The Middle School Maze III: Summer Reading & Study Skills

Middle School study skills summer activities

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Yes, summer fun is important. But reading through the hot months is too, maybe even more so.

During the hot summer months, middle school students have the opportunity to run around outside, swim, and play. The mere thought of "school" may repel a middle school student, and cause a tantrum. As a parent, how can you keep your child engaged so that they are ready to dive back into academics come the fall?

Studies show that many middle school students actually regress over the summer. After being in school all day for 9 months, students are suddenly without any structured, intellectual stimulation. Without reading, writing, or mathematics for 3 months, the middle school student may not only forget content learned in school, but his or her brain activity may also slow down. Think of the brain as a muscle. Without working out for 3 months, your first attempt to exercise will be painful. For young students, the brain’s “elasticity” reacts similarly.

There’s an easy fix for the hot summer lapse. Read!

If the middle school student reads continually throughout the summer, the student’s study skills (focus, analytical thinking, critical reading) will remain sharp. Regularly ask your child about what he or she is reading to keep them interested and invested. 

Here are our top picks for Middle School summer reading:

Chronices of Narnia, C.S. Lewis

Animal Farm, George Orwell

The Giver, Lois Lowry

A Thousand Never Evers, Shana Burg

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff Kinney

The Face on the Milk Carton, Caroline Cooney

Change-Up: Mystery of the World Series, John Feinstein

Black Beauty, Anna Sewell

Keep your child engaged with learning all summer by reading.

Sophie holds an MPA in Public Administration from NYU and a BA in Comparative Literature from Dartmouth College. Outside of teaching, Sophie has spent her career working at the intersection of the public, private and nonprofit sectors to promote access to healthcare, education and employment.

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