How to Start a Summer Reading Group for Kids

Summer vacation is here and you are worried that your child might fall behind in reading. Here's how to keep your child interested in reading over the summer by starting a fun, summer reading group.

Things You'll Need

• Books
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Small group of friends

Instructions

1. Invite some friends and neighbors to your reading group. The age ranges of the children are not important, so long as most of them are elementary aged students. If you can't find interested friends or neighbors, post a flier in your local library.

2. Take an "interest survey." Do not expect the children in your reading group to read what you have chosen for them. Have them determine their interests. Write down a list for each child. Then, go to the library and find books on their reading levels related to their subject of interest. Remember, it does not matter what they are reading, so long as they are reading.

3. Choose a time to meet each week and set aside a certain number of minutes per day for reading the chosen books.

4. Do a mini book review. When you come together as a group again each week, each child should take a turn talking about his/her book, what he likes or dislikes about it and whether or not he'd recommend it to a friend.

5. After the book reviews, set aside some time for group reading. Children may buddy up (one older and one younger child often works well.) Or, they can read together in a larger group. For this reading session, have enjoyable reading material available. Things like magazines for kids, even newspapers are fun for children to read.

6. Above all, this group should be all about fun. There should be no pressure, no formal "teaching" or "testing." Children should be taught to love reading for the sake of reading. Not because someone else wants them to or is forcing them to read.

Tips & Warnings

• Buddying up children of different reading levels is a good idea. The older kids build reading confidence and the younger kids feel supported too.