Summer is for fun! Kids need the break! But don’t let their hard-earned literacy skills slip! Avoiding the summer slump and fostering positive reading growth are essential goals for all readers, particularly for those at-risk. In last month's newsletter, we talked about how summer reading lists can provide motivation for reluctant readers. This month, we continue to focus on the same topic with more facts and ideas to continue motivating our community. Overcoming learning loss can be as simple as 15 min of practice each day!
Here are some ideas:
Provide quick reading tasks that easily integrate into their day.
Encourage your child to read recipes and menus when you're at restaurants and other print you see each day.
Use audiobooks from the library, Learning Ally, Audibles, or Bookshare
Summer reading can be fun! Use it to increase student ownership over their identity as readers. Learning loss happens every summer and affects young children the most. The International Dyslexia Association states: “Following summer vacation, students often start the school year with less competence than they demonstrated the previous spring. This skill regression sometimes is termed ‘summer slump,’ ‘summer slide,’ or ‘summer setback.’” -The International Dyslexia Association
Support struggling readers by selecting books in their areas of interest. Pick books that they can read independently, but also read books to your child above their current independent reading level to help increase your child’s vocabulary and fluency and expose them to more content-rich knowledge.
The summer months are critical for overall reading development. How children spend this time will have a long-term impact on academic outcomes. We can reframe reading challenges as opportunities during the critical summer months.
Follow us on our social media accounts to get our book recommendations for the summer!
Therapist Spotlight: Tami Reimer, M.A.T.
Tami became a Special Education Teacher after her son was diagnosed with autism at a young age, and has been teaching for over 12 years. In her quest to support all learners, she extended her studies in Assistive Technology, Early Childhood Special Education, and Orton-Gillingham (OG) certification. It was her OG certification that sparked her interest in Structured Literacy. She joined Building Pathways in September 2021. Tami loves working closely with families, and online Structured Literacy allows her to do that.
One family recently sent an email:
"Good morning Miss Tami. I just wanted to thank you for all of your hard work and support with J. I can see a great improvement in him and I know he has greater confidence in himself which means so much to me. Thank you so much again!!!"
When not working, Tami enjoys yoga, nature walks, learning to play guitar, and illustrating. She is planning to work on books for struggling readers.
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