For Teachers, Stuff for the Teen Age, Lifelong Learning, Children's Literature @ NYPL

NYPL, NCTE, and Scholastic Discuss Summer Learning by Shauntee Burns, Outreach LibrarianJune 12, 2019

twitter chat

Mark your calendars: On Wednesday, June 12 at 8 PM EDT, Youth Education Services for The New York Public Library will be participating in a Twitter chat with Scholastic and the National Council of Teachers of English all about summer learning!

We'll be sharing tips and ideas to keep kids engaged all summer long and highlighting our Summer Reading program. You can follow along and join in the conversation by using the hashtag #SummerLearningChat.

Here are the three fantastic participants leading the conversation:

  • Pam Allyn is the Senior Vice President of Innovation and Development at Scholastic Education.

  • Shauntee Burns-Simpson is the Manager of School Support at The New York Public Library and will be tweeting from @nypl

  • Franki Sibberson is the president of the National Council of Teachers of English.

We can't wait to see the conversation unfold, and we hope you'll be joining in! To help you prepare for the chat, here are the questions Scholastic will be asking participants:

  1. What is the summer slide and why is it so important to address?
  2. What are some of the biggest obstacles to summer learning, and what can we do to overcome them?
  3. How can we change perceptions around summer learning and turn it into something joyful and fun?
  4. What are some tips for how educators and community partners can work together to set students up for success?
  5. What can parents do to encourage their children’s summer learning?
  6. What are some things you’re doing within your organizations and communities to combat the summer slide?

Update: the #SummerLearningChat has happened and it was a fun success! Please find what we discussed below.

A1: The summer slide is a decline in reading ability and other academic skills when kids are out of school. Research says kids can lose two months or more of skill levels over the summer. We want kids to maintain their achievement levels over the summer, as well as read for pleasure and intellectual exploration.

A2: Students can feel negatively about summer learning programs because they think summer is a break from school and learning. They can also associate reading with assignments and homework. We have to create learning experiences that engage their curiosity and are based on their interests. We also need to create excitement around reading for pleasure and expose kids to many different types of books that reflect their experiences and interests.

A3: Schools, libraries, and community partners need to work together to combine learning with a variety of enriching free and fun activities, like arts and crafts or gaming. This year @nypl’s space-themed #SummerReading program urges young people to expand their universe through reading and learning at their local library. A book list and interactive game board make daily reading and participation in programming at the branch fun.

A4: We have to collaborate and connect students' real-world experiences to their classroom learning and curriculum. In spring, our librarians visit schools and community organizations to do #SummerReading outreach and invite youth and families to visit their local library. Educators should also reach out to their local libraries to plan visits and get students excited about summer learning.

A5: Parents are a child's first teacher, and they’re reading and learning role models throughout their lives. Kids who read have adults in their lives who read. Have books around the house, read with your children, and read on your own. Parents can take the whole family to the library for programs, books to borrow, and community celebrations of reading and learning.

A6: The New York Public Library is New York City’s headquarters for reading and learning each summer. Our annual #SummerReading program helps people of all ages find books and programming that spark curiosity and enthusiasm. We also work with authors and local non-profits to offer unique experiences. The prevention of summer slide is a team effort. We all have to work together to build a culture of reading and lifelong learning.

View all posts by Shauntee Burns