Why Summer Reading for Kids?
We read for entertainment, to escape, to experience other worlds, and to learn. Reading brings pleasure and joy to our existence. Sadly, some children struggle to learn to read or never connect with books. How can we help our children become fluent readers and love to read? We must balance the skill of reading with a love of books. Summer Reading with our kids makes a difference.
We do both by teaching high-frequency words most commonly found in texts and systematically teaching phonics. We support that instruction with easy-to-decode books that instill success and confidence.
Next, we find pleasure in reading by introducing high-interest books at the right level, participating in shared reading experiences, and reading aloud to our children.
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High-Frequency Words
High-frequency words appear the most often in printed text. Teach children these words to give them early reading success. Many high-frequency words are not phonetic or employ phonics rules the child has not yet learned. Examples include The, so, you. Learning high-frequency words as part of summer reading with your kids gives them a reading edge.
Word Lists
Reading experts compile lists of high-frequency words, sometimes called sight words. Check out these two lists I use.
Teach the Words
Previously, I stated that high-frequency words are not phonetic. These words require explicit instruction for learning. A site called Really Great Reading calls these words Heart Words because we must learn them “by heart”. They offer free videos and downloadable activities for teaching the High-Frequency “Heart Words”.
Focus on Phonics
The Sequence of Phonics Instruction
Understanding the sequence for teaching phonics rules helps guide you in supporting your child’s reading progression. Make phonics part of your summer reading with your kids. Teach phonics in the following order:
Consonant-Vowel Consonant (CVC) words. Examples: Cat, log, pin.
Consonant Blends- Blends begin or end with two or three consonants that blend together. Examples include “cl” as in clap, and “-nt” as in sent. The Scholar Within site gives word lists of blends and compares blends and digraphs.
Digraphs and Trigraphs- Digraphs and Trigraphs consist of two or three letters that make a new sound when placed next to each other. Examples include “th”, “sh”, “ch”, “ph”, “str”, “thr”.
Silent e- When “e” is added to the end of a CVC word it makes the first vowel say its name (the long vowel sound). For example, kit changes to kite.
Vowel Teams- When two vowels are next to each other they make a long vowel sound, usually the long sound of the first vowel. Examples include: “oa”, “ea”, “ee”. I like to use the rhyme, “When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking!”
Diphthongs- Sometimes two vowels come next to each other and we hear both vowel sounds slide from the first to the second. Examples include “oi” as in coin, “oy” as in boy, and “ou” as in loud.
Non-phonetic Phonograms- English is not a completely phonetic language. Rule breakers exist that cause frustration. Examples include: “ie” as in chief (long e sound) and tie (long i sound), “oo” as in moon and book (same letters, two different sounds), and r-controlled vowels (ar, er, ir, ur, or).
Silent Letters- Some letters in English spelling are silent. Examples include “igh” as in light, “mb” as in lamb.
Multi-syllable Words- Words that have prefixes or suffixes (-ing, -ed, -es), compound words, and words with more than one syllable make up this category and leads to more advanced reading proficiency.
My Highest Recommendation-The book Phonics From A to Z encompasses my highest recommendation for sequential phonics teaching. It includes an in-depth explanation of phonics, how to teach phonics, games, word lists for each phonetic sound, and assessments to give your child. An invaluable resource, it saved my life in the early teaching years!
I posted this article on Language materials to teach phonics, word study, and mechanics (punctuation) that support reading. It may be helpful as you teach your child.
Decodable Books
Pair phonics instruction with Decodable books to give your child authentic phonics reading practice. Decodable books target one new phonics sound at a time providing the opportunity to practice the sound surrounded by high-frequency words and other phonetic words already mastered.
Summer reading for kids becomes confidence-building when children successfully decode and comprehend short manageable books.
Many websites offer FREE decodable readers that you can access online or download and print. Here I highlight and link my favorite free books.
The Text Project– Includes free downloadable texts for emergent to middle school readers. It also includes resources for teachers, parents, and tutors on how to teach children to read.
Star Fall- The “Learn to Read” page includes a free game, a book, and a movie for each phonics sound. I used this site and books with my k-2nd grade class with much success. Star Fall offers a lot more with free and paid content so be sure to look around.
Phonics Play Comics- Who doesn’t love comic books?! This site presents a sequential phonics progression of free decodable readers…comic book style!
FlyLeaf Publishing- This free online book portal presents books in sequential phonics instruction suitable for emergent to grade 3 readers. Read the book online with interactive flip pages. Download the free activity and comprehension “homework” pages for extra practice.
Phonics Books– The Moon Dogs at Home series offers free downloadable books for 2nd-3rd grade and supports struggling readers. The first book begins with vowel teams and progresses to r-controlled vowels, diphthongs, silent letters, and non-phonetic spelling patterns.
Read for Pleasure
Choose the Appropriate Reading Level
Finding a book for your child at his/her reading level causes anxiety! There are several leveling systems referenced when determining the reading level of a book. These systems are created by reading experts and help you and your child choose appropriate books to successfully enjoy!
Leveling Systems include Guided Reading Level (GRL), Accelerated Reader (AR), Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA), Lexile Measurement Level, Fountas and Pinnell, and Reading Recovery. Grade levels are represented with a letter or number sequence.
Reading Levels Explained– Just Right Reads explains several leveling systems that match grade level to letter and number correlations. Very helpful.
Correlation Chart– Reading a-z correlates their reading books (a paid subscription) with several leveling systems in a beautifully visual way.
Fountas and Pinnell– This chart shows the F&P level correlated to grade level.
Lexile Level– Scholastic explains Lexile levels and utilizes a colorful comparison chart of their books to other leveling systems.
The important thing is to not stress out about your child’s reading level! We are talking about reading for pleasure here! I simply want you to be aware of the most popular systems for leveling readers. Use this to your advantage by understanding that the letters and numbers correspond to a grade level. Library books and books for sale reference these leveled letters and numbers.
We aim to make summer reading for kids simple and pleasurable.
Choose a level at your child’s grade, and listen while your child reads aloud. Do they struggle to decode the words? Choose a level below. Do they breeze through it easily? Bump up a level.
What if I Want to Assess My Child’s Reading Level?
Sources like Accelerated Reader require subscriptions and are meant for public school systems, which are a little out of reach for us parents. If you want to assess your child’s reading grade level, there are several good free and low-cost options.
The San Diego Quick Assessment– This free assessment asks students to read lists of words associated with grade levels. It is not super in-depth, but it is a starting point.
Pioneer Valley– This free online reading assessment tests high-frequency words and reading grade level. Create a free account to take the assessment. Your child will read about four short books and answer comprehension questions (optional). At the end of the assessment, your child receives a Fountas and Pinnell level letter.
Informal Reading Assessments by Dr. Fry– This book contains multiple informal assessments for grades k-8. It includes easy-to-follow assessment instructions for phonics, onset and rime, phoneme segmentation, word recognition, letter name tests, homophones, and silent reading comprehension tests. The results help you pinpoint exactly where your child needs support and instruction in reading.
Personal Reading
Once you know your child’s reading level choose a book that interests your child. Use popular book lists online to find book titles appropriately leveled then head to your library and check them out!
Scholastic– Search for books by your child’s grade, or interests in subject, genre, or theme. Each book lists the grade level, reading level, and Lexile measurement.
Book Wizard– This Scholastic tool allows you to build your own book list. Search by Reading Level (choices include Guided Reading, Lexile, Developmental Reading Assessment, or Accelerated Reader) or Grade Level. Further, narrow the selection by choosing fiction or non-fiction, subjects, and genres. A list of titles is generated based on your selections which you can then purchase from Scholastic (can’t beat their prices!) or find at your local library.
Reading Rockets Themed Booklist– Choose a theme like “Favorite Books”, “Fun and Funny”, or “Celebrating Women and Girls”. Next, narrow your theme with “Caldecott Medal Winners”, “For Laughing Out Loud”, or “Inspiring Imaginative Women”.
The description only lists an age level. Go to the Scholastic Book Wizard (linked above), and put the title into the “Level a Book” search box. A grade level, Lexile level, Guided Reading Level, DRA level, and Accelerated Reader level are shown in the information box.
Shared Reading
When you sit with your child and take turns reading a book together you are participating in Shared Reading. An enjoyable way to bond with your child it models good reading and comprehension skills and helps your child with reading fluency. Choose a book your child is interested in and read it together.
The Good and the Beautiful offers Read Together books that include Phonics Instruction and have sections in the text for Parent reading and Student reading, which have a larger font than the parent section.
Phonics Read Together Set– A collection of 4 books , which my daughter loved!
Read Aloud
Reading aloud to your children instills a love of literature. Unlike shared reading, a read-aloud book is above the child’s independent reading level and you do all the reading. You model good reading and comprehension skills.
Reading Rockets lists the benefits of a read-aloud and offers tips on maximizing its potential.
There are many lists of best read-aloud books. Check out these treasure trove book lists!
If you struggle with reading yourself or find it difficult to carve out time due to your work schedule, consider audiobooks from the library or YouTube.
Summer reading with your kids builds lasting connections and pleasurable memories. The rush and pressure dissipate as you cozy into good books. Make games of high-frequency words and phonics rules to support where your children are on their reading journey. Use the knowledge of your children’s grades and reading abilities to choose fun high-interest personal reading books. Then enjoy those books together with shared reading and read-aloud experiences.
Bon Appetit!