“UGHHHHH!!!!!!!” A deep groan always reverberates across my classroom when I assign reading homework. My students know they must read in school, that’s part of the gig. But my job, my enormous challenge, is to get them to want to read.
Summer can be a trying time to keep your kids’ minds active. Reading for fun is not often at the top of the list.
Here are some suggestions on how to breathe new life into an old argument and get your kids reading this summer!
MAKE IT A PARTY!
Check out one of these upcoming events to get into the spirit. Meet authors, hear stories, watch performances, and find new favorite characters.
Cobb County Book Worm Fest – April 28-May 3 in Powder Springs
Little Shop of Stories Book Festival – May 2-4 in Decatur
Fulton County Library Book Festival – June 22 in Alpharetta, and June 29 in South Fulton.
The Happy Black Parent Children’s Book Festival – July 19 at Pittsburgh Yards
Bookstore Meet and Greets – If you aren’t into crowds, many local bookstores have regular author visits and readings.
Library
Join the Georgia Library Program – The theme this year is “Color Our World.” Your local branch has a wealth of diverse activities to engage your reluctant reader.
- Cobb – Pajama Storytimes, Graphic Novel Book Club, Shakespeare Reading Group
- Gwinnett – Literacy Buddies, Book Clubs, Reading Paws, Storytimes
- DeKalb – Read with a Police Officer, Park Ranger Storytimes, Project LIT for middle grades, Tales for Twos
- Fulton – Summer Reading with Auntie Renee, Juneteenth Storytime and Crafts, Jeffini the Great
Apps
This generation is so tech-savvy. If you have an iPad, Kindle, or computer, there are some great apps out there to pique kids’ interest.
Libby – find free audio and ebooks through your local library
Hoopla – another public library access app
Tumblebooks – a database of e-books, audiobooks, and other digital content
Scholastic Home Base – free, safe, and full of interactive activities with your child’s favorite books.
Epic – over 40,000 books at your fingertips
Group Effort
Family Book Club – Start a new tradition – ask everyone to put the name of a book in a hat. The first one you draw out is the winner. Mark the calendar with a deadline to finish reading and set aside a special time in a cozy space to share your thoughts. You may also choose to read it together, depending on your kids’ ages.
Village Book Club – If you are part of a playgroup or neighborhood with lots of kids, consider starting an age-appropriate book club. Take turns choosing the book, hosting the gathering, and coming up with discussion questions. Make sure your book choices have characters that all the children in your group can relate to.
Write to the Author – Once you have finished a book, if it is a hit, encourage your child to write to the author. Connecting with writers and illustrators is another way to help them invest in a book series or particular genre.
Progress Chart – Create a chart to display in a prominent place with specific goals (daily reading, number of books, etc.) Let your kids pick a (reasonable) reward to earn once the chart is full. Make it a competition – who can finish first?
Audio Books – My students often use Learning Ally to listen to a novel while they are reading it. Playing a book in your car while driving to school or sports practice is another approach to drawing your kids into a story.
Little Library – Need a bigger project? Take on the task of building a little library in your community. Add some of your favorite books, and then check in regularly to see what’s new in the box.
What are your best reading strategies for your kids? Please share in the comments below!
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