Summer break is in full swing and so far it’s been a lot of fun. Amidst all the fun and games, I want to make sure that Becca and Maddie don’t fall prey to the summer slide. It can happen so easily if kids don’t read over the summer. This summer we are once again participating in the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. I am so excited to partner with Scholastic to share more about the summer program with you. It’s such a fun way to keep reading skills sharp during the summer months. Have you signed your kids up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge yet? It’s not too late!
What is the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge?
Now in its 9th year, the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is a free online reading program dedicated to stopping the “summer slide” by encouraging kids to read throughout the summer months when school is out. This year’s challenge theme is “Power Up & Read,” powered by ENERGIZER®.
Why should kids read this summer?
Kids fall prey to the “summer slide,” the common loss of skills due to being out of school, when they do not read over the summer. Research shows Teachers spend four to six weeks re-teaching materials to students because of the “summer slide”—the learning losses which can occur when school is not in session. (Alexander et. al, 2007)
Summer is the perfect time for a child to discover the power of choice. According to the Kids & Family Reading Report, 5th edition, 91% of kids (ages 6-17) say that their favorite books are the ones they pick out themselves.
How does it work?
Starting May 4, 2015 – September 4, 2015, kids can log their reading minutes (online and via mobile) as they read to break last year’s world record of 304,749,861 minutes.
Parents can sign-up their kids at www.scholastic.com/summer. It’s FREE!
Kids can also enter monthly sweepstakes to win fabulous prizes, and earn digital rewards when they complete weekly reading challenges.
What’s new this year for kids?
Kids can unlock 12 original short stories (exclusively for this year’s challenge) from favorite children’s authors and access never-before-seen videos from the authors! Each of the authors has written a unique short story using the same opening sentence, which is, “I glanced over my shoulder to make sure that no one had followed me into the shadowy library, then took a deep breath and opened the glowing book…”
The authors include Blue Balliett, Patrik Henry Bass, Varian Johnson, Gordon Korman, Michael Northtrop, Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pierce, Roland Smith, R.L. Stine, Tui T. Sutherland, Lauren Tarshis, Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Jude Watson.
Each story has a “read along” audio component, inviting kids of all ages and reading levels to enjoy these highly engaging stories.
They can play the new “innovation machine” game, an interactive creative writing game, and enter its contest to win prizes.
Kids can log minutes on-the-go to earn digital rewards and badges as they hit reading milestones.
What’s new this year for parents?
The parents site features new, daily tips for parents called “The Daily Digest.”
Parents can enter weekly sweepstakes to win a “Power Up & Read Kit” and watch videos about summer reading activities to keep you “innovative” all summer long. The prize pack includes: Scholastic tote bag, water bottle, a copy of Reading Unbound by Jeffrey Wilhelm and Michael Smith, $10 gift certificate to Scholastic Store Online, Energizer® brand batteries, Scholastic books, and more.
Parents can download free resources, including printables and booklists for kids of all ages.
Check out some of the books for tweens that are on our summer reading list:
The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick Illustrated by Brian Selznick
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables by Daryle Conners, Elise Allen
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Illustrated by Ellen Forney
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende Illustrated by Roswitha Quadfileg
Close to the Wind by Jon Walter
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Scholastic Parents offers Power Up & Read 2015 Summer Reading Booklists to help you find recommended, age appropriate books for your child. When you sign up for the 2015 Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge you can browse the lists. I found it to be very helpful.
What’s on your child’s summer reading list?
FIND OUT MORE
Sign up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
Find more Scholastic Resources to keep your kids reading all summer long!
Learn more about the Energizer® Instant Win Game
Follow @Scholastic on Twitter
Like the Energizer® Bunny on Facebook
#SummerReading
Sponsored by the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge.
I have not signed up, but need to. My son is learning to read and struggles with liking it. Maybe this can help him some.
Yes we have both kids signed up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. They love to read and this is a very fun program for them. Keeps them on track during summer vacation, and they are still learning.
What a really cool program! I’ve always love how Scholastic encourages reading!
Sounds like a great summer reading program. We love summer reading programs… and have won some great prizes doing them as I have two bookworms here.
Sounds like a great reading program! My family loves Scholastic! We order their books all the time for my grandsons.
I very much encourage my kids to read in the summer months! It might be fun to include them in a global project as a part of that!
What a great program! Its so important to keep kids reading over the summer.
My son has very much been into Disney lately! This sounds like the perfect reading program for him!
Sounds like a great program for my son to help him with his reading over the summer.
We have been talking about signing up for this! It’s a great program! Something for kids of all ages!