Summer Reading
@ CMS East
Why read this summer?
For decades, school districts have tried different methods to combat the dreaded “summer reading slide” and its negative impact on the reading achievement gap. Many students and families regard the summer break as just that – a break from school and other requirements.
However, research shows that students who never open a book during their summer break fall behind in reading while students who do read maintain their reading skills and even excel.
What do researchers have to say about the importance of summer reading?
“… the best predictor of summer loss or summer gain is whether or not a child reads during the summer.”
- Allington, Richard L. and McGill-Franzen, Anne. “Bridging the Summer Reading Gap,” Scholastic Instructor (2003).
“Regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic level, or previous achievement, children who read four or more books over the summer fare better on reading comprehension tests in the fall than their peers who read one or no books over the summer.”
- Kim, Jimmy. “Summer Reading and the Ethnic Achievement Gap,” The Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (2004).
CMS East eBooks and Digital Audiobooks
Did you know that CMS East has over 3,200 eBooks and over 350 digital audiobooks...all of which can be accessed on students' iPads?
Click here for directions on how to check out these books.
What can parents do?
- Always have a book on hand for your student to read...in the car, at doctor's appointments, on vacation, etc.
- Take your student to the public library. Click here to read about the activities happening this summer at the Coppell Cozby Library and Community Commons (summer reading kickoff is June 3). Click here to register for the Irving Public Library summer reading challenge.
- Read and discuss a book TOGETHER. Try one of the Alan Gratz books highlighted here. Click here for a list of great middle school titles compiled by the Association for Library Service to Children. Click here to see current and past Lone Star Reading Lists, which are recommended reading lists developed by librarians in Texas.
- Connect reading to a summer activity. For example, read online travel blogs about places your family will visit or read a manual about hiking safety before a camping trip.
- Set goals and reward reading. Click here for a summer reading bingo game. Click here to learn about the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. Click here for information about the Half Price Books Summer Reading Program.