A Letter from Mrs. Hilderbrand - Summer Reading Program
Dear Parents,
As part of our pursuit of academic excellence, we are instituting a school-wide summer reading program. The variety and availability of technology in our culture now offers may options for leisure activities that were not available before the advent of these technological advances and as a result, reading is no longer the primary leisure activity it once was. Children and teenagers who love to read tend to perform better in the classroom. Reading is critical in developing not only the imagination but also vocabulary, language skills, and phonetic awareness.
Additionally, a 2008 study by Raymond Mar found that people who tend read more fiction have more empathy and social acumen than those who tend to read more non-fiction. This is probably due to the fact that when reading fiction, you are more engaged in the characters social interactions and relationships, something that does not occur as readily when reading non-fiction.
As a parent, we would also like to challenge you to model the importance of reading in your home. As you and your child read, take the time to discuss what each of you are reading and encourage each other to make reading a habit. Students entering first through third grades should complete the appropriate Summer Reading form that follows each grade level reading list. These forms should be turned in to your child’s
teacher on the first day of school. Fourth and fifth graders should complete the appropriate forms.
Remember, books are cheaper hour-for-hour of entertainment than movies or DVDs. And if you choose to use the public library—it is free!
Enjoy your summer reading and challenge yourself to read that book you have always wanted to read but never seemed to find the time.
Enjoy your summer reading!
Mrs. Susan Hilderbrand
