This message is to rectify a communication that was sent regarding summer reading for students and the Smith Media Center. Please note the Smith Media Center is not available for students during the summer months to check out library books, however we would like to suggest your child visit the Henry Ford Centennial Library or the Bryant Library for all their summer reading needs.
Summer is an important time for students to keep reading and improve their language skills. Keep your child reading regularly this summer, so they will not be in danger of the “summer slide”—a decline in their reading ability.
The best ways to keep your child from becoming a “rusty reader” over the summer are:
- Encourage your children to read books they enjoy for at least 30 minutes per day. Your child will likely be more engrossed in material they choose themselves than material that is forced on them.
- Provide incentives for reluctant readers. For example, if your child enjoys basketball, agree to take them to the local court if they do their “daily reading.”
- Make reading a social act. Establish a time during the day when all members of the family gather and read on their own, or take turns reading the same book aloud.
- Connect your reading to family outings. If you take your kids to an aquarium, consider reading a book about fish or the ocean with them later that day. The outing can help place the reading into a broader context.
Take your children to your local library or bookstore and let them pick out a book they’re going to love today. They will be better readers tomorrow for it. Have a safe and wonderful summer.
(The information above has been provided by the U.S. Department of Education)