Unfortunately, the distance from the classroom that provides such a sense of liberation is also the cause of a significant problem in educational development.
To describe the issue as succinctly as possible, children who do not read during the summer see marked declines in reading comprehension and school performance, while children who read during the summer see year-to-year increases in reading comprehension and school performance.
Among educators, this phenomenon is known as summer reading loss. A study by Susan Roman and Carol D. Fiore places the achievement gap between engaged students and disengaged students entering the sixth grade at up to three grade levels, with the average disengaged child two months behind an engaged child for each summer without progress.
Getting involved with summer reading does not have to be to a trial. Children engaged with summer reading are not poring over textbooks and discussing obscure Russian literature. In order to reap the benefits of summer reading, a child only needs to be reading about whatever interests him. Really. That's it. That could include literary classics by Robert Louis Stevenson or old back issues of Mad Magazine. Laura Ingalls Wilder or Batman. Norton Juster or Walter the Farting Dog. Literacy is as individual as each child. Fluency and comfort with reading material is just as important as vocabulary and content recognition
The importance of allowing a children to chase their interests lies in encouraging a positive association with reading. Although this approach may not be instructional, children who are given the freedom to pursue their interests see overall gains in reading comprehension. Another method essential to developing this association is combining individual reading interests with social interaction. On a small scale, this means talking to your children about what they are reading and actively seeking out materials that directly interest them. On a larger scale, this means involving your child in larger programs that make reading a primary focus.
Fortunately, Anchorage offers parents a number of excellent options to get their children involved with summer reading. The Anchorage School District offers a variety of summer programs, as do organizations like the Alaska Zoo and the Alaska Botanical Garden. We here at the Anchorage Public Library are in the midst of our Summer Reading Celebration, which has free events and activities for children at every location. Teens can get themselves involved through programs at the newly opened Teen Underground in Loussac Library. Programs such as these help to incentivize and socialize the experience of reading, and help to familiarize your child with institutions that provide ongoing educational resources. Our full program schedule can be found at Anchoragelibrary.org.
If nothing else, I can attest that summer reading has played a large part in my life. I remember my childhood trips to the local library, zoo and community college for animal exhibitions, reading challenges and science demonstrations as fondly as I remember the ice cream trucks and trips to the beach. Reading has become a part of my life because my parents took the time and effort to make it important and special to me. Now, I work in my profession to ensure that you have the resources to do the same for your children. I sincerely hope that you do.
Jacob Munford is a youth services librarian at the Anchorage Public Library.
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