Inspiring Readers through the Summer Slump

Unfortunately, due to this pandemic, we have had to inspire readers through this "COVID Slump," and now we have the task of keeping them reading throughout the summer. Many children, especially struggling readers, forget some of what they've learned or slip out of practice during the summer months. The summer slump may seem beyond your control; however, there are some teacher tips for both students and parents that I find effective and encourage summer learning to keep skills sharp before the next school year starts.


Summer slump, also known as the summer slide or summer learning loss, is a concept that over the summer, students lose a portion of what they learned over the school year. This year there is even a bigger fear since some students may not have been reading for the past two months. We can not let these students go a total of five months without pushing positive support in keeping their reading skills sharp. We've worked too hard to see that loss! I've been preparing my students via distance learning for the excitement and importance of summer reading.  

Keep On Reading

• Our summer goal as teachers should be to keep our students reading. Children are attracted to print materials that spark their interests. Due to COVID, this will be tough because libraries are closed and many students have read all the books they do have at home. We will need to continue to encourage and utilize the online platforms we have set up during distance learning. I am keeping my website running and updated throughout the summer. I am encouraging my students to log into the reading website Epic. I love Epic because children can find books online that connect to their interests, such as superheroes, horses, science fiction, the ocean, space exploration, insects, people from other lands and times, etc. These books plus much more are available through Epic. In addition, I sent home (when students came to campus to pick up belongings) a packet of passages according to student level, a parent letter explaining the importance of summer reading- Parent Summer Letter, a Summer Reading Log, and Reading Contract. Here are links to these resources. If you are unable to send these resources home with each student, they could easily be emailed or sent home through your online platforms. 
• I have and will be encouraging families/students to read every day. Besides the passages and websites, I like to give families strategies on how a student can read. I encourage independent reading, echo reading, shared reading, and reading aloud. Reading aloud benefits all children, especially those who struggle. This goes both ways- family members can read aloud to the child, or the child can read aloud to a family member. I remind families that reading aloud to their children can build listening comprehension skills and help kids read better when reading on their own. I also encourage families to do shared reading with their children. Using a book or passage that is on level for their child, families can take turns reading together. It's important to explain that this can be done by sentence, paragraph, or page depending on each child's confidence. This is a great way to challenge kids to read difficult words because someone will be there to support them. Really any plan is acceptable as long as you inform parents that the goal is for their child to enjoy the reading experience with you and not participate in a corrective reading lesson. Sometimes letting a child's reading mistakes go unnoticed may be difficult but will result in a child who likes to read and knows its ok to relax and enjoy reading.  
• Encourage families to sign up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. This free program unites communities in a nationwide campaign that celebrates reading for fun while improving access to books during the summer. For 2020, they are sharing a brand new kids' experience called Scholastic Home Base, a free digital destination that offers books, live events, and games in a safe community for readers! Kids will be encouraged to keep track of their reading to earn rewards.
• My main goal is to reliterate the importance of keeping each child reading daily!

With some advanced preparation, you can get families excited about summer reading and help your student avoid the summer slump.  Their future teacher will be grateful!

Positively Teaching,  
Randi Muehlen