How often do you find yourself enjoying a book? Summer break is theoretically a time for freedom from academics. Yet the summer reading program, despite being academic, bolsters that sense of freedom and relaxation.
While some believe that requiring students to read over the summer defeats the purpose of summer break, summer reading is great as students have the freedom to pick a book they’re interested in, and reading is highly beneficial.
Students need freedom from a school environment and time to relax during the summer, and having a required book to read could negatively impact that. There are many schools in our region in which the educators pick the book students are required to read, failing to offer them much potential to enjoy a book they prefer to read. For example, at AIM Academy, where Haley Hellmann worked as a teacher prior to Abington Friends, she chose one book that every student had to read over the summer.
Refusing the option of choice from students potentially prevents a student from enjoying their book at all. Furthermore, it also often makes a student much less inclined to even read the book, regardless of their level of interest.
Students at AFS are lucky to enjoy the freedom of choice. With the summer reading system at our school, students can simply advocate for a book they would like to read and add it to the list of book options for the summer. Last summer, I wanted to read I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jeannette McCurdy.
I ended up leading a summer reading group for that memoir, and I got to enjoy my summer, reading a book I was interested in. This was refreshing compared to my old school, where I had to look at a list of five books chosen by teachers and struggle to land on something I was remotely intrigued by. The summer reading program at AFS allows me to relish my time off school while reading a book I, my friend, or a peer picked.
Not only is the summer reading program at AFS especially choice-driven but reading itself is highly beneficial in terms of teenagers’ mental health and performance in school. The action of reading can relax your body as it lowers your heart rate and eases muscle tension. A study at the University of Sussex in 2009 “found that reading can reduce stress by up to 68%.” (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
The incentive behind the concept of summer reading is “learning loss,” which occurs over the summer when a student is out of an academic environment for so long. Even during the school year, when a student is constantly in an academic environment, reading is beneficial. It improves vocabulary, growth of knowledge, and furthers understanding of ideas.
Summer reading is a controversial topic, and it shouldn’t be. Although lacking choice can limit students’ willingness and enjoyment of reading, AFS offers students the freedom to pick a book they actually would like to read. Summer reading overall allows students to enjoy their summer break, while simultaneously improving their capacity for understanding, mental health, ability to maintain focus, and knowledge of the world around them.
Christine • May 13, 2024 at 1:15 pm
I agree with this article to an extent. I remember the summer before freshman year, I chose to read The Maze Runner but I was completely unmotivated to read it and forgot until the last few weeks of summer reading. I knew I would not be motivated enough to finish the book in time for school so I decided not to read it. I was interested in the book but I was not motivated at all. The summer before 10th grade though, I chose to read I’m Glad My Mom Died because I found out it was written by a former Nickelodeon actress and that is what motivated me to finish the book. I wanted to know more and more as I kept reading. I really do think that summer reading is helpful in a lot of ways especially since we are not in school for 3 months and it’s a good way to wind down and take a break from screens. I have read my summer books 2 out of the 3 years I have been at AFS and I enjoy the freedom AFS gives to students to choose what book they want to engage over the summer.
Liam Hilliard • May 13, 2024 at 1:14 pm
I agree with this article in that summer reading as AFS presents it is probably one of the best ways to go about it, and that summer reading programs as a whole are a net positive when done right. So long as you don’t have any particularly pressing plans for summer break, what’s stopping you from reading a book of your choosing for some of that time? There’s little else for many to do over the summer anyways; it of course depends on the person, but for many a book is a great use of one’s time that otherwise wouldn’t really be spent on anything of substance. It can be irritating at first to have to pick a book from a list, but if you pick the right book it can be incredibly fulfilling to read. Stories are a powerful thing, and getting the chance to experience one you may not have caught wind of otherwise is an undoubtedly good thing, whether you realize it at first or not. Summer reading is an often-enjoyable and quite enriching way to prevent “learning loss” and bolster one’s critical thinking, vocabulary, and the like. I know I’ve certainly read summer reading books that did all of the former and truly left me feeling as though my summer was better than it would’ve been without it. It’s bothersome to be forced to read a book in the summer at first, but I’ve found that as I’ve gotten into stories they’ve become more enjoyable, and I really have taken a lot away from summer reading books wherein I’ve had this sort of choice.
will M • May 13, 2024 at 12:54 pm
do not agree with the Article because you have many things to do, its the summer time, its time to unwind and books are for schools especially summer reading , I believe it takes too much time to do because many kids forget to do the reading. I have freshman year because I thought it was for a grade just to find out it wasn’t to I decided not to continue to do the summer readings.
piper • May 13, 2024 at 10:53 am
I agree that summer reading is beneficial to high school students. The approach AFS takes allows for students to pick which book best fits them and their schedule. Reading a three hundred page book takes around seven hours on average. Which, over the course of the summer, is really not that much time. Summer has shifted a lot from previous years, it’s now full of jobs, sports, or internships. Taking moments to read can give you a break from this busy time and check in with yourself. By forcing yourself to read, even if you don’t enjoy it, you are building mental strength and growing as a student across all disciplines.
Remy Alper • May 8, 2024 at 5:34 pm
Why summer reading is beneficial-
I agree with this perspective because I think when most people hear “summer reading” its the worst thing to ever exist. At AFS, summer reading really isn’t that bad in HS because were able to pick a book from many different options that students chose. I really like the fact that we have such a nice choice of options to pick from so that theres something for everyone. Last year, I also read “Im Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette Mcurdy and it wasnt one of my favorite books but I thought that it was pretty good. Over my years at AFS I have always engaged and always read all the summer reading books such as Coyote Sunrise, rising troublemaker, and many others. Some of them have been ok and some have been really good but I always read them either way since we get to pick one were interested in.
Derek • May 8, 2024 at 7:48 am
I agree with the perspective in the article that summer reading programs, when executed with student choice at the forefront, can enhance the enjoyment and benefits of reading during the summer break. At other schools I’ve attended, summer reading was often a mixed experience. Without the option to choose books, it sometimes felt more like an extension of schoolwork rather than an enjoyable, self-directed activity. To add on to this, I wasn’t avid to read anything at all in the first place. This method not only makes reading more appealing but can also contribute to the personal growth and academic retention over the summer.
Rayan • May 8, 2024 at 7:43 am
I do agree with the perspective in this article, letting students choose their book I think can make it more enjoyable. Schools like AFS that let students read what they want to are probably more beneficial because you will like reading it. Reading is also good for your brain, helps your vocabulary, and makes you a better thinker. you would also give your brain a workout and be ready for reading when school starts again. reading a summer reading book that you would want to read would also help you understand more about the book because you would enjoy reading it far more than assigned books. reading summer breading books would also let you invest in your growth and make your vocabulary more diverse. Haveing summer reading would also be a great time to choose what you read about and explore many ideas on what to read, you can get into mystery books, non fiction books, fiction books and more.
Avila widestrom • May 8, 2024 at 7:40 am
I have never enjoyed the action of reading. This is the main reason I chose this article, in general, because it was one of the shortest. Throughout my school life, I have only attended AFS, and most years, they assign some book and then say they will have some Workshop or class discussing it throughout the year, but they never do. Because of this, I feel less and less inclined to be the summer reading book each year. Last year, I read I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, and though it was a well-written book, I listened to it, and by the middle of the summer, I had forgotten the entirety of the book by the time school started. I do understand that reading is perfect for you for many reasons. I also find the action very unpleasant, and considering that I’ll forget it in a month, I find it entirely pointless.
Leila Wang • May 8, 2024 at 7:40 am
Even though some people think that summer reading is a waste of time and destroys summer break, I agree with this article because how summer reading is set up at AFS, it gives people a choice of what book they want to read way more than other schools. With that choice comes people not dreading having to read a book over the summer and allows people to get the most out of their education while also helping the teacher when students come back because the students have read something then it means that they retained way more than they would have if they did not read anything at all. My experience with summer reading at AFS has been nice because me being able to choose the book I want to read means that I do not just skim through it and I take the time to read the book. In conclusion, I think that summer reading at AFS is very useful.
Dillan Shafer • May 8, 2024 at 7:31 am
I agree with the perspective in this article that summer reading is beneficial to teenagers. Summer reading keeps our brains engaged over the break from regular academic work. Additionally, reading can be enjoyable, especially when you can pick from a long list of books and decide which one interests you most. This was my first year at AFS, so I’ve only done summer reading here once, but I was a big fan of how it was run. It feels less like work to read a book you are genuinely interested in. Also, the discussion groups that we students engaged in when we came back to school were a fun way to reflect on our reading with our peers. Another asset of our summer reading program is that the books on the list are decided on by the students themselves. Overall, I think the AFS summer reading program – and summer reading in general – are very advantageous for students.
Ethan Farma • May 6, 2024 at 7:52 am
Summer reading is beneficial to student’s minds as it creates an opportunity for students to keep learning over the summer. Often students just chill out in the summer letting their brains chill out, making it harder to start school the next year. Summer reading can help with this because it keeps the student’s brains active throughout the summer, having to read a book and understand it to have a conversation at the start of the next year. It is good to read books in general as it improves yourself intellectually. I think that it is also a good way to learn more things about yourself and what type of things you are interested in, while also learning new vocab. Reading can also bring people together if it is a book that multiple people enjoy, as many people can talk about that singular book together since people would like to express their opinions about that book. All of these reasons can explain why summer reading is beneficial to students and staff.
Lori Lei • May 6, 2024 at 7:52 am
I also have the same perspective as displayed in this article. I think that reading through independently chosen books can actually be a fun activity. Unfortunately, I personally find it difficult to truly dedicate myself to reading books for fun due to other activities I am simultaneously involved in. For the last eight years that I can remember, I have been given the opportunity each year to read a book I actually want to read over the summer. The book I read most recently actually allowed me to see the word in a new cultural perspective. Coincidentally, I also read three other books by choice through my English curriculum. Like the author said, I think this unique aspect of reading at AFS makes students have a new outlook on reading as a whole. I find it very easy to find others at AFS who read for enjoyment. It also is a very good conversation starter when talking with friends.
Zamir • May 6, 2024 at 7:48 am
“While some believe that requiring students to read over the summer defeats the purpose of summer break, summer reading is great as students have the freedom to pick a book they’re interested in, and reading is highly beneficial.” I took this from the passage and I realized I used to be one of those people who thought summer reading was useless and just defeats the purpose of summer break. I now believe that summer reading is a great way to keep a student’s mind intact with school and another way to enjoy themselves without being on their phones. Reading can also make the student learn something about themselves that they never knew before about themselves. I also think summer reading is a great way to keep the children’s mind on books and education. The reason I bring this up is because when summer starts kids believe that they don’t have to learn anything else till they come back to school.
Nico • May 6, 2024 at 7:38 am
In my time at AFS, I have mostly enjoyed the summer reading program because I enjoy reading. Reading is exceptionally beneficial; it helps improve your memory, and your vocabulary, reading also helps lower stress and improve sleep.
This past summer I led a reading group on the book Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin. This book is about a video game designer in the 90s. At a young age, the main character Sam, lost his only parent, his mom, in a car crash which left him disabled. This book follows his life and two of his friends’ lives as they navigate college, the up-and-coming internet, and eventual fame.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Despite being over 500 pages long, the whole story was quite entertaining with a strong finish. Even though this book reading was over the supposedly “academic free” summer, it seldom felt like a chore to pick up the book and read a few pages. I typically spent my time reading Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow right before bed. The story helped cleanse my mind of any stress or worry and dive into a new world, free of the stressors and pain of this one. This activity of reading before is something I would recommend to all of my peers.
Noah Y • May 6, 2024 at 7:31 am
I disagree with the perspective of this article for multiple reasons. First off while AFS’ summer reading program is in theory student choice driven, it still limits the options of books to read down to one book from each genre, while AFS does expand student choice it does not allow students full freedom to choose what they want to read over the course of the summer as the article implies. Secondly I can count on 1 hand the number of people who I know outside of the discussion leaders who had actually read the book that they picked for summer reading. I am also guilty of this at the same time I did read other books that were not mentioned to the summer reading committee which reveals the fatal flaw of AFS’ approach to summer reading. It is trying to appease everyone while still cutting down the options. Everyone has different tastes in books so trying to have everyone fit into neat molds of you like x genre so you get to read y book does not work. This is all assuming you get your first choice of book, if you do not you might get a book you hate.