Extend Reading Into Summer with K-5 Students Blog Feature

By: Margo Ensz on May 12th, 2014

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Extend Reading Into Summer with K-5 Students

Grade Level: Primary (PK-2) | Academic Subject: English Language Arts | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | VariQuest Tools: Cutout Maker 1800 | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities

The school year may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean that learning comes to a halt.  Motivate your students to read this summer with decorative bookmarks, customized reading journals and more!

  • Cut an assortment of bookmarks out of cardstock using the Cutout Maker.  To view all bookmark cutouts, search by keyword: bookmarks.  Cut out at least one bookmark per student. 
  • Cut out Plain Door Hanger (HGR016), one for each student. 
  • Cut out two Suitcase Book Covers (BKS107), and several Suitcase Book Pages (BKS108) for each student.  Cut the book covers using cardstock and book pages using standard copy paper (lined or unlined).  Staple the books together.

During the last week of school, set up a Summer Reading Vacation decorating station in your classroom. Encourage students to decorate their bookmarks using stickers, crayons, markers, ribbons and glitter.  Have students write the names of their favorite books from the school year, or books they would like to read over the summer on their bookmark. 

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Students should personalize their door hanger by writing a Do Not Disturb message on it.  For example: Do not disturb! On summer reading vacation!

Finally, have students write a title on their Suitcase Book and use it as a summer vacation reading journal.  Encourage students to keep track of all of the places they’ve traveled through books in their journal.  

Send these bookmarks, reading journals and door hangers home with students on the last day of school to keep up their enthusiasm for reading over the summer months.     

Want to learn more about how the VariQuest Suite could help you create activities and resources like these with ease? Request a no-obligation demonstration with one of our expert Education Consultants to see how our tools and content can help save time and solve challenges at your school!

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Julia Cremin is a 6th grade Reading, Language Arts and Math teacher at O'Keeffe Middle School in Madison, WI. She is certified in Elementary Education (grades 1-9) with a minor in Mathematics. This is her third year teaching middle school.