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
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