Take the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
50,000 Kids Have Registered — 37 Million Reading Minutes Have Been Logged!
We know that for students, summer can be a season of full of learning opportunities ... or learning losses. Research confirms that students who don't read four or more books over the summer typically score lower or stagnate on reading comprehension tests when they return to school.
Keep your students turning the pages all summer long with these recommended books, reproducibles, book videos, and more. Get parents involved — share the importance of summer reading by downloading this send-home letter.
Summer Challenge LIVE!
Hosted by Jon Scieszka, children's book author and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, the 40-minute game-show webcast featured four teams of fifth graders who answered trivia questions about authors, illustrators, and anything related to kids' books. Classrooms around the world helped the contestants earn additional points by responding to live web polls, online questions, and more. It's easy to integrate this event into your day with this classroom guide. Points earned during the April 30th webcast were awarded to the color teams to kick off the Summer Challenge.
Scholastic Summer Challenge
When your students read 4 or more books, they will be making a difference in their own lives and in the lives of other children in need. This year, Scholastic has partnered with Save the Children to raise awareness about the importance of reading and helping others in need. At the end of the summer, Scholastic will make a financial contribution to Save the Children on behalf of all readers in the Scholastic Summer Challenge, in support of Literacy, Early Steps for School Success, Emergency Relief, and Nutrition/Physical Fitness. The winning team gets to choose where a special donation to Save Your Children will go.
Happy Summer Reading!
- Summer Challenge Reading List (PDF)
- Letter to Educators (PDF) from Scholastic and National Center for Summer Learning
- Send-Home Letter to Parents (PDF) from Scholastic and National Center for Summer Learning
- Student Reproducibles
Articles
Find out how your students can compete in the Summer Challenge on THE STACKS and enter the Read for the World Record Challenge.
Scholastic kicked off the Summer Challenge on April 30 with a free, live game-show webcast all around books, hosted by Jon Scieszka. Participating in this interactive webcast is easy with this classroom guide.
Use these fun interactives to motivate student reading all summer long.
Books will fly off the shelf and straight into your students' hands when they watch these quick video booktalks and book trailers.
Winning Ideas for Encouraging Summer Reading
Winning Ideas |
Five top winning ideas from teachers for the question, What's your best idea for encouraging summer reading?
by Jennifer Chandler
This master teacher sets the stage for summer reading with a three-step plan.
by Genia Connell
Third-grade teacher Genia Connell shares her unique incentive program that truly motivates even the most reluctant reader.
by Risa Young
Tips on encouraging your students to stay excited about books during the long vacation, plus ways to keep parents in the loop so they can provide additional support.
Scholastic Parents | Librarians tell you how you can encourage your child's summer reading. You and your child can find the fun in books through local library programs and more.
Activities
Create personalized reading lists. Click on the Book-Alike button and type in the child's favorite book and reading level to find a list of other age-appropriate books. Print out the lists for students to take home or email them to parents.
Lesson Plans
by Beth Newingham
Give students the opportunity to share their favorite books with their classmates through a book recommendation board, peer recommendations, and book commercials.
by Beth Newingham
Students will act as book critics, evaluating and expressing their opinions about the books they read. Students can use these reviews written by their classmates to guide their independent book choices.
by Beth Newingham
Set the stage for continued summer reading success by pairing students with similar reading abilities. Reading partners each have their own copy of book and can set up times to meet and discuss the text throughout their reading of the book.
