Research
shows that reading increases vocabulary and comprehension. Both help
students be successful in school and on standardized tests they must
take.
Swansea
High School and Swansea High Freshman Academy students are expected to
read over the summer. College prep students have to read for a minimum
of 1200 minutes while AP and honors students have to read three specific
novels. Please refer to the student’s schedule for summer reading.
Attention Students: Please click on the appropriate link below for your specific summer reading information.
Why Summer Reading Matters:
-
The difference between students who read and those who do not read is 3
months of growth. Students who do not read during the summer
experience loss in their reading skills. Those who do read either
maintain the gains made during the school year or make more gains.
(Richard Allington)
-
By the time students reach sixth grade, students who do not read
during the summer will be 2 or more years behind their peers. (Richard
Allington)
-
80% of the difference between struggling students and successful
students is because of progress made during the summer. (Gerald Bracey)
-
“Reading 4 or 5 books during the summer is potentially powerful enough
to prevent a decline in a reading achievement scores from spring to
fall.” (Jimmy Kelly)
What do Readers Need?
-
Practice reading books at the appropriate level of difficulty of the reader.
-
Access to reading materials– books, magazines, graphic novels, recorded books, material on the Internet.
-
Students need to read about things that interest them and are
important to them. Books and articles that are movies or about
something they enjoy (skateboarding, dancing, friends)
-
“Direct encouragement, even fairly forceful encouragement, to read
works.” (Fay Shin) Parents who encourage students to read make a
difference.
What Can Parents Do?
-
Provide access to reading material: visit the library, get a magazine subscription, stop by the bookstore.
-
Be a reader. Children take their cues from parents; if you read, they will too.
-
Talk about books with your child. Make reading a social event:
discuss reading at dinner, form a book club with other children.
-
Connect reading to the world around you. If you are going on vacation, have your child read about the vacation destination.
-
Encourage participation in our summer reading challenge.
Websites About the Importance of Reading/Summer Reading
http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/articles/teenagers-and-reading.htm
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/pld/pdf/slp-points.pdf
http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/reading.htm
http://www.earlymoments.com/Promoting-Literacy-and-a-Love-of-Reading/Why-Reading-to-Children-is-Important/
| 
