• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • About
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

teach mama logo

teach mama

helps families connect & build bridges between home & school, by amy mascott

  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

5 ways to get your kids psyched for summer reading

home / reading / 5 ways to get your kids psyched for summer reading
409 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Believe itโ€”summer is around the corner.ย  Woo-hoo!

Around the corner!ย  As in like just a few weeks away!ย  Itโ€™s May! Pools open in May. Weather warms in May.ย  Swim team registration starts in May.ย  We buy bathing suits in May.

get psyched for summer reading

Wait.ย  How can we even talk about ways to get your kids psyched for summer reading when school isnโ€™t even out yet?

Many of us still have assessments to think about, big projects coming though, and a whole lot that has to happen between now and the time those kids come running through the school doors screaming, No more teachers, no more books. . .

Getting your kids totally psyched for summer reading is easy.ย  Eeeeasy.

Weโ€™ve got be cool. Weโ€™ve got to be creative. And weโ€™ve got to be careful.

But Iโ€™ve got the โ€˜how-toโ€™ right here, and youโ€™ll be surprised at how easy it is.

Hereโ€™s the skinny. . .

How to Get Your Kids Psyched for Summer Reading:

Five ways.

1. Start planning your Summer Reading Book Swap Party. ย 

We do this every year, and every year itโ€™s both a great way to say โ€˜good-byeโ€™ to the school year and โ€˜helloโ€™ to summer!

With just a wee bit of planning, anyone can throw a rockstar Summer Reading Book Swap or a Kick-Off Summer Reading Party or a Book-Lovers Book Bash any day of the week.

Send out evites, have your kids create simple invitations using an index cards and a simple โ€˜Come to Our Summer Reading Book Swapโ€™ use a sample invite below:

2. Search for inexpensive or (even better!) free books.ย 

For the next few weekends leading up to summer, go on a book search:

  • visit yard sales or garage sales
  • find local thrift shops
  • reach out to your local groups–church groups, MOM Clubs, playgroups
  • ask friends and family if they have books they’re ready to part with, and give them the ones you are ready to part with yourself.

Before you know it, you may have a whole new set of summertime books to call your own!

 

summer reading library

 

summer reading at library

 

3.ย  Celebrate the library.ย 

Make sure your kids all have their own library cards.ย  If they are old enough to write their names, theyโ€™re old enough for their own cards. ย ย And you know what? They will love, love, love having their own card.

Worried that theyโ€™ll lose their cards?ย  I get it.ย  Make special library card holders by punching a hole through a gift card envelope and threading a long piece of yarn through it.ย  Kids can wear them around their necks (as necklaces) or pin them to their shirts on library trip days.

ย summer fun cards

summer fun cards

4.ย  ย Make book-happy Summer Fun Cards:ย 

Another early summer tradition in our house is to make Summer Fun Cards.ย  We pow-wow after a picnic lunch and make plans for our long summer months.

This year, give your Summer Fun Cards an extra-special book-focus.ย  Challenge each child to include at least three cards outlining new and unusual places โ€“or waysโ€”to read their books.

summer book party

5.ย  Get in on a summer reading challenge.ย 

Many kids need a challenge to keep them interested and engaged, and that makes sense.

Consider challenging your child to:

  • Master a series:ย  Pick a series of books, and see if through the summer, your child can read the whole thing, from start to finish. A book series exists for every single reading level, so donโ€™t think that your child is too young or too old for this challenge!
  • Finish a list: Libraries, schools, and sites like Scholastic have entire reading lists to print and keep on hand.ย  Wouldnโ€™t it be a riot for your child to read an entire book list from beginning to end?
  • Break a record:ย  Set a goal as a family for weekly number of books read, hours logged, or chapters read, and check in each week. Check in each week and evaluate how youโ€™ve done in relation to your goal, and

ย ———————————————————–

Here’s to a reading-happy summer, my friends! Looking forward to lots of great ideas and some serious resource sharing!

smart summer promo teachmama.com 2018 b

smart summer challenge teachmama.com join now

Join us for the 2018 Smart Summer Challenge!

Please leave any of your Summer Reading questions, concerns, or super-awesome ideas below!

Check out a few other posts that may help you develop strong and healthy habits for your family:

  • wait time
  • my day, your day
  • frozen peas
  • kids who rock the kitchen
  • kids who rock the laundry
  • rest time
  • gem jars
  • arm circles
  • noticing kids
  • homework routine

 

fyi: Some of the links in the post above are โ€œaffiliate links.โ€ This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Forever and always I recommend only products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissionโ€™s 16 CFR, Part 255: โ€œGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.โ€ ย For more information, please see teachmama media, llc. disclosure policy.ย 

You May Also Like...

  • how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
    how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
  • summer swim team: an absolute MUST for families
    summer swim team: an absolute MUST for families
  • make this summer rock: Smart Summer Challenge 2018!
    make this summer rock: Smart Summer Challenge 2018!

About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post:quick easy flower wish boxes teachmama.comquick and easy flower wish boxes
Next Post:what your kids MUST know about plants (hint: theyโ€™re a big deal)what your kids MUST know about plants teachmama BLOOM!

Sidebar

amy mascott profile blog

join the coolest club around:

  • About
  • Contact
  • disclaimer
  • terms of use
  • privacy policy
  • Site-Map

Instagram


our books

setting the stage for rock-star readers
raise a reader

Find Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Helpful Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us On Instagram

View
Open
UMD Womenโ€™s Basketball ROCKS!! โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿ€

We absolutely love watching you play, @terpswbb !

We love watching you perform, @marylandcheer !

And @mightysoundofmd we love your music and your hilarious signs! ๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿ˜ณ

See you in Greenville! 

#terpsbasketball #terpswbb #umd #familyfun #marylandcheer #umdfamily
View
Open
Tomorrow is St. Patrickโ€™s Day!

Are you ready? 

https://shop.teachmama.com/

#saintpatricksfun #stpaddysforkids #familyfun #classroomactivities #teachmamashop
View
Open
This is how we use the St. Patrickโ€™s Day Brain Teaser Scavenger Hunt! ๐Ÿ€

Super easyโ€”and makes kids work a little for their golden chocolates! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Grab them here: https://shop.teachmama.com/product/st-patricks-day-scavenger-hunt-4-pack/

<< Tag a pal who needs to know about this and would LOVE to use it with kids or students! >>

#stpatricksdayfun #saintpaddysday #stpaddysforkids #stpatsfun #linkinbio
View
Open
and then there were six
๐Ÿฑ๐Ÿฆ๐ŸฆŠ๐Ÿฆ„๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฐ

thank you @thewoobles for giving my mind, heart, and hands something fun to do during a really challenging few months. 

#crochet #thewoobles #brainbreak #teachersanitysaver #shescrafty
View
Open
With great sadness, I'm writing to share that my brother-in-law, Jeff Mascott passed away from pancreatic cancer earlier this week--at home, surrounded by family and friends. 

The family is very grateful for the community's immeasurable help, encouragement, and prayers over the past several months since Jeff's diagnosis. 

Jeff's obituary will run this weekend in the Post: 
https://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Jeff-Mascott?obId=27420280&fbclid=IwAR2YTRooCyaLTikfjLeqF4gM-GaB1amZI2OmVl1VtKLUOjWj3Wo4URD8lC8#/obituaryInfo
View
Open
Flowers and a basket of @traderjoes faves are salve for a tired and weepy soul. ๐ŸŒท

Thankful for great, longtime friends ๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›

#itshardtobeahuman #thankfulheart #wlhs4evah #teacherbffs
View
Open
Almost 30 years of friendship!! I love these smart, beautiful, strong and creative women who walked with me through my early days of teaching. 

๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š

Thank you, Wilde Lake High School, for bringing us together way back when. 

๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›

Missed you, jigofjoy ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š

#weareteachers #andoneprincipal #wildelake #wlhs4evah #teacherbffs #wildelakehs #teachersofinstagram #celebratewewill
View
Open
Today marks the 4th time in 3 weeks that I have had to hang new Kindness Reminders Tear-off Sheets! 

Makes my heart ๐Ÿฅฐ!! 

Some kids come by every day and give one to a new person. Others take a bunch for the week. One 2nd grade girl comes by evey morning to tell me who she gave hers to the day before. 

Every little bit helps, friend. And every interaction matters!

#kindnessrocks #adoormadeforme #teachersofinstagram #makeadifference
View
Open
Best crew for one of the best @terpswbb games weโ€™ve seen all season! 

And of course super job by @marylandcheer and @mightysoundofmd too! 

#terpswbb #terpsbasketball #familyfun #marylandcheer

Copyright © 2023 ยท teach mama media, llc ยท All Rights Reserved

  • 81
409 shares