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The purpose of summer reading in FBISD is to engage students in an enjoyable reading experience that maintains and fosters literacy.
Summer 2020 looks very different from previous years, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to online learning for our district. In the past, campuses have selected specific titles for students to read during the summer in preparation for the following school year. This year, we ask parents and families to commit to 30 minutes a day of reading texts of their choice during the summer months. Research suggests that this simple commitment provides growth in vocabulary, fluency, background knowledge, and overall comprehension.
What should my child read?
- Provide students access to different types of reading on different platforms including news, audio books, magazines, even online content. We often think of reading just in terms of books, but other types of text offer engagement and opportunities to practice reading skills.
- Audio books are fine! While we certainly want our readers to practice reading print, audio books model the important skill of fluency as well as comprehension. For some readers, audio books spark an interest in reading that might not otherwise exist.
- Graphic novels are also fine. Graphic novels and their comic book counterparts often have very complex stories, and the images support comprehension.
- Don’t worry about the reading level or genre of a text. The most important feature of a text is a child’s interest in reading it.
- We agree with author James Patterson, “There is no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong book.” Start with what a child is willing to read, then nudge them into other resources.
- Don’t worry if your child abandons a text. Just try another genre, author, topic, or format. Keep trying!
- For helpful hints to support your child’s summer reading, please review Helpful Hints for Supporting Literacy at Home.
Books, books, and more books!
If you and your child are selecting books and need some suggestions for titles, several organizations spend their time reading and thinking about texts for kids. Check out the links below. Review books alongside your child to find the best match to suit their interests.
Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
The International Literacy Association (ILA)
The Texas Library Association (TLA)
Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network
The American Library Association
We Need Diverse Books Walter Awards
Favorite ALA Lists:
Free resources for audiobooks:
- myOn – free digital library available to students through FBISD Clever
- Audio Book Sync (for upper grades) -- https://www.audiobooksync.com/
