Summer Reading Strategies for Strugging Readers in Middle School

So who is reading what at your house this summer? 

Frankly, my reading stack is always high. But it seems like I always have some sort of goal during the summer. Last summer I read through one of my favorite mystery novelists books. In order.

I’m not sure what direction I am going this summer. I need some inspiration. I like themes, collections, etc. 

I tend to treat Josiah’s summer reading list the same way. He, himself, is a great fan of collections.

This year we have reached a whole new world. Josiah had to sign up for the Teen Summer Reading Program at the Library. 

What? 

I’m not ready for this Middle School stuff. 

I was just in Middle School myself. 

We are also in an awkward phase concerning all things reading. As you might know, Josiah is dyslexic. I do require him to do free reading on his own, but often the books that are at his level intellectual or interest wise are too difficult or overwhelming for him to manage. And the ones that are easily managed are too babyish in his opinion. 

There are a few different ways we have stepped into this whole new world. I say “stepped.” I’m going into Josiah’s teenage years kicking and screaming. He’s still my baby. 

 I still have a book I read aloud every day. I don’t want him to miss out on the good stuff. I want him to get shipwrecked on the island with Robinson Crusoe, paint a fence with Tom Sawyer and travel through Middle Earth. 

I will never tire of the classics. 

Something else I do is to pair an Audio Book with a print copy. Currently, Josiah is interested in reading Eragon. He found an old PS2 Eragon game at a Thrift Store and dug out our copy of the movie (which is hardly resembles the book in my opinion). I downloaded the book from Audible with some free credits I had. He will start with Eragon after Cousin Camp. 

I need to mention that we really enjoy the fantasy genre (like Eragon, etc.). I personally don’t have an issue with dragons and the like. In fact, I like them. I’ve never met one in person….But you know what I mean. 

I do make a habit of reading books before I introduce them to Josiah. I am pickier about certain attitudes and behaviors (character) than I am about dragons and magic. 

I don’t do sassy. And if the character is sassy there better be  consequences and redemption. 

Enough of that. I didn’t mean to go down that particular rabbit trail. Don’t get me started.

Another method I employ is for Josiah and I to take turns reading aloud. This takes a bit longer, but if I can chose a book that moves quickly and is broken up in manageable sections it is doable. Hatchet is a good book for boys. I have a few copies (it is easy to find) and the book isn’t a lengthy one.

Hatchet is about a boy who, after a plane crash, has to survive in the wilderness with only a hatchet his mother gave him. There is an adventure a minute. There also isn’t a lot of dialogue so the paragraphs are easily defined.

In the past year or so I have been assigning Josiah a book to read on his own. This was a big deal. I wanted to make sure that he was challenged, but not to the point that it was frustrating for him.  I found that he loves The Diary of the Wimpy Kid series. The text is easy for him to manage and he is always entertained.

I can't begin to tell you how much this has done for his confidence. Sure. He can't do marathon reading, but it does my heart good to see him stretched out on the couch with a book in his hand.

This method of reading is called High Interest /Low Reading Level. It means that you must find reading material that is at a reading level your struggling reader can manage yet the material in the book will appeal to an older child. 

This article discusses this idea a bit more (though I'm not sure there the term High/Low is used). There is also a helpful link to a booklist. 

This link has a good list of books with their reading level and what ages will find them interesting.

Now I'm off to find something to read. Suggestions anyone?

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