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Summer Reading

Jr. Kinder & Kindergarten

READING

Summer is the ideal season for relaxation and reading! The aim of LCA's summer reading program for Early Education students is to foster enjoyment in listening to and engaging with books and stories. Regularly reading with your child is strongly encouraged, as it promotes various aspects of reading and writing development, while also nurturing a love for reading and exploring God’s Word. Here are some tips on how you can achieve that:

  • Read 10 minutes a day or at least one book to your child, if possible. 
    • When you read, use expressions in your voice to help model fluent reading and expression for your child.
    • Stop and ask your child questions while reading about the story and the pictures on the page to help encourage reading comprehension.
    • Find a comfortable, cozy place to read and encourage your child to sit down while you read together. This will help your child practice sitting to listen for short periods, which can improve focus and concentration.

Here are some great book recommendations you can read with your child this summer:

CHILDREN’S BIBLE – If you’re looking for one that is age-appropriate for your child, this Children’s Bible is a great option!

CLASSIC PICTURE BOOKS

  • Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown
  • The Runaway Bunny, Margaret Wise Brown
  • Mr. Grumpy's Outing, John Burningham
  • The Little House, Virginia Lee Burton
  • Corduroy, Pocket for Corduroy, Don Fleming
  • Mike Mulligan & His Steam Shovel, Don Fleming
  • Goodnight Gorilla, Peggy Rathman
  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin Jr.
  • Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
  • The Napping House, Audrey Wood
  • The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams
  • The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats
  • Mooncake, Frank Asch
  • Madeline, Ludwig Bemelmans
  • Freight Train, Donald Crews 

CONTEMPORARY PICTURE BOOKS

  • Clifford (any in the series), Norman Birdwell
  • Olivia, lan Falconer
  • Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Doreen Cronin
  • If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura Numeroff
  • Fancy Nancy, Jane O'Connor
  • How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? Jane Yolen
  • Owl Babies, Martin Waddell
  • Harold and the Purple Crayons, Crockett Johnson 

BELOVED AUTHORS AND SERIES

  • Eric Carle
  • P.E. Eastman
  • Dr. Seuss
  • Kevin Henkes
  • Mo Willems
  • David Shannon
  • Eza Jack Keats
  • Jan Brett

*This list is simply a starting point and by no means comprehensive.

Purchase your books at amazonsmile.com to donate a portion of your purchase to LCA.

MATH

Math in the summer is about seeing math in everyday life and throughout God’s creation! Here are a few things you can do with your child over the summer to encourage math and pattern recognition, in order to prepare them for a great school year:

Counting and Early Number Sense: Practice counting collections of objects up to 10 (or higher)

  • Take small opportunities to sort objects by color or shape and count how many are in each group. 
  • You can explore addition and subtraction with your child by using everyday objects like toys or snacks. For addition, gather a few items and count them together, then add more and count again. For subtraction, start with a larger group and remove some, asking your child how many are left. Keep it playful and interactive to make learning enjoyable!

Number Recognition: Point out numbers and help your child become familiar with them as you see them in the world. 

Patterns:  Help your child recognize basic patterns. 

  • You can engage your child in pattern recognition by using colorful objects like blocks or stickers. Create simple patterns together, such as red-blue-red-blue, and encourage your child to continue the sequence. You can also find patterns in everyday routines, like morning rituals or mealtime sequences. Point out patterns in nature or in storybooks to reinforce this skill in a fun and interactive way!