John Monfredo: Reading Week to Summer Reading, Here are Some Ideas
Saturday, June 14, 2014
In addition, our Worcester Public Library mobile Libby will make an appearance to encourage families to sign up for library card. Keep in mind that the best deal in our City is the Worcester Public Library for where else can you take out books, videos, have the opportunity to view outstanding programs and engage in meaningful workshops for both children and adults. It’s important to visit their website for more information about their summer programs.
There are many activities that parents need to explore this summer if we want to keep our children from losing valuable growth in the learning process. Remember, according to research, children lose between two and three months of academic growth if they are not engaged in learning activities throughout the summer months. The good news is that you, as a parent or guardian, can prevent summer reading loss. Therefore, here are some suggestions for you to consider:
Let’s look at what can be done:
- Enroll your child in a summer school program or camp program that encourages literacy development. Yes, in Worcester we have many… some in the Worcester Public Schools and others through United Way, Boys and Girl Clubs, Friendly House, Rainbow Child Development, and YMCA, just to name a few. Do it now!
- Visit the Worcester Public Library often… As I mentioned earlier the library is the best bargain in the community for it’s free, air-conditioned, they have special programs taking place and of course lots and lots of great books. Remember, summer reading is mandated in the Worcester Public Schools so check those backpacks for information about summer reading and math opportunities, too.
- Mandated summer reading – Starting in the kindergarten the Worcester Public Schools has sent home to parents’ information about summer reading. In grades Kindergarten to Grade Two parents must complete the parent log and help their child read five books. Hopefully, it will be more for reading should take place each and every day and parents, PLEASE, take the time to read to your child before bedtime or whenever it is most convenient for you. Make it a part of your daily activities with your child. In grades 3 to grade 6, the children are to read five books or at least 800 pages. Again, don’t wait until August for reading should be taking place daily. If you want your child to be good in sports he/she has to practice and the same principle should apply to reading. Once a student finishes a book there are several activities that are recommended… from illustrating a favorite part of the story, designing a postcard or book jacket, to writing a letter to the author or to the character in the story.
- Explore online reading sites. Here are two to visit… StorylineOnline (is a free site featuring actors who creatively read books aloud) or One More Story… This site features a virtual bookshelf, high-quality oral reading, and the ability to read books independently with support. This site has a fee.
- Looking for something fun, safe and cool to do this summer? Join the City of Worcester’s Wheels to Water program! This program will have books for children to read, open swim time at neighborhood pools such as the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA and the YWCA. There will be transportation to the pools and city beaches, free swimming lessons and much more. For more information contact the City Manager’s office.
- Take educational trips, which can be low-cost visits to parks and museums in Worcester or if you have a car visit educational sites such as Old Sturbridge Village or one of the Zoos in New England.
- Work with your child on a hobby. If they are interested in comics or technology, you may want to expose them to as many opportunities as possible.
- Family Night each week. Bring out the popcorn and read a book. Try once in a while to get a book based on a movie. Then, show the movie and see if the book did follow the movie script. Many movies can be borrowed… where else but the Worcester Public Library.
- Another motivator this summer for reading is for your child to participate in BOOKWORM WEDNESDAY. The Showcase Cinema North in Worcester will allow your child in for a FREE MOVIE at 10:00 a.m. starting on Wednesday, July 9th if he/she presents a book report on one of the books that has been read during vacation time. Again, the admission to a FREE MOVIE is that BOOK REPORT and the parents get in free, too! So every Wednesday in the summer you can submit your book report to Cinema North and be treated to a movie.
- Barnes and Noble has a summer reading program that provides incentives for your child to earn a free book. Here how it works: read any 8 books and record them in the Reading Journal. Then bring the completed Reading Journal to your local Barnes and Noble store and you can select a free book. For more information stop by the Barnes and Noble Store.
- Does your child love to win? Go ahead and tap into his/ her natural competitiveness. Set goals for the number of pages read daily, the number of minutes spent reading each week, or the total number of books read each month and reward your child when they meet targets. Post his/her progress where your child can keep track of it—perhaps on the refrigerator or the bedroom door. Let your child choose the rewards so he/she has an incentive to meet that goal.
- Encourage them to read magazines. There’s a magazine for almost any interest, from playing baseball to kayaking. Visit your library to see some of the magazines that are available.
- Remember, we read to write and write to read… Finally, be sure that your child has a diary in the summer time and have your child write the highlights of his day each evening before going to bed. Consider writing weekly to the Happy Time Page featured in the Sunday Worcester Telegram and Gazette comic section. A topic is given weekly and when you send in your story you can earn points. Those points can add up and your child can earn enough points get a free book from the Happy Time Page. It’s a great program that has been going on for years. Other writing activities could be writing a letter to a friend, relative, or even to a member of the School Committee, me! It’s important that your child writes for the more that they write, just like reading, the better he/she will become with this skill. In addition, be sure to have your child write about their favorite book that they read this summer and send their essay to me – John Monfredo, 8 Cherokee Road Worcester, MA. 01606. I will select the winning essays from grades K to three, grades 4 to six, and from seven up. The winners will be rewarded with new books.
It’s now up to the adults and to the community to encourage summer reading. I sincerely hope that I have raised the awareness of the importance of supporting summer reading by providing ideas that can be done at home. Parents, you are the child’s first and most important teacher, and it is up to you to provide the needed guidance during the summer time. You can prevent the “summer slide” by making reading a priority in your home. Be sure to drop me a note and let me know how you’re doing.
Related Articles
- John Monfredo: Suspending Suspensions – A Critical Examination
- John Monfredo: School Committee Evaluates Superintendent Boone
- John Monfredo: Make Worcester ‘The City That Reads’ on March 3rd
- John Monfredo: Some Great Ideas for ‘Read Across America Week’
- John Monfredo: Worcester’s Anti-Bullying Conference
- John Monfredo: Bullying Must Be Adressed at Home and in School
- John Monfredo: Becker College Pres. Gives Stirring MLK Day Speech
- John Monfredo: Worcester’s South High Teaches a Lesson in Giving
- John Monfredo: 10 Ways to Motivate Kids to Do Better in School
- John Monfredo: An Analysis of New Worcester Public School Data
- John Monfredo: Let’s Start a ‘Read Across Worcester Week’
- Monfredo: Addressing Chronic Absenteeism in Worcester Schools
- Monfredo: How to Help Worcester Reach Goal of 30,000 Donated Books
- John Monfredo: Nine Years of Engaging Readers in Worcester
- John Monfredo: Worcester Continues Its Crusade to Address Bullying
- John Monfredo: Funding Education—Attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday
- John Monfredo: Is Public Education A Priority in This City?
- John Monfredo: Activities Set for “Reading in Our City Week” June 9
- John Monfredo: Appreciation Week: Thanking Teachers and Nurses
- John Monfredo: School Budget Needs Help From The City
- John Monfredo: Field Testing on PARCC Begins
- Monfredo: Colin Powell Dazzles the Crowd in Worcester Tech Speech
- Monfredo: Worcester’s ‘City that Reads’ Book Drive Needs Your Help
- Monfredo: Former Worcester Public School Member Publishes Book
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It