Sample Summer Reading Letters to Parents

Summer Reading Letters to Parents 

Summer Reading Letter to Parents Idea #1

Dear Parents and Families,

We are extremely proud to welcome you and your child into the ... grade! This summer, we believe it is very important for your child to continue learning to ensure they are in a great position for the school year ahead. Therefore, we would appreciate your support in planning daily summer reading time and help in the completion of a "Reading Journal". For ... students, the summer break is a fantastic time to grow their love of reading outside the classroom and long into the future!

During the summer, we ask for students to read at least two of the Newbery award-winning collection listed to create the habit of daily reading. Upon their return in the fall, there will be a short reading comprehension test or a book presentation/report due and this will be part of their first reading grade. Over this past school year, many students have developed academic interests and we want to use this as a building block for their future success in this school. If we work together, they can experience the same joy and wonderment we did as children with our favorite books.

Questions and Prompt Ideas for Summer Reading Journals

•  Do you have a favorite or least favorite character? Why?

•  Can you summarize the plot, setting, climax, plot twist, storyline?

•  Would you have acted or thought differently to the main characters?

•  Do the main characters remind you of anyone you know? Why?

•  Does the setting remind you of anywhere you know? Why?

•  Can you compare two characters and their similarities/differences?

•  What do you like and dislike about the story? Why?

•  Have you seen or read similar films or stories?

•  Would you tell a friend about this book? Why?

•  Look up and define three – five words from the book you don’t know.

•  What would you ask the author of the book if they visited your school?

•  Did you have pictures in your mind while reading? Why?

•  Could the characters be real? Why?

•  How did the author hook you when reading? Why?

•  Write a letter and give advice to a character in the book.

•  What have you learned by reading this book?

•  If you could, which character would you spend the day with?

•  Would you change anything about the story? Why?

•  Write a diary entry as one of the characters.

•  What did you feel when reading this book? Why?

•  Draw a scene from the book using the text.

•  Draw a timeline of the key events.

Additionally, we highly recommend using close reading strategies so students can truly engage in the text but this is not required. As some examples, they could keep a reading journal, annotate the text with sticky notes, or even better you could even read with your child and ask questions.

At all times, we want to boost students’ passion for reading which is why we like them to choose their own titles based on interest and ability. If they happen to struggle with a particular book, there is nothing wrong with selecting another. If any other issues occur, please feel free to get in touch!

Math supplement!

In the … grade mathematics program, …. will be playing an important role. According to research, children tend to create a better understanding of math topics when using strategies rather than learning equations alone. Furthermore, new concepts become easier to learn when students are fluent in math facts, so we wish to work with you and your child once again to generate this development in students. Whenever possible, please provide your child with time to practice the math concepts that have been learned over the past school year. If this knowledge stays alive over summer, it is more likely to remain in the long-term and they won’t be left behind in the new school year.

Per week, … students are expected to spend around … minutes on math concepts whether this comes through flashcards, games, interactive websites, or worksheets. If all of the above is done successfully, your child will find the transition to …. much easier next year!

Summer Reading Letter to Parents Idea #2

Dear Families,

Over summer, we have a perfect opportunity to enjoy books with our children and as a family. With the … school reading program, we want to create a love for books but this is just as important at home as at school. For students to improve their reading skills, they need to match their comprehension level and read whenever possible and the … summer reading list provides various genres within each level to help with this.

In the summer reading list, you will also find numerous themes and topics so parents play a pivotal role in choosing a suitable book for their child. If you need help understanding the content in any novel, feel free to visit Common Sense Media which is a great resource for this information. If you see a book with an asterisk, this means they are targeted towards more mature readers.

With two sections in the reading list, the first is ‘Sponsored Novels’ which is a list of novels that have been sponsored by the teachers and students of Oak Middle School as part of a school-wide initiative. From this section, students are required to read one book and then complete either the fiction or non-fiction graphic organizer; these documents can be found on the school website with the reading list.

Early in the school year, the students form into groups according to the book they chose and meet with the teacher who sponsored it to take part in related activities. Known as the ‘All-School Summer Reading Workshop’, every student in the school takes part which is why it is important they read one from this list.

After the book from the Sponsored Novel section has been completed, please visit the PowerSchool parent portal and your child can be registered for the workshop. In order to do this, you will need to visit the PowerSchool page for your child and visit the ‘Summer Reading’ section. From the same list or from the Supplemental List, students are then asked to read two more books which will be discussed in class with their ELA teachers.

Additionally, we highly recommend using strategies so they can truly engage in the text but this is not required. As some examples, they could keep a journal, annotate with sticky notes, or you could even read with your child.

At all times, we want to boost students’ passion for reading which is why we like them to choose their own titles based on interest and ability. If they happen to struggle with a particular book, there is nothing wrong with selecting another. If any other issues occur, please feel free to get in touch!

Summer Reading Letter to Parents Idea #3 

Dear Parent,

As we head towards the end of another school year, we can look back successfully to the progress of all students and look forward to a break to re-energize and come back refreshed. However, the summer can actually be crucial to the development of your child which is why we are sending this letter today.

Over the years, many studies and pieces of research have found that the break without any work at all can be extremely damaging. Therefore, … Schools have now teamed up with …see list below

Essentially, this has been designed to ensure students aren't left behind during the summer and all it requires is some simple reading before coming back in ….

Free Summer Reading Programs for Kids

Free Summer Reading Programs for Kids That Give Free Books, Book Coupons, Movie Tickets, Pizza, Money, and a Love of Reading.

Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP)
The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children, teens, and adults at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries.

Local Public Libraries
Local public libraries are the best place to start looking for free kids summer reading programs. Local public libraries will have free books, fun activities, and a great collection of books for all ages. Most public libraries have leveled reading list, reading tutors, read alouds and story time. 

Free Summer Reading Programs - Saving Dollars & Sense
Book Adventure – Sylvan offers this FREE reading incentive program. Basically, your child reads books and then takes a simple comprehension quiz to make sure they understood whatthey read. The quiz is usually about 10 questions long. They earn points based on how much theyremember from reading ...

Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program | Kids Reading Program, Reading ...
Official site for the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program, a free program encouraging kids to read more by rewarding their reading accomplishments since 1984.

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge Teacher Resources | Scholastic
Get students excited about reading with the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, a free online reading program designed to motivate children to read all summer long.

Reward Your Kid With Reading Reward Calendars | Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza and Token Rewards Calendars. ... Download and print out Chuck E.’s Rewards Calendars. ... Bring in a completed calendar to Chuck E. Cheese’s and receive 10 free tokens as a reward.

Summer Reading Booklists | Reading Rockets

Reading Rockets' annual summer booklist makes it easy to find great books kids will enjoy during the long, lazy days of summer. This list can be a springboard for helping your kids choose books on topics that pique their curiosity — that's what really motivates children to want to read! Discover lots more great fiction and ...

Brightly's Summer Reading Challenges for Kids and Teens | Brightly
Get more out of summer reading with your kids with Brightly's Summer Reading Challenges. We've put together age-specific reading ideas — for preschoolers through teens — to help add some fun, inspiration, and great reading memories to your summer.

Bookworm Wednesdays - Free Kids Movies | Showcase Cinemas
A fun and rewarding summer reading program developed to encourage young children to read during the summer months, Bookworm Wednesdays entitles kids to free admission to a select children's film when they present a book report at a participating Cinema de Lux, Showcase, or Multiplex Cinemasbox office.

Summer Reading Journal - Barnes & Noble
Summer Reading Program for kids in Grades 1-6. SIMPLY FOLLOW THESE THREE EASY STEPS: 1. Read any eight books this summer and record them in this Summer Reading Journal. Tell us which part of the book is your ... Barnes & Noble College bookstores, or through Barnes & Noble.com (BN.com). This offer is not ...

Kids Can Earn Free Books From Barnes and Noble This Summer
 Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program 2018. The Barnes and Noble summer reading program for kids gives kids a free book when they read 8 books over the summer. Looking for more summer reading programs that will score your kids some freebies? Check out my list of the best summer ...Kids Earn a Free Book

The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is here to help you on your way, encouraging you to read books of your own choosing and earn a FREE book, simply by following these three easy steps:
Read any eight books this summer and record them in your Summer Reading Journal (English or Español). Tell us which part of the book is your favorite, and why.

Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 15th and September 3rd, 2018. Find a Store

Choose your FREE reading adventure from the book list featured on the back of the journal.Educators: Download more information here (PDF)

Summer Reading Lists:

ALSC Summer Reading Lists
The lists are full of book titles to keep children engaged in reading throughout the summer. Four Summer Reading book lists are available for Birth-Preschool, K-2nd, 3rd- 5th and 6th-8th grade students.
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) - summer fun booklist
Books selected for children ages birth through Grade 5.
Reading Rockets - Summer Reading Booklists
This list can be a springboard for helping your kids choose books on topics that pique their curiosity — that's what really motivates children to want to read!
Recommended Reading: ALA's LibGuide
A collection of book lists drawn from the American Library Association's award-winning books, book lists, and resources.
YALSA Summer Learning - Recommended Reading
Links to YALSA's book awards, book lists, and Teens' Top Ten.

Over the summer months, students who participate are expected to read a number of books that are age appropriate before then writing a brief summary of what they enjoyed about each book. If students can complete ten books, they will be given a certificate, a new book, and they will qualify for various other incentives.

If possible, we would love your help in supporting this scheme and ensure that your child segues nicely into their next school year. As the weeks progress, you can monitor their reading logs and even read with them to keep it fun; as long as they are reading themselves too, it will contribute towards their ten books.

Enclosed, you will find a fact sheet along with numerous organizations who help with this program. Although the summer can be tough with no school, we have come together with local groups to ensure that your children aren't left bored and so they don’t regress with reading and learning skills; these include activities and even camps for the youth.

We hope we can rely on your support this summer to assist your child in their efforts to become a Summer Reading Achiever!

Summer Freebie - Summer Reading Agreement

Thanks to various studies in recent years, we now know that reading is one of the most effective and valuable tools for students to boost development and we see this as teachers. Of course, the only way to improve reading is to…well, read. Nowadays, we have grown accustomed to ‘summer setback or summer slide’ which suggests a decline for students over the summer as they stay away from school. If you compare fall reading levels with spring (with nothing done during summer), the results can be quite shocking.

With this information in mind, we are introducing a free resource to all parents and students to encourage reading through the summer break. For us, we want to see reading become a habit and it could be a habit that saves them from the inevitable boredom that comes towards the end of the break; just 20 minutes per day can have a huge impact!

We hope you can utilize this resource for all your students and parents to start the former on a journey of continual reading. Moving forward, we would love to receive some feedback for how effective the package is and how you use it to good effect.

Summer Reading Letter to Parents Idea #4

Dear Parents,

We are now edging ever closer to the summer break and we wanted to take a moment to say how proud we are of your child. Over this past year, they have grown as readers and as individuals. For their reading time in class, this has enabled them to practice various strategies and progress their reading level.

Of course, we all know that reading is the only way to become a better reader so we would like to encourage your child to continue their fantastic reading habit into the summer. If your child reads just 20 minutes per day, they will have read 1.8 million words in a single school year; with five minutes, this is just over 450,000 which is a huge difference.

As you will see, we have given your child a summer reading log which will help them to be accountable each day. By the end of summer, we hope that this log will be filled to the brim and they will be excited to show the teacher their progress.

Once again, we are tremendously proud of your child’s progress and would love to see this continue so please work with us and help make the transition into next year that little bit easier!

Links to Parent Letters

[DOC]Kindergarten Summer Reading Program - Dumfries Elementary School
The purpose of the PWCS Summer Reading Program is to encourage students to enjoy quality literature and to continue developing their independent reading skills. ... Presents the names of animal babies,parents, and groups, for example, a baby kangaroo is a joey, its mother is a flyer, its father is a boomer, and a group of ...

[DOC]Fourth Grade Summer Reading Program - Dumfries Elementary School
The documentation is to include the name of the author, the title of the book, an explanation of the general topic or plot of the book, and a parent or guardian statement that the student has completed the reading. Fifth Grade students who participate in Prince William County Public Library's Summer ReadingProgram, the ...

[DOC]Dear Parents - Notre Dame of Bethlehem School
Dear Parents,. In an effort to clarify our expectations and provide more uniformity through all grades, we have provided information on our summer reading and ... the end of the school year. A fourth quarter grade in Reading is given to each student based on the number of books read for the 25-book requirement. Example:.

[DOC]Literacy Parent letter- quarterly report revised.doc - Canton Public ...
A kindergarten readiness assessment will be used with all public school kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students. This test will measure foundational skills related to reading, language, and mathematics. This test will also provide parents, teachers, and early childhood providers with an understanding of what children ...


[PDF]Summer Reading Letter and form 2016.doc - Newbury Town Library
Each student will read 2 books for summer reading, one required book and a second choice book, from a pre-approved ... "Children who report that their parents encourage them to read are more likely to read a high volume of books (65% ... choose to illustrate the climax, or ending of the story, for example. In addition, write ...

[DOC]Summer reading parent letter-English
Dear Parent/Guardian,. Summer is a great time for your child to practice what he/she has learned throughout the school year. There is no better activity for your child than to engage in reading for enjoyment. Not only will your child discover the joy of being lost in a book, he/she will practice the many skills and strategies ..

Newbery Award Winners and Honorees

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

Doll Bones by Holly Black

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

Paperboy by Vince Vawter

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool)

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illus. by Dave McKean

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, illus. by David Small

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle

Savvy by Ingrid Law

After Tupac & D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, illus. by Matt Phelan

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm,

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins

Whittington by Alan Armstrong, illustrated by S.D. Schindler

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Hudson Talbott

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

Al Capone Does My Shirts by

The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering,

Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

A Corner of The Universe by Ann M. Martin

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

Carver: A Life In Poems by Marilyn Nelson

A Year Down Yonder by by Richard Peck

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos

The Wanderer by Sharon Creech

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Getting Near to Baby by by Audrey Couloumbis

Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm

26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie dePaola

Holes by Louis Sachar

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff

Wringer by Jerry Spinelli

The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer

Moorchild by Eloise McGraw

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Belle Prater's Boy by Ruth White

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

What Jamie Saw by Carolyn Coman

The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

Yolonda's Genius by Carol Fenner

The Great Fire by Jim Murphy

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

The Ear, the Eye and the Arm by Nancy Farmer

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Crazy Lady by Jane Leslie Conly

Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman

Missing May by Cynthia Rylant

What Hearts by Bruce Brooks

The Dark-thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural by Patricia McKissack

Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Nothing But The Truth: a Documentary Novel by Avi

The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane by Russell Freedman

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle

Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples

The Winter Room by Gary Paulsen (Jackson/Orchard)

Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman

In The Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World by Virginia Hamilton

Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers

Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman (Clarion)

After The Rain by Norma Fox Mazer (Morrow)

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (Bradbury)

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman (Greenwillow)

A Fine White Dust by Cynthia Rylant (Bradbury)

On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer (Clarion)

Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St. Helens by Patricia Lauber

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

Commodore Perry In the Land of the Shogun by Rhoda Blumberg

Dogsong by Gary Paulsen

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

Like Jake and Me by Mavis Jukes

The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks

One-Eyed Cat by Paula Fox

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

A Solitary Blue by Cynthia Voigt

Sugaring Time by Kathryn Lasky

The Wish Giver: Three Tales of Coven Tree by Bill Brittain

Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

Doctor DeSoto by William Steig

Graven Images by Paul Fleischman

Homesick: My Own Story by Jean Fritz

Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush by Virginia Hamilton

A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

Upon the Head of the Goat: A Childhood in Hungary 1939-1944 by Aranka Siegal

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

The Fledgling by Jane Langton

A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle

A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-1832 by Joan W. Blos

The Road from Home: The Story of an Armenian Girl by David Kherdian

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary

Anpao: An American Indian Odyssey by Jamake Highwater

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Abel's Island by William Steig

A String in the Harp by Nancy Bond

The Grey King by Susan Cooper

The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis

Dragonwings by Laurence Yep

M. C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton (Macmillan)