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June 14, 2016
Help students hold on to their literacy skills by trying some or all of these easy tips:
During a summer program:
- Build literacy into your summer program. For example, if your curriculum has a STEM focus, use the Y4Y STEM Vocabulary Builder. It can help students learn math and science language and reinforce understanding of the concepts. Get other ideas from the Literacy Everywhere tool.
- During one day of the program, hold a “book swap.” Invite everyone to bring used books and take different ones home.
Outside a summer program:
- Hold a family literacy event. Use this Y4Y checklist to help you organize.
- Enlist family members to lead read-alouds several times a week. One way to structure this is with a “family book review” activity. Learn about it on the Reaching Out to Families tool.
- Partner with your local public library to help students sign up for library cards. Families get free access to books (including digital ones that download to a tablet or computer) and a professional librarian to help readers select ones they’ll enjoy.
- Find a local partner to help you send books home to your students and their family members.
For more ideas, visit Read Where You Are and keep learning alive all summer long!