Prevent the Summer Slide in Literacy. Starting Right Now.

As the school year winds down, one question is probably already on your mind: Will my students keep reading this summer?

It's a fair concern. For students who've worked hard this year, summer break carries real risk. You know that better than most.

At Kids Read Now, we're asking the same question. Below, you'll find strategies grounded in research that you can use right now to keep students reading and growing all summer long. You'll also find resources and programming that make it easier for families to stay engaged, so you can take a well-earned break.

The cost of summer learning loss

Students who made hard-won gains this year risk slipping backward over summer break, especially those already achieving below benchmark.

Without consistent reading practice, students can lose 2 to 3 months of progress. When they return in the fall, the first weeks are often spent reteaching and rebuilding momentum.

That's time struggling readers can't afford to lose.

Research shows that regular reading, especially when families are involved and guided by simple comprehension prompts, does prevent the summer slide. You don't need a new curriculum or extra classroom time. You need the right tools, shared at the right time.

The truth about summer reading plans (and why most fail)

Some approaches look good on paper but fall apart at home:

• A packet of worksheets. Ends up under the couch, if it ever leaves the backpack.
• A required reading list. Met with groans from kids and adults alike. Access issues compound the problem.
• A vague suggestion to "read every day." No structure, no accountability.

These plans rely too heavily on families to build reading routines from scratch. That's a lot to ask, especially when summer is meant to be a break.

If students are going to keep reading and thinking, we need a better approach.

What actually works to prevent the summer slide in literacy

Start the conversation early, and make it about identity.

Don't wait for May to start talking about summer reading. Begin while students are still in reading mode.

Right now, while students are well-versed in reading routines, ask them:

"What kind of reader do you want to be over the summer?"

"What's a topic or series you'd love to explore?"

"What kind of books make you feel excited?"

Framing reading as part of who they are, not just something they do in school, helps them carry it across settings and over the months.

Create personal reading plans, and practice.

Through brainstorming and modeling, have each student build a concrete plan.

Use a graphic organizer to prompt them to consider the who, what, when, where, why, and how of summer reading. Guide them to write or draw their plan so they can take it home and share it with their family.

Talk through where they'll keep their plan... on the fridge, with books on a shelf or in a box, taped to the back of their door. Have them practice the plan at home before school ends, then debrief back in class.

Help families understand their role, and take away the pressure.

Families want to help, but they don't always know how. Your communication makes a real difference.

Use simple language like:

"Reading just 15 minutes a day this summer will help [Student Name] keep all the progress they made this year."

"You don't need to teach anything. Just talk to your child about books. Telling stories counts."

"No need to plan long reading sessions. Short, regular practice works better."

The goal is making expectations feel doable, not overwhelming. We cover this and four other common barriers to family engagement in our free resource below.

Make it feel like fun, and build anticipation.

Kids want freedom over the summer. Give it to them on the bookshelf.

Let them choose books that match their interests or sense of humor. If you're not sure what they're into right now, ask.

If your school has access to our book catalog or a library partnership, help students preview their options. Talk up the stories. Make a game out of choosing titles they're curious about.

Reading is more likely to happen when it feels like play, not pressure.

Set a purpose for summer reading, and check back in.

The story doesn't end in May.

Let students know you'll be eager to hear what they read over break. Give them a journal, a reading "passport," or a few sentence starters:

• "The book I liked most was..."
• "This character reminded me of..."

This gives students a clear purpose and helps next year's teacher hit the ground running with connected writing activities in the fall.

What if there was a way to do it all automatically?

Worth saying plainly: teachers need a break too.

You can't monitor reading logs, check in with every family, and track summer progress on your own — not without giving up your own rest and family time.

That's why schools need support systems that extend literacy beyond the classroom without putting it all on you.

Imagine this:

• Every student picks their own books before the school year ends.
• Those books get mailed directly to their homes all summer long.
• Each one comes with story-specific, family-friendly conversation prompts inside.
• Parents get text reminders to keep reading on track. The app translates messages to families in over 100 languages.
• You get to relax, knowing someone else is tracking the progress.

That's exactly what Kids Read Now does.

If your school doesn't have a summer reading solution in place, now is the time to suggest one. This might be the lift you didn't know you needed.

Recommend a program that’s proven to prevent summer reading loss

As a teacher or instructional leader, you may not make the final call — but your voice matters. It often starts the conversation.

Kids Read Now is a summer literacy program built on Science of Reading principles. It has been proven to prevent summer reading loss for over a decade, especially for struggling readers.

Here's what educators across the country are saying:

Here's a message you can send to your principal or literacy coordinator today. Just copy and paste:

Your voice carries weight. Connecting decision-makers with the right resources is one of the most direct ways to advocate for your students.

It's never too soon to start

You've worked too hard, and your students have come too far, to risk losing it all to the summer slide.

Start the conversations now. Equip families with the right resources. And if your school doesn't have a summer reading program, recommend one.

No packets. No pressure. Just books, choice, and a whole lot of support.

Want to explore how we can help your school prevent summer reading loss?

Explore Kids Read Now’s programs here…