Get a Head Start on Summer Reading Plans
Summer vacation is nearly here. When kids think of summer fun, trips to the pool, beach, or family vacations likely spring to mind. While some children may spend lazy summer days curled up with a book, for others summers away from school can lead to a backslide in academic progress. In fact, according to the Florida Department of Education, “Years of research confirm students lose vital reading and math skills, with some researchers estimating at least a month of learning loss, during each summer break. Prolonged breaks deteriorate student learning gains and widen the achievement gap among low-income students. The more students practice reading, math and critical-thinking skills during the summer months, the better prepared they will be to graduate high school ready for college and careers.”
Summer reading is more than just a seasonal activity. It’s a critical bridge that helps children maintain and grow their literacy skills while school is out. In fact, 31% of Miami-Dade third graders are reading below grade level, putting them at risk of falling behind long-term.
Across Miami, nonprofit organizations are stepping up to change that story — ensuring that every child has the tools, support, and inspiration to become a confident reader.
How You Can Support Summer Reading
Creating a culture of reading in Miami takes a community effort. Here’s how you can help:
Volunteer with local literacy programs and mentor a young reader
Donate books to organizations serving underserved neighborhoods
Support nonprofits working to close the literacy gap
Encourage daily reading at home—even 20 minutes makes a difference
Clear your shelves and make room for new books this summer by donating to Books For You Miami. Books for You Miami redistributes used or new books and educational material completely free to communities, schools, or organizations in need at the local, state, and international levels. Get your children involved by allowing them to choose books off of their shelves to donate.
Looking for a fun, bookish project to encourage kids to read? Try making bookmarks and including them with donated books! You can also share bookmarks with patients in a nearby hospital, residents of a local nursing home, or anyone who could use some cheer. All ages can participate in this project. Take it further by hosting a book drive in your neighborhood!
Find Books to Read at Home this Summer
Looking for a collection of books to read with your family this summer? Look no further than Doing Good Together’s curated collection of book lists. Doing Good Together’s book lists cover a range of topics, including kindness, social justice, diversity, empathy, and poverty.
A good book is a powerful tool to build compassion. Emerging research demonstrates it’s not that empathetic people are drawn to reading. Reading fiction actually trains the mind to think with more compassion. And by supporting reading in the community, as well as in your own home, you will be helping to raise the next generation to think critically and act with empathy.
Doing Good Together’s Miami Kindness Project content is FREE thanks to the generous support of the Al and Jane Nahmad Foundation.