
Superintendent's Summer Reading Challenge 2017
Dr. Shelly Davis-Jones
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Experts agree that children who read during the summer months keep their reading skills sharp and are better prepared for the challenges of the next grade level. With this in mind, Dolton School District 149, is happy to provide all summer school students with books and activity sheets designed to motivate them to read this summer.
This book pack will also provide you with an opportunity to spend quality time with your child while you help to build their comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills. The tips for families listed on the reverse side of this letter provide strategies and suggestions to help you make the most of summer reading opportunities. There are lots of fun ways to extend the learning and incorporate reading into vacation time!
In addition a summer reading blog will be available for students to share their stories and pictures of themselves reading on our website. Please join us by participating on our reading blog by commenting below. We want to hear all about your child’s reading experiences.
I hope that by exposing children to exciting books written by popular authors, featuring a wide range of engaging characters, we can encourage all Dolton School District 149 students to become lifelong readers and learners.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shelly A. Davis-Jones
Superintendent
Summer Reading Tips for Parents
1. Read aloud together with your child every day.
Make it fun by reading outdoors on the front steps, patio, at the beach or park. Also, let your children read to you. For younger children, point out the relationship between words and sounds.
2. Set a good example!
Parents must be willing to model behavior for their children. Keep lots of reading material around the house. Turn off the TV and have each person read his or her book, including mom and dad.
3. Read the same book your child is reading and discuss it.
This is the way to develop habits of the mind and build capacity for thought and insight.
4. Let kids choose what they want to read, and don't turn your nose up at popular fiction.
It will only discourage the reading habit.
5. Buy books on tape, especially for a child with a learning disability.
Listen to them in the car, or turn off the TV and have the family listen to them together.
6. Take your children to the library regularly.
Most libraries sponsor summer reading clubs with easy-to-reach goals for preschool and school-age children. Check the library calendar for special summer reading activities and events. Libraries also provide age appropriate lists for summer reading.
7. Subscribe, in your child's name, to magazines like Sports Illustrated for Kids, Highlights for Children, or National Geographic World.
Encourage older children to read the newspaper and current events magazines, to keep up the reading habit over the summer and develop vocabulary. Ask them what they think about what they've read, and listen to what they say.
8. Ease disappointment over summer separation from a favorite school friend by encouraging them to become pen pals.
Present both children with postcards or envelopes that are already addressed and stamped. If both children have access to the Internet, email is another option.
9. Make trips a way to encourage reading by reading aloud traffic signs, billboards, notices.
Show your children how to read a map, and once you are on the road, let them take turns being the navigator.
10. Encourage children to keep a summer scrapbook.
Tape in souvenirs of your family's summer activities picture postcards, ticket stubs, photos. Have your children write the captions and read them and read them aloud as you look at the book together.
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