When a school's summer reading program falls short

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DEAR DR. FOURNIER: My children are beginning their summer reading, and my daughter has three books to read and two extraordinarily long packets of questions to complete. Can't schools find better ways to get children to read? I thought the purpose of summer reading was for children to develop a love of reading, but I am afraid it has an opposite effect. When they were younger, my children couldn't wait for me to read to them, and they dreamed of the day when they could read on their own. Now they would rather be tarred and feathered.ASSESSMENT: Unfortunately, many school reading programs focus on quantity rather than quality. Schools simply force children to read difficult books for the sake of "education," rather than inspiring a passion for reading that will last a lifetime.Almost 30 years ago, I counseled a ninth-grader who attended a private school that was arrogantly proud that no one worked more than their students. The ninth-grader, at the ripe old age of 14, was assigned "I, Claudius" by Robert Graves. I was so taken aback that I could barely talk. What idiot thought a sheltered student recently promoted from junior high had matured enough to comprehend the depth and meaning of this book -- sexuality and all?Reading has three purposes: to inform, to educate and to enrich. Drivers read stop signs to inform themselves that an intersection is ahead. Science professors read academic journals to educate themselves on the latest research. Students should read summer reading books to enrich their lives and imaginations. Instead, most summer reading programs force children to read so that they can answer a list of questions and attend a pizza party in the fall.If educators have to bribe students with pizza parties and other rewards, then they are not accomplishing the goal. The problem with summer reading typically isn't student ability or comprehension. The problem begins with poor book selection by teachers.WHAT TO DO: Your top priority is to help your students develop a love for reading. If your school's summer reading program doesn't do that, then you must work with your children on your own. Ask them what subjects they enjoy reading about, and help them find age-appropriate books that will pique their interest. While your children are reading their books, talk with them about the story and ask probing questions that will help them think creatively.Remember to use the resources available to you. Your local library may have summer reading groups that will interest your students. Or you could start a book club with several of your students' friends. Have everyone in the group read the same book over a few weeks, and then invite them to your home for a "book club" night.Technology is another resource. I encourage children to download their assigned readings to their iPods, which can be great learning tools. As your children listen to the narration, encourage them to draw pictures that illustrate the story. Then have your children write no more than five sentences to summarize the drawing and the message they received from the text they heard. By the end of the book, they should be able to answer questions easily, and these notes will help them prepare for tests at the beginning of the year.Finally, if your child is assigned books with age-inappropriate content, let the teacher know you found other books that were. You must speak up and take responsibility for your child's development and education.Summer reading should be enjoyable for students, allowing them to explore their own interests and cuddle with new ideas as they develop their own perspectives.(Write Dr. Yvonne Fournier, Fournier Learning Strategies Inc., 5900 Poplar, Memphis, Tenn. 38119. E-mail her at drfournier(at)hfhw.net)