Summer is quickly approaching, and we want our students to find time to cultivate their passion for reading! Summer reading is critical for students to retain knowledge and skills learned in the previous school year. A University of Tennessee, Knoxville research study shows that children who do not read over the summer lose at least two months of reading development; this is often referred to as “the summer slide”. On the contrary, the same research shows that students who do read over the summer can gain in reading development. The Newton County School System has made it a priority to protect our students from slipping by keeping our students engaged in reading with the implementation of the 2023 Elementary/Secondary Summer Reading Program. Our theme for this summer’s reading program is “NCSS Students are Soaring, Not Sliding.”

Secondary students (Grades 6-12) are highly encouraged to complete a daily Summer Reading Log and one summer reading project that parallels with their chosen reading selection. Elementary students are highly encouraged to refer to the grade-appropriate reading brochure for additional information on this site. During the summer, it is suggested that every middle and high school student (grades 6th - 12th) read (1) book and complete (1) assignment on that book. The suggested reading time to complete this assignment is 20 minutes a day for students in grades 6-12. The lists on the assignment page are SUGGESTED lists of appropriate grade-level books; however, this year, students will be allowed to read any book they choose if it is age-appropriate AND content- appropriate. The benefits of the summer reading program:

•  Improve reading skills: Phonics, Fluency, Spelling, Comprehension, and Vocabulary

•  Improve Comprehension and neutralize Summer Learning Loss

•  Develop an interest in reading and further develop memory skills

•  Students have a choice to select what they want to read

As a means of recognizing the student's effort, the assignment, for grades 6-12, will be collected during the 3rd week of school and counted as an extra credit grade for the first marking period of the 2023- 2024 school year. Students will be awarded up to 20 points of extra credit on their first unit test.