Summer Reading with AIM-VA and Reading Technology!

The more relaxed schedule of summertime is the perfect time to nurture those habits of reading for enjoyment and establishing lifelong good habits. Summer reading helps win the battle of the summer slide which frequently affects students with print disabilities. Reading for enjoyment is often not first on the list of fun activities for our students who struggle with literacy. They choose the easy route to avoid reading. As educators, we realize there are many benefits to reading, but how do we make sure our students have the opportunity to make the choice to read? Establishing a reading environment, for summer reading, students have the opportunity to:

• Increase listening comprehension skills
• Prevents loss of reading skills
• Support vocabulary growth

Let’s get them ready, set and reading prior to the end of the school year.

Get Ready

How do we prepare students with print disabilities for summer reading success?
Consider:

• Matching “just right” books to the reader
• Access
• Student and parent training

AIM-VA can help educators get ready for summer reading. “…the number of books read during the summer is consistently related to achievement gains.” AIM-VA has a variety of popular summer reading books in our retroactive library, and can produce instructional materials requested by Virginia public educators. Consider selecting several books to entice the reader with a variety of choices. Choose from favorite authors such as Henry Winkler’s and Lin Oliver’s, Here’s Hank series. Consider connecting a book with a movie; Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and Wonder have all been made into award winning movies. AIM-VA’s library also has a variety of high interest-low vocabulary (HI-LO) books such as Dairy of a Wimpy Kid, The Crossover and The Hunger Games. Please reach out to us if you need help or suggestions with ordering those “just-right” books for students with print disabilities.

Get Set

• Identify home technology
• Provide support and training to students and parents

How can we encourage our reluctant readers to want to pick up a book and enjoy reading this summer? Can we provide effective scaffolding to make reading a pleasurable experience this summer? How will students access these interesting, “just-right” books on their home device? Consider the technology that will be used at home to support their reading experience. Are they using the same device at home that they use at school during the school year? As educators we need train parents and students on how to access books at home, as well as, provide guidance to set up a reading summer plan. The summer reading plan may include ideas such as designating a time and place to read, reading together as a family, and discussing the progression of the story after reading each day.

Read!

VDOE states, “Research shows that children who read for pleasure in the summer do better and forget less when they go back to school. And it's not just in reading. Kids who don't read over the summer can slide backward in all subject areas…”. By providing a number of accessible high interest books and supporting parents and students before summer begins, places students with print disabilities on the right path to avoid the summer slide. Please reach out to AIM-VA if you need more information regarding summer books or reading technology support. Let us help!