Many studies have shown that children who don't keep up their reading skills over the summer can return to school in the fall having lost as much as three months of the progress they had achieved the previous school year. We have found that children who read over the summer stay at the level they had reached in June or even improve. Here is a very thorough blog about summer reading loss: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/15218/
All of our CRES students were given a reading log to take home. If a student brings that reading log back in August filled with titles of books they've read (age appropriate or "Just Right" books are best) over the summer, and show it to Mrs. Meservey, they will be allowed to choose a free book to keep. If students complete a reading log from another program, they can bring that reading log in instead.
The best way for children to improve their reading skills is by reading a lot of "just right" books. That means books that are not too hard and not too easy - books with no more than a couple of challenging words on each page. Pushing a child to read things that are too challenging may only discourage a student. It's also fine if a child reads the same book many times. This will increase their fluency and confidence.
Children are much more motivated to read when they choose the reading material themselves, and when they are interested in what they are reading. If a child is interested in reading information books on a favorite topic, story books, comic books, web pages (don't forget our library's online collection of electronic books and Tumble Books), email, magazines, recipes, repair manuals, cereal boxes, street signs - that's what you should celebrate and encourage (keeping age-appropriateness in mind, of course).
I've created a web page with links to recommended reading lists if you would like suggestions for books to borrow or purchase over the summer. Here is the link: http://www.fivetowns.net/cres/library/Books%26Authorslinks.html
Also, remember to take advantage of the fantastic, free summer reading programs put on by our public libraries. Students were each given flyers about the programs offered at Camden Public and Rockport Public libraries. Both libraries encourage summer reading and have a great collection of children's books for all interests and all ages.
