6 Ways Schools Can Keep Students Reading Over the Holidays

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes | Last updated: August 2025

School holidays are a welcome break for students, but they often bring a challenge for teachers and librarians: how to keep reading habits alive outside the classroom. Without a plan, many students lose momentum and risk falling behind in literacy progress.

The good news is that a few simple strategies can make all the difference. By preparing before the break, setting up challenges, and involving parents, schools can turn the holidays into an opportunity for students to enjoy books on their own terms.

In this guide, we will explore the most effective ways schools can encourage reading over the holidays, from practical setup tips to proven engagement strategies that work for every age group.

Key Takeaways

• Preparing before the holidays makes it easy for students to access reading material without delays
• A school-wide reading list gives students clear, engaging options to choose from
• Reading challenges boost motivation and create a sense of shared purpose
• Parent communication is essential for reminding students about library access at home
• Tracking holiday reading through analytics helps schools measure engagement
• Celebrating achievements when term resumes reinforces good habits and builds momentum

Table of Contents

• 1. Prepare Your Library Before the Holidays
• 2. Share a Curated Holiday Reading List
• 3. Launch a Holiday Reading Challenge
• 4. Notify Parents About Holiday Library Access
• 5. Track Holiday Reading With Analytics
• 6. Celebrate Reading Wins When School Resumes
• FAQs About Holiday Reading
• Final Thoughts

1. Prepare Your Library Before the Holidays

The success of any holiday reading initiative starts with preparation. If students log out on the last day of term without knowing how to access their digital library, it will be much harder to spark engagement later.

Begin by checking the basics:

• Logins: Test a few student accounts to make sure authentication is working. If your school uses SSO or patron uploads, confirm that these are current and updated.
• Featured titles: Refresh the home page with age-appropriate, high-interest books that students will be excited to borrow.
• ePlatform app promotion: Remind students to download the free app on their personal devices so they can access reading anywhere, even offline.

You can also make access visible. Put posters in classrooms and libraries, run a short reminder in assembly, and highlight ePlatform in your school newsletter. A little visibility before the break goes a long way in making sure students head into the holidays confident and ready to read.

2. Share a Curated Holiday Reading List

When students are faced with thousands of options, they often borrow nothing at all. A curated reading list removes that barrier by giving them a clear starting point.

Put together a short list of titles that balance fun, seasonal reads with curriculum-aligned choices. For primary schools, this might mean lighthearted stories and decodable readers that keep skills sharp. For secondary schools, think popular young adult novels, classics they will study later in the year, and nonfiction that ties into current topics.

Keep the list visible and easy to use. Add it as a featured collection in ePlatform, send it to teachers to share in class, and include it in the school newsletter. The more places students and parents see the list, the more likely they are to borrow from it.

The key is choice. A well-rounded reading list encourages reluctant readers to pick up at least one book while still offering advanced students the depth and challenge they crave.

3. Launch a Holiday Reading Challenge

A little friendly competition can transform holiday reading from a chore into a goal students want to achieve. Reading challenges give students a target, a sense of progress, and a reason to keep borrowing even when school is out.

Keep it simple. Set a target number of books, minutes, or pages read over the break, and encourage students to track their progress. You might create different challenge tiers so everyone can participate. For example, “3 Books Club,” “5 Books Club,” or “Holiday Reading Champion.”

Promote the challenge before the break starts. Announce it in assembly, share it in class, and highlight it in newsletters and parent emails. You can even add a prize element, like certificates, bookmarks, or public recognition when school resumes.

The goal is not just to reward the strongest readers, but to encourage every student to engage at their own level. When challenges are framed around participation rather than perfection, they become a powerful motivator for the whole school community.

4. Notify Parents About Holiday Library Access

Even the best holiday reading plans can fall flat if parents are unaware of how their child can access the school’s digital library. Parents play a crucial role in reminding students to log in and helping them troubleshoot basic access issues during the break.

Before the holidays, send a clear and simple reminder to families. Include:

• The web address or direct link to your ePlatform library
• Instructions for downloading the free ePlatform app
• A quick “how to log in” guide tailored to your school’s setup (Google, Microsoft, or another method)

You can also highlight the curated holiday reading list and the school’s reading challenge, so parents know exactly how to encourage participation.

By giving parents the tools and information up front, you remove barriers and make it easier for students to keep reading at home. A single reminder can be the difference between a child forgetting about the library and one who reads all summer.

5. Track Holiday Reading With Analytics

If you want to know whether your holiday reading efforts worked, you need to measure them. ePlatform’s analytics tools make it easy to see which titles were borrowed, how many students participated, and what trends emerged during the break.

Look at metrics like:

• Total loans during the holiday period
• Most popular titles from your curated list
• Engagement by year level to see which groups were most active
• Individual student participation to identify students who may need extra encouragement next term

These insights help you refine future holiday reading plans. For example, if you notice a surge in audiobook borrowing, you might feature more audio titles next time. If engagement dips at a certain year level, you can adjust the reading list or add extra incentives for that group.

Tracking results is not just about accountability. It gives you a clear story to share with staff and parents about the positive impact holiday reading is having at your school.

6. Celebrate Reading Wins When School Resumes

The effort students put into reading over the holidays should not go unnoticed. Recognition is what turns a one-time initiative into a lasting tradition.

When the new term begins, take time to celebrate participation. Highlight the most popular books borrowed, announce class or year-level achievements, and recognise individual students who reached their challenge goals. Certificates, bookmarks, or even a simple shout-out in assembly can make a big difference.

Celebration also reinforces the message that reading is valued across the school. When students see their peers being acknowledged, it builds positive momentum and encourages even more participation next time.

The goal is not to single out only the top readers but to create a culture where every student feels proud of their holiday reading effort. Ending on a high note helps set the tone for a strong start to the new term.

FAQs About Holiday Reading

How can schools keep students reading during the holidays?

The most effective way is to prepare early. Create a holiday reading list, set up a simple reading challenge, and make sure parents know how students can access the school’s digital library. By combining structure with flexibility, you give students the tools to keep reading even outside of term time.

Do holiday reading challenges actually work?

Yes. When students are given clear goals and recognition for their effort, participation rates increase significantly. Challenges can be simple, such as reading three books or tracking minutes read, and should focus on engagement, not just achievement. The key is to celebrate all progress when term resumes.

What types of books are best for holiday reading?

A balanced mix works best. Schools should include popular fiction, accessible reads for reluctant students, and curriculum-linked texts that prepare students for the year ahead. The variety ensures every student finds something they enjoy, which is the strongest driver of voluntary reading.

How do parents fit into holiday reading?

Parents play an essential role in keeping reading front of mind. A short guide with login details for ePlatform and access to the holiday reading list makes it easy for them to encourage reading at home. Even a few reminders or shared reading time can make a big difference.

Can schools track holiday reading activity?

Yes. ePlatform includes built-in analytics that show how many books were borrowed, which titles were most popular, and which year levels engaged the most. This data helps schools measure the impact of their holiday reading initiatives and plan improvements for the next break.

Final Thoughts

Holiday reading is not just about filling time between school terms. It is about keeping students connected to books, preventing the holiday slide, and reinforcing the idea that reading can be both fun and rewarding.

When schools prepare early, provide clear access, and celebrate participation, students are far more likely to keep up the habit over the break. Parents feel supported, teachers see stronger engagement when classes resume, and students return more confident and ready to learn.

The strategies do not need to be complicated. A simple reading list, a school-wide challenge, and a reminder to families are often enough to spark meaningful results. The important part is consistency, showing students that reading is valued year-round, not just in the classroom.

For schools, the holidays are not a gap in learning but an opportunity to strengthen it. With the right approach, you can turn every break into a season of stories, growth, and success.