Grade 2-3 Summer Reading Tips!

Your students have grown to be great readers this year. They have gained many reading skills that will still need to be practiced over the summer to ensure retention. Thus, It is important to keep your students reading over the summer. Summer reading can bridge the end of one school year and the beginning of the next.

Why do summer reading?

Increase reading level
Individualize reading material
Language skills
Vocabulary
Ethics
Expand World

Below you will find some tips to make summer reading a fun experience for you and your child. Below the tips, you will find my suggestions of great books to read for the summer. I hope this list will help you find many books that a second or third grader would enjoy.

I ask that your child read everyday for at least fifteen minutes.

Some Tips, Tips, Tips for Summer Reading!!!!

• Keep books in the car and make sure a good book gets tucked into sports bags and campers' backpacks.
• Get your child his own library card.
  Take or allow him to go to the library often browse for books and enjoy special activities.
• Help your child select books on topics he is interested in and on his reading level.
  A simple rule of thumb for helping your child select books at his reading level is to have them choose a page in the book (not the first one) and read it. If he doesn’t know five or more of the words, then the book is too hard for pleasure reading.
• Have plenty of books, books on tape, magazines, and other reading material around for kids to read.
• Stock up inexpensive books that can be exposed to the elements or swapped for others at camp.
• Connect reading with other summer activities.
  For example, read books about places you will go over the summer or things you will be doing. Perhaps you will visit the beach or go camping, there are many good books about the beach and camping!
• Set goals and reward reading.
  Reward reading with more reading. If your child finishes one book, stop by the store and let him pick out another.
• Let your kids see you read.
  Read the newspaper over your morning coffee, take a magazine from the rack in a doctor's office while you wait, and stuff a paperback into your purse, pocket, or briefcase. Your kids will catch on to the fact that reading is something you like to do in your spare time.
• Make reading together fun and memorable.
  Even if your child is a super reader, they still love to be read too. You may want to use different voices for different characters when you read to your child. Reading together is a time for closeness and cuddling-another way to show your love as a caring adult.
  Children love to read letters and notes you write them. Maybe have a day of no talking only writing and reading each others notes.
• Read it, then do it.
  Does your child want to learn magic tricks? Juggling? Computer games? There's sure to be a book that can help him. Have your child read the instructions and then give it a try.

Here are some great books that second and third graders love to read!
Click on the title to learn more!

POEMS

Kids Pick the Funniest Poems -- Bruce Lansky Funny poems chosen by children.

Insectlopedia -- Douglas Florian Learn about twenty-one insects through playful language and hilarious illustrations.

PICTURE BOOKS

Flat Stanley -- Jeff Brown A falling bulletin board flattens Stanley so he is only one-half inch thick.

FOLKTALES AND FAIRYTALES

THE DWARF GIANT. The life of a bored prince becomes more interesting when a dwarf arrives.	Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato -- Tomie De Paola, Tomie dePaola; Library Binding The laziest man in Ireland catches a leprechaun who offers a potato seed for his freedom.
Tops & Bottoms (Caldecott Honor Book, 1996, No 4) -- Janet Stevens A trickster tale about a lazy bear and a smart rabbit.	The Egyptian Cinderella -- Shirley Climo, In this version of Cinderella set in Egypt in the sixth century B.C., a slave girl is chosen by the Pharaoh to be his queen.

FICTION

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears -- Verna Aardema, Leo D. Dillon (Illustrator);	Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds -- David A. Adler, Susanna Natti	Aliens For Breakfast (Stepping Stone, paper) -- Jonathan
Miss Rumphius -- Barbara Cooney	Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House 1, paper) A tree house that travels through time. This is the first book in the Magic Tree House Series.	Horrible Harry in Room 2B -- Suzy Kline, Frank Remkiewicz (Illustrator) Harry is a 2nd grader who likes to do horrible things. (Look for other Horrible Harry books.)
The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups -- David Wisniewski (Illustrator); Parents seem to have a lot of rules. Here you can find the "real" reason behind the rules.	Paper Bag Princess -- Michael Martchenko (Illustrator), Robert N. Munsch A princess outwits a dragon to rescue the prince she intends to marry.	Grandmama's Joy -- Eloise Greenfield, Carole Byard (Illustrator);
Amelia Bedelia and the Baby -- Peggy Parish	Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months -- Maurice Sendak	Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy (Junie B. Jones 12, Library Binding) -- Barbara Park,
Martha Blah Blah -- Susan Meddaugh A talking dog takes action	You Can't Eat Your Chicken Pox, Amber Brown	Zelda and Ivy One Christmas -- Laura McGee Kvasnosky (Illustrator);

NON-FICTION

The Buck Stops Here : The Presidents of the United States -- Alice Provensen; Paperback Personal and political facts about the presidents presented in a light hearted way.	Chew on This : Everything You Need to Make Your Own Bubble Gum! -- Susan Devins, Jerri Johnson (Illustrator); The only book about the history and science of chewing gum that includes all the ingredients kids need to make their very own brand!
I See Animals Hiding -- Jim Arnosky A wonderfully illustrated book on animal camouflage

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