Making the Most of Required Summer Reading

Jul 6

Summer is finally here, which for most students means spending days by the pool, going on hikes, hanging out with friends, and maybe taking a drive out to the coast. For many students, it also means the beginning of something potentially anxiety-inducing and demanding: summer reading. Back in the good old days of elementary and middle school, summer reading meant spending a lot of time with Captain Underpants or Diary of a Wimpy Kid. You might still be logging some hours with those classics as a high school student, but you probably have some other classics on your plate now, too (Jane Eyre, anybody?). Not to worry! Summer reading is definitely not something you should dread.

Summer is a great time to relax, learn a new skill, or visit a new part of the world, and the goal of summer reading is not to stop you from doing those things! While it might seem like a chore, most teachers assign summer reading not because they want you cooped up inside all day, but because they are excited to have students that are ready to hit the ground running by the time the semester begins. You’ve probably heard that reading improves your vocabulary, focus, and analytical thinking skills––which are important for high school academics and beyond.

What you may not have heard, though, is that summer reading presents an opportunity to improve some less tangible qualities within yourself. Summer reading, when approached correctly, offers the opportunity to escape into a new world or time period, carve out moments for yourself, and maintain a routine in a relatively stress-free environment. Here’s some tips for getting the most out of your summer reading on a personal (and academic) level:

Read in a place you enjoy. There’s no reason to do all of your reading in the basement or at your desk––it’s summer, after all! You should try to pick a spot that is quiet enough for you to maintain focus and beautiful enough for it to feel like a treat. Some of our favorites include: sitting against a Dogwood tree, lounging on the bank of a stream, or lying on a blanket in the backyard.
Create a schedule and stick to it. Summer should be a carefree season, and there’s nothing more stressful than realizing you haven’t given yourself enough time to complete your assigned reading. Creating a schedule early on and sticking to it allows you to complete the reading and remain as relaxed as possible.
A little every day goes a long way. Don’t make a plan that has you reading 100 pages a day for the last week of summer. Instead, plan to read a pleasurable amount over a longer period of time. Try to keep it to 45 minutes or less. Remember, your goal, in addition to completing the reading, is creating space for you to enjoy yourself!
Keep a vocabulary journal. It doesn’t have to be a full on “Dear Diary,” but keep track of the words you don’t know and their definitions as you read.
Read with a pen in your hand. You should be engaging with the text, not vegging out to it like a Netflix show. Reading with a pen in your hand allows you to circle important ideas, underline parts that stand out to you, or write your reactions in the margins. It helps if the pen is a fun color (think turquoise or hot pink).
Have fun! Summer reading should be about investing in yourself and your personal growth, but that will be impeded if you’re anxious about finishing the reading or missing out on time with your friends and family. If you schedule small, enjoyable blocks of reading time in your favorite quiet place with your favorite pen in hand, it becomes a whole lot easier for you to generate a state of play and ease. Ultimately, that’s what learning and growth are all about.

If you’d like the support of an academic mentor to guide you through your summer reading list, please reach out to our team. We’d love to hear more about your goals and see how we can help you strengthen your literary analysis and writing skills.

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