During the summer, students are eager to relax and take a break from the rigorous schoolwork. However, during these sunny days, students continue to have assignments due to get students up to speed for the upcoming school year. One of these such assignments, which is required for all Upper School students, is summer reading.
Summer reading is a way for students to continue to learn during the break, while also exploring their interests and creating diverse projects with what they have learned.
“One of my summer reading projects was a podcast I did with a friend for the book “Between Shades of Gray,” and doing this podcast helped me since, during the school year, we had to do one with a group and I was prepared to do it,” junior Elizabeth Schenker said.
Some students view summer reading as an obligation, such as sophomore Stella Agretchev, who stated her dislike regarding the assignment. “I already read books in my free time, but having to do an assignment over the summer seems so unnecessary to me,” Agratchev said.
With a variety of book choices and assignment options, students can learn and develop new skills that will help them prepare for the upcoming year. These assignments help prevent “summer slide,” a phenomenon where students lose some academic progress as they are not studying or learning much during the break. Requiring students to read helps maintain their reading comprehension skills and ensures they are ready for the new school year.
In addition to offering a variety of book choices, students are also provided with a variety of assignment options, which can be completed independently or within a group.
Summer reading is not just an academic requirement but an opportunity for students to stay on the right track and explore their horizons. With plenty of time to read and too many choices at their fingertips, students can explore new and fantasy worlds or dive into murder mysteries while stimulating their brains. Let the literary adventure begin.
From a list of dozens of books from various different genres, Schenker chose this book as Ruta Sepetys is one of her favorite writers. The summer reading assignment allowed her to explore more of Sepetys’ work. (Photo/Elizabeth Schenker)
