Read this summer with your child

I love reading the bulletin boards lining the halls of my school each fall. "What I did on my summer vacation," tops each board as teachers creatively display the writings of their new students' summer experiences with pictures of flowers, cutouts of animals and autumn leaves.

A student's first attempt at writing after a three-month break from the rigor of academics, displays the creativity and hard work of students who read, write and have an enriched academic environment during the summer. Also on display is the work of students who take the summer off academically, struggling writers and students who have learning deficits in reading and writing.

Sadly, 60 percent of primary students find this task a challenge, 20 percent struggle significantly writing about their summer experiences and 2-5 percent of children find the task impossible. The good news; at the end of the school year, 85-98 percent of all school children will be able to read grade level text independently with proper instruction.

I took an academic break every summer of my youth. I rode my bike around town, played baseball, swam at the pool and basically lived the leisurely life of a 7-year-old. I suffered for my scholastic laziness.

I remember being asked to put my name on the upper right corner of a worksheet by my teacher on the first day of second grade. I could not remember how to spell my last name - embarrassing! Remembering my academic struggles as a child, I made myself a promise to ensure my child and grandchildren embrace learning throughout their summer.

When a child does not have the baseline knowledge required to be successful in school or loses the information during the summer due to lack of exposure the child suffers - not just for the upcoming school year, but for the rest of his or her life.

When a child enters kindergarten, first or second grade deficient in the skills necessary to read at grade-level, the child begins the year behind other children and must have remediation to catch up. If the child is not offered the necessary accommodations, the child falls further behind and catching up becomes difficult or impossible. This becomes a huge problem as a child progresses through each grade and creates a greater divide every year.

Students who learn to read early continue to improve in reading or get academically richer and students who do not learn to read early become poorer academically or become increasingly distant from the academically rich in reading ability. How can a parent prevent this from happening? Reading, writing, reciting the alphabet and exploring the world with one's child are important skills required to keep a child prepared for school during the summer months.

As Thomas Edison stated, "Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration." Accordingly, a 'genius' is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework." I strongly urge parents to immerse your children in language during the summer - help your child do her or his homework. Read daily with your children, teach your child how the world works and become an academic explorer with your child. Help your child reach her or his full academic potential this summer. Your child's future depends on it.

Send comments or other suggestions to Bill Rutherford at bprutherford@hotmail.com.