Summer is coming before we know it. Studies have shown that children who don’t read over the summer can lose many months of reading progress. So I've put together my favorite tips because I didn’t want kids to lose the reading skills over the summer they worked so hard to develop in school last year. It's a perfect time before they get out of school to have these in your toolbox to share with them.
In addition to these tips I have a great new video called "Sally's Poor Brain", written by 8-year-old Andrea E. Langholff from Wisconsin, who was a finalist in my annual writing contest. I have chosen this story to share with kids because of its witty lesson about a brain that literally walks away in search of intellectual stimulation. Some important food for thought!
Here are a few ideas:
- Reading simple instructions for a task is a great way to improve comprehension skills. Visit the Activities Page of my website, MrsP.com for fun things you and your child can make. Fans of “Alice in Wonderland” will love the easy and clever homemade toys and games you can make with materials most people have sitting around the house.
- Get a public library card. It’s FREE, and most libraries have fun summer and after-school activities (as well as books full of wonderful stories and ideas from the smartest people who ever lived.) You can also find good educational videos and audio books at the library. I have a special place in her heart for librarians, so tell them Mrs. P sent you!
- Making handmade books out of your child’s story is a great way to nurture a life-long love for books. You can create simple books in many ways, and the materials can usually be found around the house. I have put together a fun FREE bookmaking activity to help you get started. Asking your child to tell you a story helps to develop an active mind. Kids are naturally creative; your job is to give them an environment that will let their imaginations flourish.
- Keep a Reading Log. Keep track of the books you've read with my Kind-Of-A-Big-Deal Official Mrs. P Reading Log. (hint: find it in my drop down menu and then print a few at a time) There's even a place to color. Reading logs recognize the value of reading every day and can act as a simple reminder. And remember, all reading counts, whether you are being read to, reading aloud, or just by yourself.
- Download a free poster of Mrs. P or another one of your child’s favorite celebrities from Get Caught Reading Hanging one of these colorful posters in your child’s room will remind them “Reading is cool and so are you!”
- Play a Reading Game. I've developed my FREE Mrs. P Reading Challenge Game. Kids who play the game will get to prove how well they comprehend and retain what they read. I help them find the right answers with funny audio and visual messages. And when players get a good score, they’ll be rewarded with a pot of gold! (When I was a kid, we just got a cheap little gold star!)
- Encourage Writing. Reading and writing go hand-in-hand; developing skills for one always helps with the other. Encouraging your child to make up and tell you a story can be an excellent work-out for the imagination – and also a fun way to spend time together. And if you come up with an idea you really like, enter it in my next Be-A-Famous-Writer Contest.
Enjoy "Sally's Poor Brain"