One of the most precious gifts summer can give a teacher is
time. Time to sleep, time to eat lunch in more than 20 minutes, time to go to
the bathroom whenever you want…I know, it’s exciting. It also gives me time to dive into the
enchanting world of novels.
So far this summer I’ve covered a few different novels.
- · House Girl by Tara Conklin
- · The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
- · Room by Emma Donoghue
- · Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
It’s been fantastic traveling between different time periods
and into the minds of characters, seeing and experiencing things that I would
never be able to if it weren't for the mystical words of a book.
Teachers tell kids and parents to read over the summer. We
send them home with their book bags from the school year, stuffed with material
learned throughout the year in hopes that some of it will be retained over the
next two months.
Well, we’re right. Kids can and usually do lose a lot over
the summer, especially young readers. Usually my August students come in one or
two reading levels lower than they were as May students. This could be reason
enough for parents to encourage their kids to read, but just like anything, if
we’re asking kids to read to just be good at it what’s the point?
If you’re already reading with your kids, thank you, but I
would encourage to go the extra step and love to read with your kids. I will
never be able to live in Virginia in 1852 or know what it’s like to be a
Chinese immigrant, but Tara Conklin and Jean Kwok showed me glimpses.
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Your kids can go anywhere when they read. You can go
anywhere. So go to the library, get the summer reading program rocket ship or
treasure map and start filling in those game board pieces.
Yes, your kids can lose reading ability over the summer, but
they can lose more than that. They can lose the opportunity to become things,
experience things that many of us are never able to except through the black
ink of a stark white page. So my question for you is, where do you want to go
this summer? Who do you want to be? Chances are there’s a book that will help
you get there. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to let your kids in on the fun too.
