Here are 9 ways to beat the summer slide by motivating students to read:
- Create a summer book club.
- Meet at the local library.
- Meet at the school library.
- Do a weekly read aloud via Skype.
- Create a school blog where students can share what they’re reading.
- Hold family reading nights during the summer.
- Do a summertime read and watch night (read a book, watch the movie).
- Set Goals
- Make summer reading a game.
Create a summer tutoring program with easy-to-use teaching resources. Play games like these and have fun!
Reading Resources

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More Summer Slide Reading Ideas
Principal Amy Williams Reyna wrote her ideas, and they are great!
We have a summer reading program four days a week and students can come read in the school library and take AR tests on the genre challenge books. Each week there is a fun program and activities for them as well.
Another principal shared how they increase summer reading at her high school:
We plan to use Penny Kittle’s approach—teachers sign up to promote a book of their choice and hold a one-hour discussion at a designated location.
And other schools use these great summer reading ideas:
- Mid-summer we do a book delivery. Teachers deliver books with their homeroom letters.
- We do books on blankets. Kids bring books and blankets and read outside. Each week we have a staff member read a favorite picture book.
Ms. Gaines encourages her school to read over the summer in Kirbyville Elementary’s Summer Reading program designed to help students maintain or increase their reading levels.
*Summer Slide picture source unknown.