According to Stefanie Graham, a third grade teacher at Elmer Avenue Elementary School in Schenectady, younger students frequently slip one to three reading levels over summer vacation.

“That equates to about three to six months of school time,” said Graham. “Children fall behind because many don’t read every day.”

Another problem, even for frequent readers, is that they don’t understand what they’ve just read.

“A lot of times students will be reading at grade level accurately, but can’t retell anything they’ve just read,” said Graham. 

The video below has some tips for parents on how to have a “comprehension conversation” with their children, which will encourage them to use the reading strategies they’ve learned in school and maintain or even strengthen their skills during the summer break.