Inspiring ideas to boost student engagement over summer

Reading isn't just a way to pass the time; it's an essential skill that builds knowledge, ignites creativity and encourages critical thinking. So let’s help our students gain these invaluable skills by using different ways to build a love of reading.

All you need to do is find the right activities and resources to help get them excited. That's why we've created a few resources that you can download for free, to help get you started.

Handy Hints to promote your Summer Reading Program to Students & Parents
- Include a note in the last school newsletter “Attn: Parents!” with instructions how to sign in and add this same info to the school website.- Remind the kids at the final assembly – offer incentives, make it a competition with prizes or awards.  (time for students to catch up on books they ran out of time to read in class).
- Audiobooks are great for long car journeys. Reluctant readers can enjoy the story no matter what their ability, or the whole family can listen together.
- Create fun activities to engage the kids over the Summer: make a blog, remind them to visit the local library, run a photo competition: – where is the weirdest place you’ve read a book these holidays…?
- Encourage the habit of a lifetime love of reading for leisure.

Teacher/Librarian Ideas
- Set the challenge to read stories from around the world
- Encourage puzzle books or word scrambles / games
- Set challenges or competitions with prizes to win:  Who can read the most books over Summer? / Can you read a book a week?
- Create quizzes on books to read over Summer
- Suggest a project to do or make after reading a series…..and take photos.
- Send a letter to parents to get them on board (we've even created a draft for you to download below)

Ideas for Kids
- Random Read Challenge - choose a random book - you might love it!
- Write your own story where you are the main character from your favourite book.
- Become a film critic!  Read a book and then watch the film to compare over the holidays.
- Take photos of different places you have read - in a tent, at the beach, on a picnic blanket in the backyard, under a tree, or even in a cosy spot inside on a rainy day.
- Read subtitles when watching TV or a movie - it's still reading!
- Listen to Audiobooks in the car as a family on your journey.

Wellness Collection Subscribers 
For senior students remind them of the Wellness Collection - to help support Mental Health and Wellbeing over the long Summer break.

Not a wellness subscriber?  View the collection HERE.