Summer is on its way, but that shouldn't mean books are left on the shelf. When students don't read during the summer months, they lose educational ground - a phenomenon that lowers achievement potential and widens the achievement gap.
"No student should have to start the school year having fallen behind, State School Superintendent John Barge said. "That's what we know, and that's what we're committed to preventing - because that loss is preventable. When students read over the summer, they can actually make gains in achievement. All of Georgia's students deserve that."
To ensure that Georgia's students don't fall behind while school is out of session, the Georgia Department of Education is working alongside the Get Georgia Reading campaign, the Governor's Office of Student Achievement, and the Council of Chief State School Officers to encourage summer reading.
All students are challenged to read every day this summer, for at least 15 to 30 minutes. Parents and students are encouraged to visit the Find a Book, Georgia website and make a Summer Reading Pledge. All Pledges will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes at Noble.
Then they can use the site to find book recommendations throughout the summer, all tailored to a student's interests and Lexile score. (If the child's Lexile score is not known, the site can estimate reading level based on answers to a few simple questions.)
Suggested summer reading goals for students based on grade levels are:
K - 2 students: 10 books
3 - 5 students: 8 chapter books
6 - 12 students: 5 fiction books and 5 non-fiction books
OTHER SUMMER READING PROGRAMS
Local Libraries - Sign up at your local library and get fun rewards! Click here to find your local library.
Local Libraries - Sign up at your local library and get fun rewards! Click here to find your local library.
Atlanta Hawks Check It Out Reading Program - Read at least five books and receive a Check It Out Reading Challenge bookmark (available at your local library) and a free youth ticket with purchase of at least 1 adult ticket.
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program - Read any 8 books and record them in the Reading Journal (PDF). Bring the completed Reading Journal to your local B&N store. Choose a FREE BOOK from the selection on the Reading Journal list at the store.
Braves Summer Reading Program - Read a book and receive a FREE Braves Ticket. Click here to register after Friday, May 23.
Chuck E. Cheese Reading Rewards - Children read books for two weeks and can redeem 10 tokens on their next visit to Chuck E Cheese.
Half Price Books - Kids 14 and under can earn a $5 Gift Card each month for reading 15 min/day in June and July.
iVillage Summer Reading Challenge - Join their free 4-week program and starting mid-June you’ll get daily emails filled with literacy-building tips, games and activities, printables and crafts, a daily chance to win great prizes.
Scholastic Summer Challenge - Log your reading time to earn cool rewards!
Sylvan Learning's Book Adventure - Register your child and they get to take quizzes over books they've read and then exchange their quiz points for prizes.
More Summer Fun for Fayette & Coweta Families:
