No Summer Reading Can Put Kids Back Two Years

Children who don’t read over the summer can lose up to two reading levels by the time the school year begins. Experts say it doesn’t take a lot of reading to make sure that doesn’t happen. “If a student reads just four books over the summer, they will maintain their grade level if they left the school year reading at grade level,” said Sherri Thomas, school librarian at North Frederick...

Being told what to read

We’re experiencing a strange phenomenon in our house this summer. Molly, who turns 11 in August, has two books she’s required to read before she starts 5th grade this fall. The two books are Little Women and The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book 1: The Mysterious Howling. This required reading list marks the first time Molly has ever been told what to read outside of school. The result? No...

Moms’ Literacy Pivotal to Kids’ Academic Success

Improving mothers’ literacy skills may boost the success of low-income children in schools, says a new study. U.S. researchers concluded that a mother’s reading skill when her children are young is the most critical factor influencing her children’s future academic success, even more important than other factors such as family and neighborhood income. While a mother’s literacy had the biggest...