Some important resources. Because you might be teaching summer school

How much flexibility do you have if you're teaching summer school?  Is there a particular program you must follow, or can you use what works best for each of your students?

Dig into a good novel

There are so many good books to read with your students or have them read independently, that are engaging for summer and have ways to strengthen reading and comprehension.  These books cover a range of different genres and topics.  

• Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

• A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga

• Pony by R.J. Palacio

• Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

• The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

• Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Kathleen Van Cleve

• I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

• The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron

Each has a novel study guide that reviews and reinforces reading comprehension skills and has enrichment activities to help students grow.
Here are a few that would work well.  Click on the links to take a closer look.

Reading passages with escape rooms

A novel might feel like too much, or you might not have the time to dig that deeply.  It's easy to pivot to reading passages.  And reading passages with Escape Rooms?  The best!
These have proven to be popular with students and teachers.

• Science Reading passage - The Disappearing Aral Sea

• Legos

• Who Wrote the Alphabet?

• Exploring Mars

• Election Day

Review comprehension skills with coloring

Do your kids get restless and need to switch gears, or do you have early finishers?  Are you looking for a center or small group activity?  Take a look at these Color by Number worksheets that review important skills.

• Character Traits

• Figurative Language

• Context Clues

• Spelling

• Apostrophes

• Genres (grades 4 - 5)

• Genres (grades 6 - 7)

I hope you find something that works for you!

FAQs

What are the best books for summer school reading?

• Honestly?  Anything your students will actually finish.  The list above spans genres and reading levels, from Pony to I am Malala, so there's something for reluctant readers as well as strong ones.

I don't have time to teach a full novel.  What else can I do?

• Reading passages are a great pivot.  Pairing them with an Escape Room or a Scavenger Hunt is great to get kids up and engaged with the text.

What if my students just need to review skills, not learn new content?

• Color by Number worksheets are perfect for that.  They work well for centers, early finishers, or as a small group activity.

Do these work for whole class or just for small groups?

• Both.  The novel studies and reading passages work for your whole class, in lit circles, or in small groups.  The Color by Number activities can be used in centers, with partners, or as independent practice