When your K-5 students return from winter break, some will pick up right where they left off. Others will need weeks of review to regain lost ground. In some cases, the setback can last months.

The frustrating part? This loss is almost entirely preventable.

The difference often comes down to what happens before they leave your classroom. When school routines pause, so does the structure that often keeps kids on track with their reading habits. This is especially true for struggling readers, who are at greater risk of losing ground during extended breaks.

Research shows that 62-73% of elementary students lose reading skills during extended breaks, and the effects compound over time. By the time they reach 5th grade, students affected by learning loss can lag behind their peers by 2.5 to 3 years.

The good news? You still have time. Here are five quick wins you can put into action in the final week before winter break to send students home reading-ready.

1. Have the "Why It Matters" Conversation

Before you talk about what to read, talk about why reading over break matters. A simple analogy works well here.

Ask your students what happens if a soccer player stops practicing for a few weeks. They get rusty, right? Their skills slip. The same thing happens with reading. When we go weeks without picking up a book, our brains lose some of what they learned. But if we read just a little bit each day, we come back sharp and ready for new challenges.

Try this. In the final week before break, spend five minutes having this conversation with your class. Let students name other examples where practice matters. Music, video games, drawing. Then make the connection to reading. When kids understand the "why," they are more likely to follow through.

2. Send a Simple Family Reading Prompt

Parents want to help. They often just don't know how.

A single, specific prompt can turn a busy holiday into a reading moment. Instead of generic instructions like "read for 20 minutes each day," give families something concrete to discuss.

Try this. Print or email one conversation starter tied to your students' books. For example, you might say "After reading, ask your child what surprised them most, or what they would have done differently than the main character." These low-pressure discussions build comprehension without feeling like homework.

Need ideas? Check the Kids Read Now book catalog to see if your students' books are listed. Many titles include Discovery Questions crafted by our literacy team to spark meaningful conversations between kids and families.

3. Create a "Break Book Show and Tell"

Students get excited about what their classmates are excited about. Use that energy to build momentum before break.

Encourage students to work with their parents to find a book they want to read over winter break. They might borrow one from the library, pick one up at the store, or choose a title from their Kids Read Now program. 

Try this. Set aside 10 minutes for a "Break Book Show and Tell." Let students share their book choice and explain why they picked it. When kids hear classmates talking about books they love, it creates social proof. Reading becomes something everyone is doing, not just an assignment.

4. Connect Reading to Their Favorite Hobby

Reluctant readers rarely resist a book about something they care about.

Before break, ask students to think about their favorite hobby or interest. Soccer? Dinosaurs? Drawing? Minecraft? Then challenge them to find a book about that topic at the library or bookstore. When reading connects to something a child already loves, it stops feeling like work.

Try this. Have students write down their top hobby or interest on an index card. Then brainstorm as a class what kinds of books might connect. A kid who loves baking might look for a cookbook with kid-friendly recipes. A student obsessed with animals might search for a nonfiction book about their favorite species. The goal is to help them see books as a way to go deeper into what they already enjoy.

5. Share What Local Libraries Offer

Not every student has books at home. But most have access to a public library, and many families underestimate what their library card unlocks.

Send home a simple reminder about the reading-focused resources available at most public libraries.

Try this. Print a one-page flyer with your local library's address, website, and holiday hours. Include a note encouraging families to make a library trip part of their break plans. One quick reminder can open doors for students who might not otherwise have access to books.

Small Actions Add Up

You can't control what happens in every student's home over winter break. But you can set them up for success before they walk out your door.

The research is clear. Kids learn a lot more in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade than kids in middle school or high school, because learning follows a curve where it's accelerated early in life and then plateaus. Early intervention matters. And sometimes intervention is as simple as putting a book in a backpack.

This week, pick one or two of these strategies. Share them with your grade-level team. Send a note to families. Every small step keeps students connected to reading when school routines pause.

Want Help Keeping Students Reading All Year?

Kids Read Now partners with schools to mail self-selected books directly to students' homes, keeping kids engaged in reading during winter break, summer, and beyond. Our evidence-based program has helped over 150,000 students build lasting reading habits.

Schedule a demo to see how Kids Read Now can support literacy in your school or district.

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