Sue Scheff: Summer Reading for Parents and Teens

It is that time of the year again, time to pick your summer books.  Of course there are some people that would rather pick up People Magazine or other tabloid papers, however why not take the time to learn how to be a better parent or help your teenager to get ready for their upcoming school year?

Listed in the slideshow below (in no particular order) are ten books to consider for your summer reading.  Whether it is about guiding your at-risk teen in a positive direction, or learning on to maintain your digital image, one thing is for sure, education is the key to surviving in today's world.

Education meaning reading as much as you can about peer pressure, bullying, cyberbullying, texting, cell phone safety, teen body image, teen sex and much more that faces our kids today.

Please feel free to leave other recommended books in comments.  List your favorites, share titles, authors and why they were your favorite!  Or just leave the book titles.  Parenting networking is helps you become a better informed parent.

There are many excellent books and only a limited space to write them all in.

In the slideshow are the following books and their websites:

1. Big Book of Parenting Solutions, by Michele Borba
2. Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman
3. Odd Girl Speaks Out by Rachel Simmons
4. Curse of the Good Girl by Rachel Simmons
5. Queen Bee Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman
6. You'd Be Pretty If.... by Dara Chadwick
7. Brave: Be Ready and Victory's Easy, a Story About Social Anxiety  by Marjie Knudsen and Jenne Henderson
8. Wild West 2.0 by Michael Fertik and David Thompson
9. Wit's End! Advice and Resources for Saving Your Out of Control Teen by Sue Scheff
10. Google Bomb! How the $11.3M Verdict Changed The Way We Use the Internet by Sue Scheff

This list could go on forever!  Read, read, read and educate yourself and our kids through the pages of many authors.  Please remember to list your favorite books in comments here.

Watch slideshow.

Sue Scheff: Parenting Solutions

A great article from Author Michele Borba - 9 Parenting Solutions to Help Beat the Summer Reading Slump

REALITY CHECK: Are you aware of that kids can lose an upward of three month’s worth of reading progress during this summer break?
The famous “summer reading slide” is well documented and shows that learning declines in all kids during these lazy, crazy days, but especially in reading. Kent State education professor, Timothy Rasinski , points out that this can mean a loss of one-and-a-half years of reading achievement through the sixth grade!

But don’t despair. The reverse is also possible. Reading just a few books before school starts can save kids from the summer reading loss. Studies also show that parents play a crucial role particularly on their older kids’ reading attitudes and behaviors, as well as helping to find the right book to capture their interest.

Here are nine tips from my upcoming, The Big Book of Parenting Solutions. I shared this on TODAY this week to help parents get their kids beat that dreaded summer reading slump, and hopefully even rekindle that great love of the printed page.

1. Let them pick. A study by Scholastic found that 89% of kids say their favorite books are the ones they pick. Kids also say a big reason they don’t read is that they don’t like what we selected for them. So get your child involved in the selection. If he has difficulties finding the right book, talk to a children’s librarian, check into a resource on great books kids like to read, or ask other kids for ideas. Or check out iVillage’s best series reads for tweens.

2. Find the right level. The big trick is finding reading material appropriate to your child’s reading level–not too high or not too low. Check your child’s last report card or reading achievement scores, which may give you a clue as to what is appropriate for your kid.

3. Think outside the book. Don’t be too picky as to what your kid reads: Cereal boxes, cartoons, the sports page, baseball cards, those new graphic comic book novels are fine. Find what piques your kid’s interest. What are his hobbies? What are other kids reading? Remember, the literary merit is trivial–getting your kid to feel comfortable with reading is what matters.

4. Set aside time to read. Kids say the biggest reason they don’t read for fun is there isn’t just enough time, so carve out a few minutes a day. Hint: Eliminating just one TV show or activity will free up 30 minutes a week to read. Set aside a time where everyone reads and make it a family routine. Encourage your older kid to read to a younger sibling.

5. Make reading material available. Be sure reading material is easily accessible. Stash books in backpacks, bathrooms, cars or on the dining table for those “just-in-case” lulls. Here’s a sure-fire tip: Give your kid the option of doing the dishes or reading the book. I’m betting on the book.

6. Start a summer book club. Find other kids your child can read with or join with a few parents to start a kid-parent book club. Suggest they pick from their required school reading list (check the bottom of your kid’s backpack) or allow them to choose their own.

7. Become movie critics. Read a book, and then watch the movie together. (Harry Potter, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or Hatchet are a few favorites). Then become movie critics and debate if the book or movie was better.

8. Read out loud. Around the age of eight is when studies say kids stop reading for enjoyment. It’s also the same age we usually stop reading to our kids. So find one book to read out loud this summer. Reading out loud increases comprehension, vocabulary, imagination and attention, but also fond family memories. Consider listening to books on tape during those long car rides. Make sure to keep it fun and set the listening time to your child’s attention span.

9. Read together. Dig through the bottom of your kid’s backpack for their school required reading list. Then get two copies of each requirement: one for you and the other for your kid. You can each read alone, but it’s a great way to open up a dialogue with your child about a great book. J.K. Rowling proved that kids do read, but it certainly didn’t hurt that many parents and kids read the series together.

Studies show the more books in your home, the greater the chance your kid will become a reader (as well as obtain higher math, science, civics, and history scores). So dig out that library card. Go to library sales or book fairs. Stop at those garage sales. Subscribe your kid to a magazine. Set up a book exchange with the neighbors. You don’t have to break the bank, but do have material available and carve out that time so your child -and you–reads and reads and reads!

Both parents and kids say a big part of the problem is trouble finding enjoyable books. So treat yourself to a great source that listing kids’ top reading choices.

Read more about Michele Borba at http://www.micheleborba.com/Pages/AboutMichele.htm

Sue Scheff: Summer Reading for Teens

Summer reading and teens don’t always mix, however Education.com offers some great advice and ideas to get your High School teens reading this summer.

Source: Education.com

Summer reading is a great way to get your child interested in books, on his or her own terms. For the best books for high school summer reading, we turned to the nation’s finest independent bookstores to get their favorites, from classics to new releases, death-defying adventures to thought-provoking insights. Here are their recommendations for a summertime full of fantastic books:

Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons by Ann Rinaldi

This work of historical fiction is the story of Phillis Wheatley, America’s first published black poet. She goes from being a slave to being the toast of literary society, but the story of her success is also a thought-provoking exploration of a time, place, and culture. Recommended by Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO. Where to buy.

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth Bunce

A retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin story taking place on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution, this book has a strong heroine with a big serving og romance, suspense, and a fine historic sense about it. Recommended by Powell’s Books, Portland, OR. Where to buy.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

In this third installment in the wildly popular Twilight Saga series, Bella is again caught up in a world of vampire romance and danger. A perfect summertime read for fans and newcomers to the series alike. Recommended by Prairie Lights Books, Iowa City, IA. Where to buy.

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger

Just the young adult book we’ve been waiting for! With characters both achingly real and creatively imaged, Kluger is sure to garner favorable reviews from teens and parents alike, and probably some national awards and honors along the way. Recommended by 57th Street Books, Chicago, IL. Where to buy.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

A coming of age story about a young girl’s aspirations to become a famous author, this is a wonderfully written and timeless story with real characters that anyone can relate to.

Recommended by Linden Tree Children’s Recordings and Books, Los Altos, CA. Where to buy.
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Set in San Francisco, a few years in the future, terrorists blow up the bay bridge and 3 young teens find themselves taken into custody by homeland security. Outraged by their treatment, one of the kids takes it upon himself to fight the system and take down “Big Brother”. This is a fabulous techno-thriller, widely regaled as the “Hipper, Younger Brother of Orwell’s 1984.” Hands down the best book of the summer! Recommended by Kepler’s Bookstore, Menlo Park, CA. Where to buy.

Want to see more from Education.com’s book list? Here’s a collection of our favorite books for high school:

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

This fantasy series melds adventure, magic, and myth in an epic battle between the powers of Light and Dark. Before there was Harry Potter, there was Will Stanton, the seventh son of a seventh son who discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is one of the Old Ones, dedicated to battling the powers of evil. This series strikes the perfect balance between everyday characters and a world of ancient magic, humor and danger.

Read the entire article here:

http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_High_School_Summer_Reading/

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Sue Scheff: Summer Reading Tips for Parents

It is summer and a time to encourage your kids to read! Help make reading fun for your kids!

Source: National Center for Learning Disabilities

Summer shouldn’t mean taking a break from learning, especially when it comes to reading. Studies show that most students experience a loss of reading skills over the summer months, but children who continue to read actually gain skills. During the summer parents can help children sustain (and even bolster) reading skills, strengthen their vocabulary and reinforce the benefits of reading for enjoyment.

Remember that children need free time, away from structured academic learning, and the summer is the perfect time to relax and enjoy the pleasures of childhood. So summer reading should be fun. The following are a few tips to make summer reading enjoyable for your children:

Read aloud together with your child every day. Make it fun by reading outdoors - on the front steps, patio, at the beach or park. Also, let your children read to you. For younger children, be sure to practice letter-sound correspondence, do lots of rhyming and clapping out syllables, and explore the relationships between oral language and print.

Set a good example! Keep lots of reading material around the house. Turn off the TV and have family reading time (including mom and dad).

Let kids choose what they want to read, and every so often, read the same book your child is reading and discuss it.

Buy books on tape or check them out at the library. This can be especially helpful for a child with a learning disability. Listen to these recordings in the car, or turn off the TV and have the family listen to them together at home.

As you go through the day - cooking, gardening, grocery shopping, playing games - utilize this time as an opportunity to engage in verbal word play, vocabulary building, recognizing new and familiar words or attaching meaning to words and sentences.

Take your children to the library regularly. Most libraries sponsor summer reading clubs with easy-to-reach goals for pre-school and school-age children. Check the library calendar for special summer reading activities and events. Libraries also provide age appropriate lists for summer reading.

Subscribe, in your child’s name, to magazines like Sports Illustrated for Kids, Highlights for Children, or National Geographic World. Encourage older children to read the newspaper and current events magazines as a way of keeping up the reading habit over the summer and enhancing a growing vocabulary. Ask them what they think about what they’ve read, and listen to what they say.

Ease disappointment over summer separation from a favorite school friend by encouraging them to become pen pals. Present both children with postcards or envelopes that are already addressed and stamped. If both children have access to the Internet, e-mail or instant messaging are other options.

Trips can be a fun way to encourage reading. Ask your children to read traffic signs and billboards aloud. Show them how to read a map, and once you are on the road, let them take turns being the navigator.

Encourage children to keep a summer scrapbook. Tape in souvenirs of your family’s summer activities - picture postcards, ticket stubs, photos. Have your children write the captions and read them aloud as you look at the book together.

Adapted from “Summer Reading Tips for Parents” by the Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities.