A Teacher-Approved Guide to Empowering Families and Preserving Hard-Won Reading Skills
The Summer Slide Is Real, But It’s 100% Preventable
Research shows that students can lose up to 3 months of reading progress over the summer. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The secret? A reading routine that’s simple, joyful, and built into everyday life.
What the Research Says:
- Cooper et al. (2003) found that summer reading loss disproportionately affects K–2 students from low-income households.
- Richard Allington discovered that simply giving students books they choose reduces reading loss by 50% or more.
- NAEP data shows students who read at least 4 books over the summer are more likely to maintain or improve their reading scores.
What Teachers and Schools Can Do:
- Send home book bundles with student-selected titles.
- Provide a simple reading log or sticker chart.
- Encourage “anywhere reading” grocery lists, menus, signs, recipes count!
Share this blog with families and community partners. Let’s rewrite the summer story together.