Okay, so maybe reading isn’t at the top of the my kids’ to-do lists this summer, but it is always at the top of mine. I’m hopeful that if we make it a little more fun and collaborative, they’ll think summer reading is as fun as I do.
Simple Summer Reading Ideas to Encourage Reluctant Readers
I found this list at Christianbook.com to help narrow down our choices and we’ve reserved several of them from the library. I brought home the first stack last week and asked them to pick one and read for at least 30 minutes each day. I’m reading the books too so that we can discuss them.
After we finish a book, we’ll do something fun relating to the story. For example, following the book Miracles on Maple Hill, we’ll learn how maple syrup is made and have pancakes and real maple syrup for dinner. Most of the books on the list have been made into movies, so of course we’ll have movie night at the end of each book as well.
More Reading Ideas and Lists for Your Homeschool
Some of these ideas might bless your summer and your reluctant reader too!
Summer Reading Inspiration for Your Homeschool by Heidi at The Curriculum Choice – Summer is fast approaching and while you may be taking a break from any formal homeschooling, summer is a great time to indulge in reading great books. Here I have collected a bunch of summer reading inspiration. Everything from reading lists, to fun book clubs, book related activities and more!
A Nature Themed Book List for Easy Summer Learning – Over the years, our family has built a nature themed library of our favorite and most useful resources. There are picture books featuring the natural world, fiction with a nature theme, and non-fiction reference and activity filled books. Even now with my children all grown and on their own, I use this nature library for my own benefit and enjoyment.
Summer Ideas for Kids: A Chalkboard List for Your Family – Read. Just a simple reminder to stop and read to Lil’ Buddy – imagine how far his reading would go if all six of us each read a book with him a day! This is also a prompt for summer reading for our Afternoon Quiet Time.
5 Reasons to Have a Reading Week in Your Homeschool – Here are 5 reasons to have a reading week in your homeschool because this week we have been thoroughly indulging in it. I highly recommend it!
Use Summer To Build Habits in Your Homeschool – Oh summer is for fun! Summer can also be opportunity. See, without all the regular ‘have tos’ of school and extracurricular activities, there is time. That wonderful, empty space on the calendar. But sometimes having more time can be a challenge. So we have found a balance. Summer is when we work on those basic ‘bones’ of our days – all the while having fun and taking an official homeschool break. We use summer to build habits. I encourage you to use summer to build habits as well. Here are a few ideas for you.
A Summer Bucket List of Activities Kids Will Love! What about some art around your summer reading? Have fun with the freedom and creativity of art. Throw in some outside time and some treats, and you’ve got the makings of a glorious summer!
-by Kendra, Life Untethered, June 2011
What a wonderful idea! This meets a need for us. Thank you Kendra!
We are also focusing on reading this summer, with our lightened school load. We signed up for the library summer reading program and we’ve stocked up on books. Love the idea for the tie-ins – sounds like something we’ll have to try!
Thanks, Kendra, for the link to the list! I have all girls, and am one of those moms who has to tell her kids to put the book down and go play outside… still, it is nice to have a fresh list to refer to when they have read every book in the house 10 times!
=)
Awesome idea!!! Thank You for sharing this!! How long do you take off for summer?
Well… we planned to do a little school throughout the summer, but here we are more than halfway through June and we haven’t cracked a book (other than the summer reading books) since the first week of May! But that is usually how my plans go 🙂 We’ll start back “for real” the first week of August.