Why is literacy over the summer important? 

"Literacy, at its simplest, is the way that we interact with the world around us, how we shape it and are shaped by it. It is how we communicate with others via reading and writing, but also by speaking, listening, and creating." (Peterson, Amber. “Literacy is More than Just Reading and Writing.” NCTE, 23 March 2020, https://ncte.org/blog/2020/03/literacy-just-reading-writing/. Accessed 31 May 2022.)

Overlook Middle School continues our summer literacy program that incorporates both traditional and new-age literacy. By incorporating this into the summer, we will expand on the many literacy skills middle school students need to succeed in this modern world. According to research, students who do not read over the summer can lose as much as 22% of their reading level.  Which means two months of school can go down the drain! 

To help stop the “summer slide,” you can encourage participation in this program as well as some of the following activities throughout the summer. 

• Visit the library 

• Visit the bookstore 

• Find fun places to read 

• Read a book online 

• Listen to a book or podcast in the car 

• Take turns reading 

• Share books and podcasts with friends