Summer = Reading



 One of the things I love about summer is the laziness of it.  As a teacher, summer has always been a time to slow down, relax, and enjoy being lazy.  And, reading is the best way to do all 3!!!!  Even though I'm retired now, summer is still a time I catch up on reading.  It is one of my favorite things to do in the summer, so I love sharing titles with others.

   For the last few years, I've spent the last days of school doing book talks for each grade level.  I get my grade level piles together and introduce, or reacquaint, students with favorite characters, or intriguing situations, or historical fiction that will begin to build their background knowledge for the following year.  For 30 to 40 minutes, I read snippets of stories and leave students with a tease that, hopefully, will make them find that book.  I challenge them to find out the rest of the story, or to find a character they want to introduce to me the next year.

   A few years back, I worked with a wonderful media specialist, my friend Teresa Cruce, to create bookmarks for summer reading for each grade level.  On one side I compiled a list of books for each grade level, and she added on the backside information about the public library with dates of special library events, plus a few dates she would meet them at the public library.  I, or other faculty members, would join her in meeting students. We would help students choose books, talk with students about their summer, or read aloud to the group.  She always takes pictures of the students "caught at the library in the summer" and posts them in school at the beginning of the year.  I am no longer there, but Teresa continues to do this during the summer and the families love it.  Some teachers set a date with their class to meet at the library.  It's been a wonderful experience.

   For the book talks, I don't think it matters much which titles are shared.  The important things are that they are grade level appropriate and that the one sharing loves them.  It is hard to recommend a book you don't know well.  There's a wonderful website that helps in choosing age appropriate books,
http://www.readaloudamerica.org/booklist.htm.  Here are copies of my bookmarks.