Are You Reading?

We stopped by our library this week to sign the Tanner kids (and my two nieces) up for the summer reading program.  It has only been 2 days, but we have recorded over 300 pages in our house!

I haven't had a chance to start "my" reading yet; we have been doing a lot of reading - particularly Magic Tree House and Pete the Cat.  I have a book picked out, though, so stay tuned!

A few quick facts about reading as we head into the summer: 

• A recent study by Renaissance, published in What Are Kids Reading says that a recent study of reading habits in K-12 students shows that just SIX extra minutes of reading a day can turn a struggling reader into one who meets or exceeds their grade level's reading benchmark.  

• The New York Times published an article stating that students lose one month of reading growth over the summer.  This loss is cumulative, meaning it builds every summer.  Reading over the summer can help prevent this loss to maintain the reading level attained by the end of the school year or - better yet - continue to make gains.  

• The U.S. Department of Education's blog shares that students who don't read at all or do not read on a consistent basis see their reading abilities decline.  This effect grows worse as students get older.  

What can you do?  Find a book and R-E-A-D!  Sure, find a book and do your summer reading project for 7th grade.  But keep reading!  Find a good book that you enjoy and read just for fun!

Stay tuned through the summer for book suggestions.  Feel free to leave a comment below of a book you are currently reading or one you have read recently you think others may enjoy.