When I was a kid, we had summer reading.
That meant, the teacher gave us a list of books to read over the summer.
After summer break was over, we would have a test on the books.
When I was a kid, I thought this was child abuse.
Why give us work to do on our vacation?
But now I think it’s a great idea.
These are some of the books I remember reading during my summers:
The Hobbit
The Once and Future King
Lord of the Flies
Ivanhoe
Animal Farm
The Wind in the Willows
The Scarlet Letter
Deliverance
The Catcher in the Rye
What about your school?
What about kids in your country?
Is this also something you did in your school? Is it something kids do now?
Share iu the comments below and tomorrow we’ll talk about how you can improve your English with summer reading.
Those days at my school, I never studied the novels or some biography stories. However I read only the academic books, which was the prime lesson at my school. That’s why I feel the good school provides better platform to enhance the students capacity in multidisciplinary area, which is highly required for a early career student to grow better.
We haven‘t summer reading too! But I find, this is a very good idea, because when kids are reading it‘s the best what they can do!
When I was a kid we had nothing to do, not summer reading or exercises. All our time was free during vacation. My sons had also free summer time. By the way I think summer reading is very good idea.
In Serbia, it depends on the teacher. Daughter’s summer list: 1.The Paul Street Boys 2. In Desert and Wilderness
HI Ryan ! Nowadays children use a lot of electronic devices where they can find information about absolutely anything.
I think those who want to read can fiind what they want.The book in classic format is less used nowadays.
Cheers!
Gabriel
In Spain sometimes. It depends of the theacher
I am from Brazil, it is not common for students to have summer reading here, but depending on the school or the teacher, sometimes they are asked to read on vacation, but just a little. And it is not mandatory to read the suggested books. I agree that it is very good to read on vacation and those students who read have a great advantage in learning over those who don’t.
In France child never had or have any books to read during the summer. But they have during the other holidays sometimes.
Yes, we also had summer reading when I was a child; I remember when I read The legends of Olympus, an interesting bunch of stories about greec gods and godess and their traits and behavior so closely by human behavior; I was so impressed that I became interested by maths and mythology after that
When summer.break finished we would to show a note book with some interesting ideas and thoughts to our teacher.Despite of electronic devices today school children are encouraged to read classic books and some of them, passionate by literature, do it.
We haven’t summer readin in Finland when i was a child. However, reading is a nice hobby and I read a lot myself, especially now that I’m trying to learn to speak English 😊
We also had summer reading. I found it bad at the time, but it made me read a lot. This is how I read Candide, Don Quijote, Tonio Kröger … etc. Maybe that’s why I became a literature teacher? In any case, it would be better if today’s children read more, because they can still enjoy the summer holidays.
Hi
In Estonia kids have a summer reading, but it depends on school – some teachers give a list, from which kids should choose 3 books and some teachers give a free choice. After summer holiday kids have to summerise at least 1 book.
Although I hated it during my schooltime, now I love that my kids have that summer task, because reading the real book is so relaxing and it helps to improve their expressiveness, vocabulary, imagination etc.
In Slovenia we don’ t have summer reading.Also when I was a chilld we didn’t have it.But on the first vacation day I always went to library and borrowed at least 10 books.I enjoyed then and I still enjoy reading now.
Summer reading- hmmm…, I’m really a bookworm, but….if so a list of books from school, then I would like to have the choice between different types of classical and modern reading recommandations. And no test after the holidays, but there are some creative forms of showing that you have occupied with a book, perhaps a reading journal or a reading box or a little presentation or…. Reading should be fun!📚📖🐁
Hello, my childhood I remember like Ryan wrote: with summer reading and test after come back to school. Remember I was making a notes and my sister love read it instead of readinga a full books :-))
I was wrote about Lithuania)
When I was kid we always read books in summer, now my sun is teanager and he read books during summer too, Lithuania
Hello everubody. In my school time we did not have any summer works from school. We had free time all the summer. But we usually do some summer work to earn some money.
In Lithuania unusually kids have a list of books for the summer, but sometimes it depends on teacher, especially in the primary scool😊
In Bulgaria, the summer vacation lasts for a whole summer and there is a summer reading list. It is helpful but when someone is a child who can’t understand the benefits feels upset and overwhelmed because of the limitations of freedom… But, that is the reality and that is what life looks like…
I’m a primary teacher in Italy. Here it is quite common for students to have summer reading but it depends a lot on the teacher. Anyway I think it’s very important to give this possibility with a large choice of books.
we had some reading as well! We enjoyed it and I think it is a good opportunity to create a good habit of reading and continue when you grow up!
When I was a child many years ago in Slovakia, we’ve got the list of 2 – 3 books to read, it was from our national authors from the 19.century, Tajovský, Timrava… but it was the activity of a few teachers, not a national.
Now my 14 yo granddaughter has shown me quite a long list of what to do in the summer, and very interesting, like
– to make a new friend
– to sew a simple piece of clothing for
yourself
– to cook a simple meal for the family just by yourself
-to talk to the foreign child (whom I don’t know) somewhere – in the park, on the street…
-to talk to the foreign old person and /or to help them
– to ask your parents/grandparents/ other relatives about their childhood and write it down for yourself
– to read 3- 5 books, 1 or 2 recommended, other by free choice
– to write a short summary of the book you liked best
– to write at least 1 story about what you did or where you’ve been in the summer, what was interesting to you
…and some more, I don’t remember them all, but I was really impressed. It was not necessary to do all of it, but the more the better. They compared their lists at the start of a new year and could read something from it for the class if they wanted to.
The list was made at the end of the school year by students and the teacher together, everyone could suggest something, and they together decided if it should be put into th list. I think it is wanderful creativity and really admire that teacher ! (the school on Dubová street in Bratislava )
Hi. Very familiar topic. In Estonia we got lists. There was also a suggestion to use a reading journal to make a brief summary of the book read. It´s a good thing, you don´t remember everything. I know that some of my peers still use a reading diary.
In Greece they was giving titles of books or they was advicing the kids to read at list one book. But for sure not obligatory with exams.
My son (13) does not have summer reading and if he has it, probably he will not do it. He does not like to read books. I am desperate because instead of him I love books and when he was a small boy we read books almost every evening. Two weeks ago I attended one meeting where the topic “How to teach your kids to read” was deal. It was very useful but still did not applicated for my son :-(. Hope one he will discover the treasure of the books.
It worked out for me that I went to school right after the war. And within six months, in a tuberculosis sanatorium, I was able to read aloud the book Ferd the Ant and Beetle Baggin to the children in my room. In 1948 there was a so-called communist coup in our country and every year it was compulsory to read certain books that I never read. But we were always given books for Christmas and birthdays from my mother, who loved Czech writers, and we always read during the holidays, especially at Christmas. I always “resorted” to reading when I needed spiritual support and comfort, and I still do to this day. 🙂
Hi! Oh, yes, in Hungary, we have a summer reading list from childhood. We read history novel or belletristic. We must write a reading dairy and we analise this books in the school in the literature lesson. In my opinion it is a good idea and practice.
In Italy is the same of USA.
Italian Schools give our kids a list of book to read during the summer and in september, when a new School year starts Teacher a do at the pupils a test or organize a discussion about the summer readings. I Think that summer reading is a very important exercise, for everyone and in particular for kids and students.
Children in Ukraine still read on their vacation
We had the summer reading in Serbia when i was i kid.
I do not how Is it with today’s kids..
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I think the summer reading is good idea.