YOUR OWN STUDENTS MAY BE THE KEY TO PREVENTING SUMMER READING LOSS

by Jack Humphrey

      Let’s face it: to many, many middle grades students, a computer is far more appealing than a book. Vast numbers of young people have access to technology brilliantly designed to capture their interest. So how can we hope to lure them away from computers and TVs long enough to stand a chance of enabling them to discover the excitement and pleasure of reading a book? The solution is not an easy one; that’s for sure. But we have to tap into our own creativity far more than we have if we hope to solve the problem of declining reading skills over the summer vacation.

     Perhaps the starting point is to involve the students themselves. Present them with the challenge of designing reading incentives that really appeal to them. There has to be a big enough pay-off for them to jump into this project with both feet. That reward should be based on the student population. What works with one group might very well need to be adapted for another. Teams of students working under the guidance of their teachers could develop ideas and then set them in motion in their schools.  Special attention should be given to designing reading programs for boys because, as we all know, boys, on average, read much less than girls. If we can make male participation in creating reading incentives especially attractive, we may be able to attract enthusiastic involvement. With skillful planning, teams of students, principals, teachers, and school librarians have a chance of competing with electronic attractions and substantially increasing summer reading.

     Plans to increase summer reading might include:

•  Programs designed by teams of students  and educators for specific grade levels.

•  A visit from public librarians to reading classes to tell about their summer reading  program and how to obtain a   public library card.

• Book talking the 2008-2009 Young Hoosier Book Award middle grades books.

• Posters created by students in art classes that promote summer reading.

• School Web site information about the summer reading program with a link to the public library Web site.

• Promotion of summer reading to parents of incoming students.

• Providing newspapers to students and helping them to understand how to use them in their daily reading activities.

• Finding a sponsor for the summer reading program, such as a local business or the Parent Teacher Association, to provide folders and incentives.

•  Recognition and enthusiastic celebration of students who complete the school requirements.

     Providing each student with a summer reading folder could occur at a special event held in the school auditorium.  The folders should contain information from the public library, a list of Young Hoosier Book Award books, information from bookstores and newspapers, and a Summer Reading Log that can be printed at:<<http://mgrn.evansville.edu/ReadingLog.pdf>>.  The key to increasing summer reading is the students’ collective imagination and creativity. Tap it into. Unleash it. And guide it carefully. It very well may lead to a growth in reading skills and a love for reading.