Summer is a time for rest, family, adventure, and hopefully, plenty of reading. While we all want students to enjoy their break, we also know that children who continue reading over the summer often return to school with stronger skills, greater confidence, and a wider range of experiences to share.

The good news is that supporting summer reading doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, one of the most effective things we can do is make sure children have easy access to books they can read and enjoy.

Here are 5 ways to help keep your students reading all summer long.

1. Send home a bag of books
   It’s the simplest thing really: fill a zip-top bag or paper bag with 4–6 books at or just below a child's reading level. Include a short note for families: "These books are just right for your reader. Let your child pick one and then read it together or let them read to you. Enjoy!"
2. Set up a summer Digital Reader bookshelf
   Before school ends, set each student up with a Digital Reader bookshelf stocked with books at their independent level. Tuck a card with the login and a QR code into their take-home bag so families can access it from any device, anywhere.
3. Set up a book swap or pick-up day
   Organize one or two summer drop-in days when kids can come to school and swap out their bag of books for a fresh set. It keeps reading new and exciting across the whole summer, and the short visit is a natural check-in moment too.
4. Point families to the library
   Before the last day, make sure every child has a library card. Walk the class through how to find books at their level. Many public libraries have summer reading programs that add a layer of motivation and structure.
5. Add a simple reading log
   A single sheet tucked in the bag—"Color a star for every book you read this summer"—gives kids a low-pressure goal and something to bring back in the fall. It doesn't need to be fancy to work. Click here for a reading log to share with your students.
   

You don't have to do all of this. Just one bag of books sent home with a child who might not otherwise have any reading material will make a world of difference. Start there.

And when fall comes, you'll know which kids read over the summer—not because you tested them, but because you'll be able to see it: in their reading stamina, their increased vocabulary, and how excited they are to share what they’ve read—not to mention their eagerness to pick up another book!