Summer Assignments
Dear David Ellis Academy Parents,
Summertime is a fun and exciting time for students filled with outdoor activities and sports. But each year some students fall behind other classmates from summer reading loss. Oftentimes, families get too busy and forget to include reading into their busy schedules or children may not even have access to books.
Research has shown that summer reading loss is cumulative over time. While some struggling students are falling behind, others are moving ahead with their skills, creating a wider gap each year. By middle school, children who lose reading skills over the summer have accumulated a two‐year lag behind their classmates.
Students who read regularly receive higher test scores and perform better in school compared to those who do not. Choosing their own reading materials is an important factor in motivating readers, especially those who are struggling. Children and teens are more likely to read when it is something that interests them. Independent reading is essential for students to become better at reading, spelling, and writing. Reading just 4‐5 books during the summer may potentially prevent a child from experiencing a reading lapse and help perform at higher levels next school year.
Participation in summer reading programs at public libraries is an excellent solution to reading loss. Summer reading programs give students access to books, keep students engaged with reading, encourage self‐selection of reading materials, promote independent reading, boost student performance, and can develop lifelong readers. Children can also benefit academically from other activities at the public library. By encouraging reading, whether it is at home or at the public library, you can help increase the odds that students will choose to read throughout the year.
What Can You Do to Help?
Encourage your child to read at least 15‐30 minutes every day or a minimum of 4‐5 books during summer break.
Motivate them to read anything at their reading level that interests them; whether it is comics, magazines, graphic novels, recipes, etc.
Take your child to the public library to check out books. Let your child participate in summer reading programs and other activities.
Lastly, all students are expected to log into their iReady accounts for 45 minutes per week throughout the summer and follow the Summer Calendar.
Together We're Better,
Kenya Hildreth Talana Perry
Administrator of School Operations Principal of Curriculum and Instruction
Enjoy your summer and we look forward to seeing you next school year!