When the final bell rings on that last day of the school year, the immediate thought for most kids is usually far from, "Now I finally have more time to read."
Our kids have been working hard all school year, from book reports to science projects to math exams, and when summer break comes, they tend to put a lot of emphasis on the word "break."
And I think that is just fine.
Let the kids be kids while they still can and enjoy those summers off before they grow up and enter the real world that doesn't always come with a guaranteed summer vacation.
However, as teachers suggest and parents encourage, kids don't need to completely jump off the learning wagon during those hot summer months. But they do need to know that learning doesn't have to take place in a classroom and definitely doesn't have to be boring. And I think the best way a kid can keep up his or her studies and give that brain an extra boost when school's out is by picking up a good book.
As I would hope you all know, I have written dozens of stories about reading promotion programs and incentives and competitions and all sorts of fun things teachers ask their students to do to get motivated to read.
The only difference between getting kids motivated at school and during the summer is the lack of teacher interaction, but I'm almost positive there are pretty decent teachers in the homes of Faulkner County students. Whether you're a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, uncle or just a neighbor, encourage a student to pick up a book and get carried away by reading this summer.
St. Joseph Primary School held a Reading and Writing Safari event last week and handed out tips and activities parents can do with younger students to keep their literacy skills sharp. If you missed this event, I'm sure there are plenty of Web sites you can peruse to find similar information, but simply reading to your child can do the trick.
And it's not just the little kids who need to keep their brains healthy over the summer, either. Those of you in junior high or high school should check out the best seller lists or ask your upcoming English teachers what novels will be studied so you can get a head start. Or you can simply go to your local library and scan the many shelves for a book that catches your eye.
It's free (all you need is a library card), it's air conditioned and the options are endless.
So this summer, students, don't sit on the couch and let your brain let itself go, grab a book, a magazine, a newspaper anything and read.
You'll be amazed at how much fun you can have while learning and your teachers will be pretty impressed when August rolls around.
(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
