The Benefits of Summer Reading

Educators and parents alike have long lamented how much students forget over summer break. Studies show that prolonged detachment from academic endeavors sets a young mind back significantly. Unfortunately, teachers must spend a considerable amount of time at the beginning of each year getting rid of the academic rust students accumulate over the summer.

A summer assignment attempts to remedy this situation. Not only does a summer assignment keep students thinking during their time away from the classroom, but it also provides their classes a springboard for the beginning of the year. When classes resume, teachers may use the first week or so to discuss the ideas and concepts students contemplated over the summer. These discussions are a great way to start the school year in history and literature. Additionally, summer assignments give students a chance to engage in independent thinking and learning, which is an incredibly valuable opportunity. Finally, schools such as ours commonly assign work over the summer, because we take our responsibility to our students and their long-term academic and moral development seriously. A summer assignment allows our students to learn at a faster pace and higher level once we return to the classroom.