Summer Fun and Then There’s Reading

Another summer is in the history books. At least, for the most part. The season itself seems short, as it does every year, when school timeframes enter the picture. Summers are defined by the bookends of when students get out of school and when they have to go back. The season starts a few weeks earlier and ends several weeks sooner than our calendars have it.

But, in those nine or so weeks of summer bliss, the stories I heard yesterday was a summer filled with beach vacations and trips to family homesteads, family outings at baseball fields and parks, and fishing and hiking at lakes and trails. There were stories of humorous events and outings. There were proud moments and embarrassing times! But they all made memories that would last a long time, if not a lifetime.

During the discussion on summer I was having with some fifth graders, I was straining to hear the words “I read books this summer from a reading list we were given.” I mean I was wanting so bad to hear those words. Now mind you, some students said they read this book and that book. But I never heard about a list of books not only suggested for summer reading but, if read, would result in some type of pat on the back reward, so to speak.

There was an article printed in The Hechinger Report, dated November 10, 2021 that discussed America’s reading issues. The report, “America’s Reading Problem: Scores Were Dropping Even Before the Pandemic,” gives a glimpse into the startling matter of lower reading scores that, in some cases, have “been declining for a decade.” Should this be shocking to anyone? Following the 2008 recession, spending on public schools fell across the country. The pandemic, itself, had a negative impact on children’s reading abilities - “the reason for the pandemic’s toll on reading achievement is obvious: It’s hard to learn when schools are closed.”

Let’s be honest - the need to be able to read is not just to finish a Harry Potter book, but to be able to do assigned reading in history, science, and math. The article quotes a Boston University reading specialist, Elena Forzani, who addresses the seriousness of the reading issue this way: “It’s all focused on learning to read. They’re not having complex discussions about a text. At the same time, we’re also taking away science and history instruction where kids develop knowledge and where they can put comprehension strategies into practice.”

The saying goes “reading is fundamental.” There are many good teachers in the system that are trying to address this issue. School is back in many places in the United States. We all need to get our arms around this for the betterment of the children for their future and this country’s future as well.