Summer is a time for kids to relax, explore, and enjoy a well-deserved break from school. While that downtime is important, many parents and teachers wonder what happens to reading skills over the long summer vacation.

The good news is that not every child experiences significant learning loss. Research from NWEA suggests that summer learning varies widely among students. Some maintain or even continue to grow their reading skills, while others may need a little extra support when school begins again. Rather than worrying about "losing everything," it's more helpful to focus on rebuilding strong reading habits during those first few weeks of school.

Whether you're a parent looking for simple ways to support your child or a teacher preparing for a new school year, knowing which reading skills to watch can make all the difference.

1. Phonemic Awareness

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words. Although this skill develops before children become readers, it continues to support successful decoding throughout the primary grades.

Teachers often begin the school year by checking whether students can:

• Blend sounds into words
• Segment words into individual sounds
• Identify beginning, middle, and ending sounds
• Add, delete, or substitute sounds

What parents can do:

You don't need flashcards or worksheets to practice phonemic awareness. Play simple word games while driving, cooking, or taking a walk. Ask questions like:

• "What word do you get if you change the /m/ in mat to /s/?"
• "Can you clap the sounds in fish?"
• "What word rhymes with cake?"

These playful conversations build important listening skills that support future reading success.

2. Decoding and Phonics

One of the first things teachers assess is whether students can still apply phonics skills to read unfamiliar words. Strong readers rely on letter-sound relationships rather than guessing.

During the first weeks of school, teachers look for students who can confidently read words with:

• Short vowels
• Digraphs and blends
• Long vowel patterns
• Multisyllabic words (for older students)

What parents can do:

If your child is still learning to read, spend five to ten minutes a few times each week reading decodable books together. Encourage them to sound out unfamiliar words instead of guessing from the pictures. Consistent, short practice is often more effective than occasional long sessions.

3. High-Frequency Words

Automatic recognition of high-frequency words allows children to focus on understanding what they read rather than stopping to decode every word.

When students struggle to recognize these words quickly, reading becomes slow and effortful.

What parents can do:

Review high-frequency words during everyday routines. Write a few words on sticky notes around the house, play memory games, or see how many words your child can recognize while reading together. Keep the activities light and encouraging rather than turning them into a test.

4. Reading Fluency

Reading fluency is more than reading quickly. Fluent readers read accurately, smoothly, and with expression.

Teachers often listen to students read aloud to determine whether they:

• Read accurately
• Maintain an appropriate pace
• Use expression that matches the text

Students who struggle with fluency may have difficulty understanding what they read because so much energy is spent decoding individual words.

What parents can do:

Reading together is one of the best ways to improve fluency. Take turns reading pages aloud, reread favorite books, or let your child practice reading a short passage several times. Hearing fluent reading modeled by an adult helps children develop confidence and expression.

5. Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension

Vocabulary and comprehension continue to grow through meaningful conversations and exposure to rich language.

Some students return to school able to decode well but struggle to explain what they've read. Others understand stories read aloud but need additional support decoding the words on the page.

Teachers quickly gather this information through read-aloud discussions, writing activities, and simple comprehension questions.

What parents can do:

One of the easiest ways to build vocabulary is simply by talking together.

As you cook dinner, visit the park, grocery shop, or explore a museum, introduce new words and explain what they mean. Ask open-ended questions such as:

• "What was your favorite part?"
• "Why do you think that happened?"
• "What do you think will happen next?"

These conversations strengthen language skills that directly support reading comprehension.

Reading Happens Beyond Books

Many families think reading practice only counts if a child is sitting with a chapter book. In reality, children build literacy skills in countless everyday situations.

Encourage your child to:

• Read recipes while cooking
• Follow game directions
• Read menus at restaurants
• Help write grocery lists
• Keep a simple summer journal
• Read signs while traveling
• Write postcards or letters to family members

These authentic experiences help children understand that reading is a valuable life skill—not just something they do at school.

The Goal Isn't Perfection—It's Consistency

As teachers, we know the first few weeks of school are an opportunity to reconnect students with the reading skills they've already learned. Through quick assessments and targeted instruction, we can identify areas that need review and provide the support each child needs.

As parents, remember that you don't need to recreate school at home. A few minutes of reading, talking, writing, and playing with language each day can make a meaningful difference.

Most importantly, help your child discover that reading is enjoyable. When children associate books with curiosity, connection, and success, they're far more likely to continue growing as readers long after summer ends.

Chat Soon-

References

Kuhfeld, M. (2019). Rethinking Summer Slide: The More You Gain, the More You Lose. NWEA.

Kuhfeld, M., & McEachin, A. (2026). Summer Learning Loss: What We Know and What We're Learning. NWEA.

Beach, P., & Crump, H. (2026). Bridging the Summer Gap: A Scoping Review of the Literature on Summer Reading Programs. Reading Research Quarterly.