Looking for a few sure-fire ways to ensure your reluctant readers don’t succumb to the dreaded summer slide? These 3 strategies will not only inspire your students to read all summer long, they’ll inspire summer reading gains!

Stop the summer slide with the Scholastic Read-a-Palooza Summer Reading Challenge!

Find out what they like.
The best books for struggling readers are books featuring characters and storylines students can relate to and find interesting. Before the school year ends, sit down with each of your reluctant readers to not only discuss how important reading is outside the classroom, but to also find out what they’re interested in. Whether it’s sports, a popular television series, or a nonfiction topic like volcanos or ocean animals, when you know what piques your students’ interests, you can guide them in the right reading direction.

Give reluctant readers a choice.
Once they identify the types of books they like, reluctant readers will love creating a summer reading list filled with books of their choosing. Our 2019 Scholastic Read-a-Palooza Summer Reading Challenge Book List is stocked with plenty of high-interest, low-level books your reluctant readers will love! And our Spanish/Bilingual book list has even more awesome reads to choose from this summer!

Encourage students to work together to increase access to books for others.
When reluctant readers are able to choose books for their summer reading lists, they’re more likely to follow through with reading them. And when they know their reading will make a difference for others, they’ll have all the motivation they need to read all summer long! With the 2020 Scholastic Read-a-Palooza, kids can build their avatar, make new friends, earn virtual rewards, and help unlock donations for kids with limited or no access to books by starting and keeping “reading streaks” in Scholastic Home Base when they read every day over the summer!

When it comes to curbing summer learning loss, reading every day will have a tremendous impact. With these strategies, you’ll not only help stop the summer slide, you’ll help instill a life-long love of reading among your reluctant readers!