Make Kids' Summer Reading FUN!

Summer is here and with it comes a long, relaxing break from the classroom for millions of children. It will be a time for swimming and playing, enjoying lazy days with family and friends as well as afternoons spent with favorite activities. We hope one of those activities will be some summer reading time, as this can go a long way in retaining and even boosting skills for the next school year.

To help parents and teachers prepare for a summer break that allows and encourages more good reading for kids, we have gathered a list of new resources to make it easy. You'll discover recently published book lists for kids as well as FREE activities and other reading resources for the coming summer months. We hope you will find this list helpful as well as enjoyable for both you AND the children you care about and serve.

Here's are 2 EASY tips to help you get started on a wonderful summer of reading FUN:

1. Bring BOOKS with you EVERYWHERE! Keep a basket with a variety of kids' books in your family room and another in the kitchen. Store a backpack with books ready to read while kids are riding in the car as you do errands and other activities. Bring reading outside to the backyard or on the patio with a weather-proof container of books tucked in a corner.

2. Remember to visit your local library often this summer, too! Your kids will remember those visits for years to come---AND thank you later!

Summer Reading Resources That Are FUN, too!

2018 ALSC Summer Reading Lists (Birth to Grade 8)
from the Association of Library Service to Children
http://www.ala.org/alsc/publications-resources/book-lists/2018-summer-reading-list

Evergreen Audiobooks 2017 (Pre-K to Grade 8)
from the Association of Library Service to Children
http://www.ala.org/alsc/publications-resources/book-lists/evergreenaudio

2018 Great Graphic Novels for Teens
from the ALA-American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2018-great-graphic-novels-teens

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge 2018
from Scholastic, Inc.
Welcome to the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge for 2018! Get ready for the best and most magical summer ever! Monday, May 7—Friday, September 7, 2018
https://www.scholastic.com/summer/home/

FREE Activities & Printables for Reading FUN!
from Scholastic, Inc.
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/activities-and-printables?esp=CORPHP/ib/////NAV/Parents/Tab/ActivitiesPrintablesLP////

For information about customizable tools for ALL kinds of readers:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC: www.FocusandRead.com and Pixabay: https://pixabay.com

It's Summer, the Season to Keep on Readin’!

It really is hard for many of us to come to grips with the fact that summer is almost here! For parts of the U.S. this past winter, we never thought we would ever see spring, let alone summer. Yet, here we are with only a few school days remaining for many students and talk of vacations, picnics, pools and barbecues is beginning to be heard everywhere, even on social media sites.

For parents and teachers, this summer vacation time may be fast approaching, but it will be a great opportunity for children, teens as well as adults to continue to include reading in their daily activities. Reading for pleasure can be a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon. You can be pretty creative in how you incorporate it into your children’s or your own lazy summer days, too.

We have gathered here in this week’s article what we think are some great ideas and resources to help you and your family establish this summer as The Season to Keep on READIN'. Hope you like these ideas and find them and their resources good options for you and your child! They should certainly help to keep your child off the summer slide and much more prepared for the next fall term. Happy summer reading, everyone!

Summer Reading Ideas & Resources for at Home

1. Cool Read-Alouds: Set aside one afternoon each week (or more often, if you like) when you and your child(ren) can read aloud to each other. Choose a cool, comfortable place like a covered front porch, a window seat in an air-conditioned room, or under your favorite tree in the backyard. Take turns reading aloud during the same reading session or plan on one reader for each time. Finish the reading session with a discussion about what you read together. Add cold milk and wholesome oatmeal cookies for extra good memories.
How Do I Use Read Alouds As a Strategy for Teaching Reading?-by Karen Hollowell
http://www.ehow.com/how_6882911_do-alouds-strategy-teaching-reading_.html#ixzz2T0jA0gxo

2. Cozy Reading Tent: There’s nothing like enjoying a book in a shady but cozy spot outside. Safely tie a clothesline or rope to two trees or poles. Place a very large sheet, light blanket or other sizable piece of sturdy material over the clothesline. Fasten the corners of the material to the ground with clothespins or other safe option. (Modifications can be made for an “indoor” tent, too.) Then, just crawl in with a pile of good books, some lemonade and a handful of pretzels. Your child can enjoy a great afternoon while improving his reading skills. Of course, you can join him there, too! In any case, remember to always monitor your children when they are playing or reading, particularly when they are outside.
Outdoor Tent Option: http://www.ehow.com/how_12127180_build-tent-sheets-kids.html
Indoor Tent Option: http://www.ehow.com/how_2105403_make-blanket-tent.html

Summer Reading Ideas & Resources for Away

1. The Gift of a Library Card: The very BEST way to begin any summer vacation is to make sure you and your child have an updated library card for your local or community library. This is a FREE passport to reading about other worlds, other cultures, imaginary characters, famous people and so much more. Be ready for a summer filled with reading---get that library card TODAY!
Resource to help locate public libraries near you: http://www.publiclibraries.com/

2. Literary Vacation Destinations: Plan a family vacation or day trip that includes a stop at a famous author's hometown. Here are just 2 examples:

Journey to Hannibal with FREE Mark Twain Resources
http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2013/02/journey-to-mark-twain-country.html

Hometown of Frank Baum, Author of The Wizard of Oz---Chittenango, N.Y
Frank Baum's life and work is the centerpiece of Chittenango, N.Y., from antique shops to the annual "Oz-travaganza," a three-day block party and parade that attracts Baum fans from around the globe. The village also has its own yellow brick road, and if you follow it all the way, you'll end up at All Things Oz, "where Oz all began." This year’s Oz-Stravaganza! is scheduled for May 31–June 2, 2013
http://www.oz-stravaganza.com/

3. Presidential Library and Museum Visits
Discover if your state is the site of one or more U.S. Presidents’ Libraries. Then plan a visit complete with interactive exhibits, interesting and fun public programs, important educational events and vast archives available for scholarly research.
http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/visit/

Other Summer Reading Ideas & Resources

1. Neighborhood Book Fair or Swap: Organize a book fair or exchange in your locale. Involve the children in choosing which books they have read to sell or trade for new ones. Think about pricing reasonably so that all can participate in your community. Invite others to do the same and provide your garage, driveway or other appropriate location for the event. Ask your children to create flyers and ask to post them at your local library or supermarket (usually at no charge.) You and your children will love the event and experience some great literary conversations with your neighbors at the same time.
For more information: http://www.momready.com/articles/content.asp?ID=486

2. 10 Weeks of Summer Reading Adventures for You and Your Kids-by: Reading Is Fundamental (courtesy of Reading Rockets) Many ideas for adding reading activities and literacy to your summer fun!
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/391/

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: http://www.ivillage.com/ivillage-pbs-kids-summer-reading-community-challenge-1/6-a-462200

Skill-Building Apps for Challenged Readers

With summer nearly upon us, there are some students and their parents who may be searching for good apps to improve in the following reading skill areas:

• Focusing
• Word-attack skills
• Fluency
• Tracking
• Comprehension
• Retention

We thought this would be an ideal time to provide our readers with apps for these specific skill areas. That way, over the summer break, students (and others) might be able to “brush up on” areas of weakness so that they will be improved by the time the new fall term begins. Here, then, is our list of APPS for the above reading skills:

Reading Skills Apps

Reading Remedies This app is like having shelves of assessment books and binders of "go to activities" in your pocket or at your fingertips. This is a great site for reading teachers or parents of struggling readers.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reading-remedies/id423213168?mt=8

FREE Word Attack App for Android Improve your vocabulary while having fun with this improved variation of the word-search game genre. No rules. Words appear in any location in any order. Find the words based on the given hints. Installs on external SD card for Froyo.
http://www.freeware4android.net/google-android-2-2-1-device-1909/word-games-tag/word-attack-download-40234.html

Word-Attack Apps for iPhone, iPad Good apps for improving a reader’s word-attack skills (some FREE)
http://appfinder.lisisoft.com/ipad-iphone-apps/word-attack.html

Top 12 Reading Comprehension Apps (from Reading Rockets) Apps that provide practice with specific comprehension skills, including sequencing, differentiating between fact and opinion, developing word awareness (through ant¬onyms, synonyms, and homophones), as well as several mind mapping apps (some FREE).
http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/Top-12-Comprehension-Apps.pdf

There’s a Special App for That – Part 7: Apps That Support Literacy Instruction Part 7 of “There’s A Special App For That” series on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad apps for students with special needs. (Scroll past chart with 7 building blocks of literacy to access Part 7’s apps.)
http://www.inov8-ed.com/2011/03/theres-a-special-app-for-that-part-7-apps-that-support-literacy-instruction/

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Clip art courtesy of: http://www.clker.com/clipart-64843.html by: lizsantiago07

It's Time for Summer Reading!

Can summer really be just around the corner? Are your children or students counting the days until the arrival of the “lazy, crazy days of summer”? Well, that’s pretty normal. However, as a teacher or parent, you’re probably more concerned with “What can we do to help the kids retain what they have learned this year?” or “How can we keep them reading over the summer vacation?”

To help you, we have provided here some resources that should point you in the right direction. We have book lists for boys and those for girls. Some of these lists include recommendations for teens as well. We also have reading lists provided by educational entities whose names you will most certainly recognize. Please use these lists to share with your students’ parents and to enrich those lazy summer days of your own children.

Have a safe summer, and please remember that READING can be the BEST bridge activity your child can do this summer---or anytime!

Happy “Summer” Reading, everyone!

Summer Reading Lists for Boys, Girls & Teens

1. Great Books for Boys (for various age levels---via About.com)
http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/toppicks/a/books_boys.htm

2. Best Books That Appeal to Boys (by grade groupings)
http://boysread.org/books.html

3. Top 10 2012 Summer Reading Lists For Kids and Teens (from Elizabeth Kennedy, About.com Guide)
http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/forparents/tp/summer_reading.htm

4. Books for Boys (by Max Elliott)
http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/

5. Eighteen Highly-Recommended Books for Girls (various age levels-from Random House)
http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/promos/greatbooks/booklist.html

6. Reading List for Girls and Young Women from the NCCD (Nat’l Council on Crime & Delinquency)
http://www.justiceforallgirls.org/resources/BooksforGirls.pdf

7. Reading List for Young Girls (list from blog article by Ms. Blair Peter---other lists included)
http://blairpeter.typepad.com/weblog/2009/06/reading-list-for-young-girls.html

8. Sylvan Learning Center’s Recommended Summer Reading List (by grade levels)
http://tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/summer_reading_list.cfm

9. Kumon’s (English) Recommended Reading List (by reading level, genre, & author)
http://www.kumon-english-rrl.com/

10. This special edition of the WeAreTeachers Book Club List includes 20 brand-new books that are just right for summer reading. There are recommendations for every grade level, so print out the list and share it with students, families and colleagues!
http://community.weareteachers.com/t5/WeAreTeachers-Blog/The-Teacher-Report-20-Summer-Reading-Picks/ba-p/12527

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Clip art courtesy of http://webclipart.about.com/od/homeoriginal/tp/Summer-Clip-Art-Header.01.htm

A Classic Book List for Girls

In my last post, I provided my readers with a book list for boys as we approached the mid-summer vacation time. This week, it is time to give our girls equal consideration.

I wanted to present a list of classic books that will transport young readers to other eras, regions, and cultures. Hopefully, the selections in this list from Random House will suit the young girls in your life and entice them to read all summer long! Enjoy!

A Classic Book List for Girls (Courtesy of Random House)

Kevin Henkes
Chester's Way, 1988. Greenwillow. Ages 3-7.
The mouse Lilly is one of the bravest, most flamboyant young females around. She rescues her friends from bullies, teaches them how to do wheelies, and always carries a loaded squirt gun. Everyone should meet her!

Brian Pinkney
JoJo's Flying Side Kick, 1995. Simon & Schuster. Ages 3-7.
In order to earn her yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do, young JoJo must break a board with a flying side-kick. With the help of her family, she masters her fears and succeeds. A real winner.

Ogden Nash
The Adventures of Isabel, Illustrated by James Marshall. 1991. Little, Brown. Ages 3-8.
In this funny poem, Isabel conquers a bear, a witch, a giant, a doctor, and a nightmare. The pictures will make children laugh while they learn to banish their own nightmares. Not to be missed.

Ed Young
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China, 1989. Philomel. Ages 4-8.
Exquisite illustrations accompany this Chinese folktale about a girl who outwits a nasty wolf and saves her sisters. Winner of the Caldecott Medal.

Kay Thompson
Eloise, Illustrated by Hilary Knight. 1955. Simon & Schuster. Ages 4-8.
Eloise is one of a kind. She tears around the Plaza Hotel in New York, driving adults crazy and having a terrific time. It is no surprise that this incorrigible girl has been popular for more than forty years.

Anne Isaacs
Swamp Angel, Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. 1994. Dutton. Ages 4-9.
Tennessee-born Angelica Longrider, known as Swamp Angel, is a wonderfully outlandish addition to American tall tales. Building her first log cabin at age two is just the beginning of her incredible career. Witty folk art captures the larger-than-life heroine. A Caldecott Honor book.

Kathleen Krull
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman, Illustrated by David Diaz. 1996. Harcourt Brace. Ages 7-10
Striking illustrations portray the life of Wilma Rudolph, who overcame childhood polio to become a great runner and win three Olympic gold medals. A powerful, inspiring story.

Charlotte Pomerantz
The Outside Dog, Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas. 1993. HarperCollins.
Ages 5-8.
A charming beginning reader about a Puerto Rican girl who is determined to have a dog, despite her grandfather's objections.

Ursula K. LeGuin
A Ride on the Red Mare's Back, Illustrated by Julie Downing. 1992. Orchard. Ages 5-9.
With the help of a magical horse, a brave girl sets off to rescue her brother who has been stolen by trolls. A beautifully illustrated tale of courage and love.

Karen Hesse
Sable, Illustrated by Marcia Sewall. 1994. Henry Holt. Ages 6-10.
More than anything, Tate wants to keep the stray dog that shows up at her mountain home. With persistence and hard work, the girl succeeds. A heartwarming novel for younger readers.

Patricia MacLachlan
Sarah, Plain and Tall, 1985. Harper & Row. Ages 6-10.
This small gem tells the story of two children and the quiet, strong woman who they hope will marry their father. Perfect for reading aloud. Winner of the Newbery Medal.

Carol Fenner
Yolonda's Genius, 1995. McElderry. Ages 10-13.
A large and confident girl, Yolonda draws on all of her many talents to help her younger brother pursue his musical dream in this outstanding novel. A Newbery Honor book.

Scott O'Dell
Island of the Blue Dolphins, 1960. Houghton Mifflin. Ages 9-12.
In this modern classic, twelve-year-old Karana must survive alone for years on a California island. Winner of the Newbery Medal.

Patricia Lauber
Lost Star: The Story of Amelia Earhart, 1988. Scholastic. Ages 9-13.
Amelia Earhart broke barriers for women while she broke men's flying records. This biography describes her fascinating life from childhood to her mysterious disappearance.

Patricia C. Wrede
Dealing with Dragons, 1990. Harcourt Brace. Ages 10-13.
Cimorene finds being a princess so boring that she takes a job working for a dragon! The first in a popular, funny series.

Avi
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, 1990. Orchard. Ages 10-14.
"Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty," opens this thrilling tale of a proper young lady who changes when she gets caught up in a mutiny. A top-notch adventure. A Newbery Honor book.

Russell Freedman
Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery, 1993. Clarion. Ages 11-14.
Award-winning biographer Russell Freedman conveys the greatness of Eleanor Roosevelt through his lively writing and an extensive array of photographs. Highly recommended. A Newbery Honor book.

Suzanne Fisher Staples
Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind, 1989. Knopf. Ages 12-14.
Set in contemporary Pakistan, this gripping novel follows the fate of Shabanu, an adolescent girl from a nomadic tribe who rebels against her arranged marriage. A Newbery Honor book.

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897

Graphic courtesy of: http://www.school-clip-art.com/

How to Avoid "Summer Brain Drain" and Other Smart Strategies

It’s often called “summer brain drain” by many teachers. The term describes the loss of learning that occurs in children during the summer break from school, a very real and annual concern for teachers as well as parents. What can parents do to help their children avoid this?

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been talking about this topic with my young students in grades 2 through 5 as the end of the school year has been fast approaching. Some suggestions and resources were also provided for the children and their families.

One bright-eyed, third grader described how he keeps his skills sharp over the summer. Tyler told the class that at the beginning of every summer, his mother purchases a skill-building workbook for his next grade level. She also buys one for each of his brothers, and they work together in their respective books several times each week. It is no surprise that all three children are successful in school. This is just one way of keeping “summer brain drain” at bay.

Other strategies can also promote skill building and retention over the summer. Many of them are available at low or no cost. Just a little effort and forethought might be needed. Here are just a few:

1. Encourage your child to read often. Surround your child with books wherever and whenever possible. Regular visits to your local public library go a long way in establishing good habits of life-long reading and learning. These visits can also be great opportunities to spend quality, family time together---and the price is certainly right!

2. Set aside time each day to read to your child. This will show him that reading is very important to you and your family. It will also increase a child’s desire to read independently. Consider a “family reading time” for obvious, additional benefits.

3. Promote reading in the many things you already do with your children. Ask them to read street signs, menus, game directions, cereal boxes, and other items. This will demonstrate that our world provides much information and opportunities through the reading of words and text. It will also promote independence.

4. Consider providing a journal for your child, a place where she can write about the books she is reading during the summer. You might recommend that she write an alternative ending to a favorite book. Looking back through the journal at the end of the summer will remind her of all the reading she has accomplished in only a few weeks. She will also have improved her critical thinking and writing skills.

5. Do you have a reluctant or struggling reader? You might suggest books (at first) with a few more illustrations and a little less text per page. Another idea to consider: audio books (also available at your local library). If you discover that your child learns best by listening (an auditory learner), this approach will be a very good idea. Share this discovery with your child’s teacher when the fall semester begins. It will be helpful information for that teacher and invaluable for your child’s future classroom success.

So, you can do much to help your children “stay sharp” over the summer months. Just think ahead, plan, and be prepared to have a wonderful summer of reading together! Next fall, your children will thank you (and so will their teachers)!

For more information:

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897