8 Benefits of Summer Reading for International School Students
by Trent Baumbach
8 Benefits of Summer Reading for International School Students
Introduction
Summertime is the perfect time for students to explore new interests. Yet while students are often most excited about the freedom of summer break, international school students in Japan often find that the distinctly global environment at their school can disappear once summer break begins.
That’s where summer reading comes in.
Teachers and parents globally recognize the value of summer reading. According to the Scholastic Teacher & Principal School Report, a remarkable 96% of educators concur that year-round access to books, especially during summer, is vital in enhancing student achievement. Similarly, the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report shows that 94% of parents agree that summertime reading will positively influence their child’s academic performance in the subsequent school year.
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Top 4 Academic Benefits of Summer Reading
Paired with structured academic support, whether through private lessons with a tutor or group English classes, summer reading can help international school students achieve the following academic results:
- Boost Reading Level: A regular summer reading routine can significantly improve a child’s reading skills, including phonics, fluency, spelling, and vocabulary. By encountering new words and concepts, students naturally bolster their language understanding and proficiency. This practice equips them to be confident and skilled readers when school resumes.
- Avoid “Summer Slide”: The “summer slide,” where students forget learned skills over the break, is a concern for parents and educators. However, summer reading can counteract this loss. By consistently engaging with texts, students stimulate their minds, retaining their learning and staying mentally agile, keeping them prepared for the next academic year.
- Develop Reading Comprehension: Reading comprehension, a skill critical across academic subjects, can be enhanced through summer reading. As students explore various texts, they learn to grasp complex ideas, infer meanings, and analyze information, thereby strengthening their comprehension skills. This readies them to better engage with academic materials in the upcoming school year.
- Improving Memory: Summer reading is an effective way to improve memory skills. As students read and connect new information with prior knowledge, they challenge and grow their recall and retention abilities. Enhanced memory skills prove beneficial for academic learning and overall cognitive development.
Top 4 Additional Benefits of Summer Reading
Beyond academics, summer reading has lifelong benefits with applications beyond the classroom. Some of these include:
- Appreciation of Diversity: About 83% of educators believe that reading assists students in understanding people different from them, fostering a more accepting and diverse perspective.
- Developing Empathy: Approximately 81% of educators state that reading aids in nurturing empathy in students, a skill key for effectively working with different types of people.
- Self-Identification and Reflection: Around 81% of teachers say that reading enables students to see themselves in different characters and narratives, which can help boost self-esteem and self-awareness.
- Enhancing Worldview: From the children’s perspective, 74% of them indicate that reading both fiction and nonfiction augments their understanding of the world, allowing them to perceive the world through various lenses.
What do I do if my child doesn’t like to read?
If your child has not been the biggest fan of reading in the past, giving them the freedom to choose their own books can be impactful. An impressive 89% of children affirm that they are more likely to read and enjoy books that they’ve selected themselves. In addition, some students may prefer graphic novels or comic books, with vibrant and visually appealing formats that make reading more enjoyable, especially for visual learners.
Furthermore, the structured environment of group classes can help students focus deeper on the academic and personal benefits of reading. By reading through a novel in a small group, analyzing its characters and plot together, and working on paired writing assignments, students can boost their reading comprehension skills while learning how to collaborate with their peers.
Alternatively, working one-on-one with a private tutor can give students the chance for a more custom reading experience, through English books or reading passages. Tutors can work with students to not only grow their love of reading, but to identify specific opportunities to improve their reading comprehension skills.
What should I do next to improve my child’s reading skills?
In conclusion, summer reading plays an integral part in a student’s life, contributing not only to academic success but also to the development of empathy, understanding, and a lifelong love for learning. Encouraging children to read more, particularly during the summer, is one of the greatest investments in their learning, as today’s young readers are tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers, and creators.
Tokyo Academics offers one-on-one tutoring and group classes ideal for students to grow their reading skills. Please click the link below to meet our experienced English tutors who can help your child reach their academic goals!