.  Help students become familiar with their public library Web site.  Provide visits to the nearest public library that can and should be used by students.  Help students obtain public library cards. 

     

School Library Media Specialists

     Provide an introduction to the 2005-2006 Young Hoosier Book Award selections and other books, and show students how to find them during the summer.  Promote the books to teachers and parents.  Work with reading teachers to provide recognition for students who read during the summer.  Visit the public library, learn about the summer programs, and promote them to parents, students, and teachers.

 

Reading Teachers     

     As summer approaches, work with students to help them devise a plan for summer reading.  Have students share plans. 

Provide each student with a copy of the Middle Grades Reading Network Summer Reading Log.  Demonstrate to students how to fill out the log, and answer questions concerning the log and other summer reading issues.  Work together with the library media specialist to plan some type of recognition for those students who return the Summer Reading Log.  Provide copies of the log to incoming students.  Have older students explain to younger students the importance of summer reading.