May 2022

Summer Learning, Background Knowledge, APA Heritage … and More!

In this issue: Summer Learning / Background Knowledge / Children's Books & Authors  / Learning at Home / In the Classroom  /  Events and News

Summer Learning: A Season for Reading and Hands-On Exploration

Summer is arriving at last. Time for kids to discover new interests, new books, and the pure pleasure of reading just for fun. And time for hands-on explorations (outdoors when possible!) to connect kids with what they're reading — that helps build background knowledge to get everyone ready for the challenges of the new school year.

Summer Literacy Challenge!

For most parents, it's a challenge to keep kids reading and writing all summer. Suddenly 10 weeks of summer can feel like a very long time. We've got 10 ideas to help make this summer full of fun, creativity and learning.

Explore more:

• Summer Learning, Side-by-Side
• Think Like an Inventor
• Book Swap for Kids

Active Read Alouds 

The best story times are very interactive: You are reading the story and asking questions, your child is talking and there is lots of conversation between the two of you. Watch how one reading volunteer engages kids in active conversation about vegetables, and how an outdoor "milking station" turns into a memorable way to learn new vocabulary words like "pasteurizing." (To set up your own farm station, download our Farms reading adventure pack.)

Summer Reading for Kids Who Need Encouragement  

Reading is hard for many children, so summer reading can seem like a chore. Encourage reluctant and struggling readers by introducing them to these different formats, such as magazines, graphic novels, and audiobooks.

You might also suggest chapter book series that reintroduce familiar and beloved characters in new stories, in a writing style that feels familiar. Try the Judy Moody and Stink series by Megan McDonald, the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne, or the Hank Zipzer series by Lin Oliver and Henry Winkler. For more book suggestions, see Favorite Books for Kids with Learning and Attention Issues, based on our survey of parents and educators. Be sure to add some of your own favorites in the comments!

Building Background Knowledge

As we transition into summer, we’re thinking about how to use unstructured time to help children fill their “knowledge bank” about the world. Follow children’s interests – some will dive deeply into science while others may be more interested in the creative arts or history or cultures of the world. Here are some resources to explore!

To Learn About the World ... Start with a Book!  

On our companion summer learning site, kids choose topics they want to explore (dinosaurs, detectives, bugs, flight, folktales, stars, music …), find great kids’ books for each topic, and then dive into some of the hands-on activities, writing ideas, educational apps, podcasts, and websites for inquisitive kids. You’ll also find our free toolkits and guides for home or summer programs:

• Tune In!
• Bird Buddies
• Space Rangers
• River Rangers
• We Are Storytellers
• Trailblazers
• Our Democracy

Tune In! Our Newest DIY Summer Camp Is All About Music

Imagine making music with your body, inventing simple instruments with recycled materials, playing conductor, building community through call-and-response singing and group dances, creating a music time capsule, drawing to music, designing an album cover, exploring voices and songs of social change, and writing original jingles, parodies, and raps.

Combining hands-on activities with great fiction, poetry, and picture book biographies — books such as Charlie Parker Played Be Bop and Celia Cruz: Queen of Salsa — kids get inspired to read about musicians and composers from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Tune In is designed for educators, summer program leaders, and parents — and it's free! Join us … to explore, create, read, write, and learn — all about music.

Explore more:

• How Music Primes the Brain for Learning (Edutopia)

Moon Watchers: Get Ready for a Total Lunar Eclipse ‘Blood Moon’

Calling all space enthusiasts! This weekend (May 15-16) a full “Flower Moon” will glow red as Earth’s shadow sweeps across it, creating a spectacular and rare night sky event across most of North America.

Explore more:

• Lunar Eclipses Explained (PBS) 
• Here's how to watch the total lunar eclipse on May 15 (NPR)
• Watch a Total Lunar Eclipse (NASA Science Live) 

For more learning, try our free Space Rangers toolkit, all about stars, our solar system, and space exploration!

Summer Learning Tips to Go!

Sign up for our summer learning tips, available in English or Spanish. You'll receive three messages per week, featuring hands-on activities to keep kids reading, creating, exploring — and learning — all summer long!

Children’s Books & Authors

NEW! 100 Children’s Authors and Illustrators Everyone Should Know

Meet 100 wonderful authors and illustrators who create beautiful and timeless books for children, contributing fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and poetry to our bookshelves. We hope you discover some new books and learn about the folks who brought them to life.

Celebrating Asian Pacific American History and Culture 

Through children's books, video interviews with children's authors, activities, and educational resources, we celebrate and learn about the rich history and cultural heritage of Asian Pacific Americans. May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, but we encourage sharing these authors, books, and histories throughout the year and across the curriculum.

Drawn Together: Meet Author Minh Lê  

Minh Lê is the award-winning author of Drawn Together and Lift (both illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat) and other picture books for young readers. He is also the author of Green Lantern: Legacy, a middle grade graphic novel for DC Comics. In our NEW interview, Minh talks about the deeply personal inspiration for Drawn Together and The Green Lantern: Legacy, why he loves collaborating with Dan Santat, what story time is like in the Lê family, the importance of diverse books, and much more.

Literacy and Learning at Home

Picture This! Using Mental Imagery While Reading 

One way to help your child comprehend what they are reading is to encourage them to visualize parts of the story in their mind. These “mind movies” can clarify information and increase understanding, and work with fiction or nonfiction text. The images can include any of the five senses. Try practicing visualization with your longer read-aloud books. (In English or Spanish, from our Growing Readers series)

Expert Answers to Family Questions About Reading and Writing with Deaf Children  

Question: How do I, as a hearing parent, read aloud with my deaf child?

Dr. Leala Holcomb, an expert in Deaf education and literacy, says that all children — hearing and deaf — need the experience of being read to by a caring adult. Dr. Holcomb offers lots of tips for making the experience fun and full of learning, including these: use your most expressive reading voice, bring your child's attention to key English words, talk about English words that have more than one meaning, point out changes in font size and punctuation and talk about what it means, and switch back and forth between English and ASL. And don't worry if you are still learning to sign — your enthusiasm will be contagious! (Presented by Dr. Leala Holcomb, interpreted by Dr. Hannah Dostal)

Watch this video Q&A and find answers to other questions about helping deaf children build reading and writing skills in our Reading SOS series. (Developed in partnership with the National Education Association)

Communication in Babies and Toddlers: Milestones, Delays, and Screening

Did you know that a baby’s brain is developing the most rapidly during the first two years of life? These early years offer a critical window of opportunity, like no other time, to launch language early and get a jump start on school success. Learn the milestones that develop from 7 to 24 months.

Explore more:

• How Parents Can Support Social Communication Development
• Better Hearing & Speech Month resources from ASHA

In the Classroom

Integrating Literacy Instruction with Science and Social Studies  

In his latest blog post, literacy expert Tim Shanahan talks about what the newest research on curriculum integration indicates:

• The use of content texts in reading comprehension lessons can improve content knowledge and reading ability — with greater gains in content knowledge.
• Teaching students how to use reading and writing in content classrooms can also have these kinds of dual effects.
• Curriculum integration can have positive outcomes across a wide range of grades and with a wide range of students (including demographics and learning abilities).

Shanahan also offers 7 insights and cautions to be drawn from these studies. One example: it is important to remember that the reading teachers have special responsibilities when it comes to literature.

Writing 101: Our Self-Paced PD Module  

Teachers, are you looking for PD opportunities for the summer? Try our updated self-paced course on evidence-based writing instruction. Dig deep into the key elements of writing — basic mechanical skills (handwriting, spelling, grammar and punctuation); a strong vocabulary; an understanding of genre, text structure, and voice; organizational skills; and higher-order thinking. Learn more about the writing process and instructional strategies that work. (Developed in partnership with the National Education Association)

Events & News

Learning Ally
Spotlight on Dyslexia
June 9-10, 2022

Voyager Sopris
Integrate Literacy, Behavior, and Social Emotional Learning: Strategies for Educator (Webinar)
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 | 3:00 p.m. (CT)
Presenter: Marilyn Sprick

The Reading League
Annual Conference: Bringing the Science of Reading to Light
October 20-21, 2022 | Syracuse, NY

International Dyslexia Association
Annual Reading, Literacy and Learning Conference
November 10-12, 2022 | San Antonio, TX

New research shows controversial Reading Recovery program eventually had a negative impact on children
APM Reports

A popular program for teaching kids to read just took another hit to its credibility
National Public Radio

Students Need Summer Learning That Doesn’t Feel Like School
Ed Surge

Libraries Revamp Summer Reading, Offer Greater Choice in Books and Where to Participate, Including Outdoors
School Library Journal

How do you move the needle on literacy? This Eastside city is retraining teachers
Seattle Times (WA)

Why did U.S. schools make so much progress in the 1990s and early 2000s?
The New York Times

3 Ways to Get Young Students Excited About Revising Their Writing
Edutopia

The ‘Science of Reading’ and English-Language Learners: What the Research Says
Education Week

Scrabble Brings World Into Focus For Boy With ASD
Disability Scoop

Pre-K Is Powerful if Done Right. Here’s How.
The New York Times