Teaching Tip: Mrs. Chandler’s Jumpstart for Summer Reading

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In order to encourage students to complete summer reading assignments, you must acknowledge that this needs to be a transitional effort, beginning in the current school year and concluding with the new teacher next school year. We have a responsibility to make this learning activity relevant to students. To do this, follow these steps:

1. BEFORE READING: At the end of the assigning school year, design a lesson that will set the stage for the summer reading experience. Obviously, this is easier if every student is reading the same novel, but you can also use a even a simple K-W-L chart or a set of prediction questions can be used to help students make a connection to the novel.

 

2. DURING READING: Create a meaningful activity for students to complete while reading. Scholastic has many teaching resources that can help. One professional book I prefer is Reading Response Trifolds for 40 Favorite Novels.

 

3. AFTER READING: Students must have an assignment to return at the beginning of the new school year. Otherwise, summer reading has no relevance and seems more like a punishment. Prepare an assessment for students to complete when they return for the next school year. This assessment does not have to be a difficult test, but rather a quick group discussion, journaling response, or role-play activity. Some Web sites offer interactive games and activities for specific novels so that teachers can plan such an activity before choosing the novel to be assigned.

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LESSON PLAN

Literature Analysis Students will discuss literature with their peers, identifying the character, plot, and setting of the book and analyzing them.