Summer reading is a daunting task for book lovers and timid readers alike. It is often put off until the last minute because of other activities, the school-wide read being very boring, and just "having better things to do". When summer reading is put off (or not done at all), it can put an unnecessary amount of stress on the tail end of summer vacation. Here are a couple strategies and tips for finishing your summer reading in a non stressful, easy, and swift manner. Also, this can help you ace that beginning of year quiz or essay on the novel.
Stretch It Out
The great thing about summer is that it is fairly long. If you don't like to read or have other things besides a book on recycling to read, you will not want to sit down and just crank the reading out. Frankly, you won't be able to. Also, this isn't healthy reading. You won't remember the small details your picky English teacher wants you to pick up on, and you won't enjoy it at all.
The approximate length of a normal summer vacation is 2.5 months or 10 weeks. Divide the number of pages in you book by 10, as this is will give the exact amount per week. If you have an average book of 350 pages, you read 35 pages per weeks. Let's say you read on Monday and Thursday nights. You only have to read 17 - 18 pages on each of those nights. Read once or twice a week to (1) not get tired of reading and (2) remember more details as you go along. This way you can finish the book by the end of the summer and have had more fun doing summer reading.
Don't be So Rigid
If you go into summer reading with the mindset that you have to read the entire book in the first week, you probably won't reach your goal nor will you enjoy the reading. Instead, come up with a fluid schedule (like in the suggestion above). The crucial factor about developing a schedule is that you stick to it. Instead of creating a schedule like: "I will read for 3 weeks, and on every single Monday I will read 55.5 pages" make one like: "I will stretch my reading out over four weeks. I will read 100 pages per week. I will pick 4 days this week to read 25 pages. If I feel like reading more on a particular day, I will."
Make Notes
Making notes, whether in a dedicated notebook or in the margins, can help with after-reading assignments and with the remembering of details. Jotting down notes can increase memory up to 70%. (Use blue pen, it's known to help you remember more.)
Summer Reading Mini Book Club
Get together with some people from your class and discuss the book. Not only will this make follow-up assignments easier but it will also keep you accountable for reading sections of the book before your routine meetings. Throwing all of your ideas into one large pot instead of just thinking by yourself is more forward thinking and efficient. It will also help you grow as a reader.
Please, try and have fun with summer reading. Make short-term goals for yourself and follow some of these suggestions. Read something out of your comfort zone. You don't have to be the best literature scholar the world has ever seen to dive into a book. I am living proof of that.
If you need suggestions, please comment. As always, happy reading!
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