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Classrooms packed, desks emptied, another school year is coming to a close. Summertime is on the horizon and for kids, that means three precious months of sweet, sticky freedom.

But when kids from low-income families leave school for the summer, the outlook isn’t always so sunny.  While their more affluent peers may be visiting libraries, attending summer camp and reading their favorite stories every night, kids in need often spend the summer months without access to books and learning opportunities.

Over the years, those months add up – by the end of 5^th grade, kids from low-income families are nearly three grades behind their peers in reading skills.

But there’s good news! Books beat summer slide.

Studies show that kids’ reading skills improve when they have access to books over the summer – and this is especially true for kids in need. In fact, children who are given access to books over the course of three summers perform 35-40% better on reading achievement tests than those without.

Together we can fight summer slide by getting books into the hands of kids in need.

If you work with children in need, you can access books, games, activities and other resources to keep kids learning all summer long. Sign up with First Book today!

The post Books Beat Summer Slide appeared first on First Book Blog.

Research shows that students experience about 2.5 months of learning loss when they don’t engage in educational activities over the long summer break.

This means much of what they learned this school year will evaporate during the summer.

However, summer learning loss is preventable. Summer Bridge Activities® – a workbook series – is designed to reinforce grade-level skills and preview upcoming grade skills in only 15 minutes a day.

Students will stay mentally sharp and be prepared for the upcoming year while still having time for summer fun. That is why Summer Bridge Activities remains the #1 choice for parents with school-age children.

Get Summer Bridge Workbooks here now:

Summer Bridge Activities – Preschool to Kindergarten

Summer Bridge Activities – Kindergarten to 1st Grade

Summer Bridge Activities – 1st Grade to 2nd Grade

Summer Bridge Activities – 2nd to 3rd Grade

Summer Bridge Activities – 3rd to 4th Grade

Summer Bridge Activities – 4th to 5th Grade

Summer Bridge Activities – 5th to 6th Grade

Summer Bridge Activities – 6th to 7th Grade

Summer Bridge Activities – 7th to 8th Grade

All summer long, you’ve heard how summer slide – the learning loss that occurs when kids are out of school – adds up for kids who don’t have access to books and other learning opportunities.

But there’s good news – many schools and organizations throughout the country are working hard to stop summer slide.

Take Kansas City, Missouri, for example. Over the last two summers, a coalition of KC-based organizations have been working with First Book to help reverse summer learning loss for kids in their community.

“More needs to be done to address the summer reading loss,” says Brent Schondelmeyer, communications director for LINC. “With First Book, the Kansas City Public Library, the Mid-County Public Library, Turn the Page KC and other local partners, we are taking an intentional approach to summer reading. And we will use our summer experience to expand how we support reading all year long.”

Last summer, First Book provided 10,000 high-quality books to elementary school children in Kansas City Public Schools. The books were distributed as part of a comprehensive reading program led by the Local Investment Corporation (LINC), the Kansas City Public Library and the mayor’s office.

The students who receive the books showed reading gains, instead of losses. More significantly, students from Title I schools who read over the summer saw higher improvements.

The great work being done in Kansas City confirms: access to books is key to reversing summer learning loss.

This summer, LINC’s game-changing program expanded. More than 30,000 books from the First Book Marketplace have been distributed to 72 schools, all in an effort to keep kids reading and learning while school’s out. The hope is that the gains made last year will continue and that more kids in the Kansas City area will be ready to start the school year off right.

Check out this video to learn more about what’s happening in Kansas City.

Want to learn more ways First Book is supporting organizations like LINC? Sign up to receive stories of impact and inspiration!

The post How Kansas City Kids Beat Summer Slide appeared first on First Book Blog.

For many students summer is a time to rest, play with friends and simply be a kid. However, as fun as it is to simply sit back and relax the day away, last year’s learning has a tendency to slip away. Students can lose over two months of learning during the summertime. The Kids Count Data Center article, “Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters”  uncovers the realities of child development detailing the necessity for children to switch from learning to read from Kindergarten until third grade, to reading to learn once they begin fourth grade. Visit the Annie E. Casey Kids Count Data Center to learn more.

To help prevent the summer brain drain in your house, try mixing fun and learning in a way that makes parents, students and their teachers happy!

Choosing books that parents and kids enjoy is a great start. This site has great summer reading recommendations with lists tailored to certain interests or age-ranges which make navigating through all the titles much easier. Another way to keep brains engaged is to have your kids write letters or send postcards from all the wonderful places you’ll visit this summer. Not only will they be able to share stories about their adventures, but children can enjoy the thrill of sending and receiving letters from friends and family while they learn important skills. If writing gets them excited you can also visit ReadWriteThink. This website has some great ideas to get kids reading and writing, such as writing your own sports trivia questions as well as literacy resources for parents and educators.

Lastly, if you just need to get out of the house, check out Pottery Barn Kids Book Club. Pottery Barn is hosting story time events every Tuesday with a special gift on a child’s fifth visit. This is a great summer activity where kids can get their 30 minutes of reading in, and have a fun time meeting others in the community while learning!

Regardless of your child’s interests, it is vital to encourage summer learning. These resources provide book lists, activities, events, games, challenges and more to ensure that summer learning stays fun and rewarding for everyone.