Summer reading important activity
Alan Robbins / For the Hungry Horse News
The spring is always a busy and exciting time in high school. It is this time of the year that we say farewell to the graduating seniors and wish them nothing but the best for their future. This is the rewarding time of year as an educator. We get to see our top academic students recognized for the years of hard work and recognition of all that they have learned. We watch those that needed the extra bit of support follow through with their final assignments and come to the realization that they made it and earned their diploma. We have a wonderful opportunity, every day, to touch the lives of young people, to provide the words of encouragement, to challenge their thoughts, and to see them grow as young adults. It truly is a privilege to be able to come to work each day and be part of Columbia Falls High School. Thank you for entrusting us to educate your children.
This has been a successful year at CFHS and special thanks go to all of the dedicated faculty members. To our teachers for the countless hours that they spend working with students, developing new lessons, and demonstrating care for each one of their students. To our support staff for always being there to assist students, to make sure our facility is in top shape, and doing all of the little things behind the scenes to keep the school running smoothly. The graduating seniors are ready and prepared to take on the next of life's challenges and our returning students have been prepared for the next level of their education. As Mr. Wick outlined in his previous column, learning should not stop at the end of the school year and it is advantageous for student to engage their mind in learning opportunities throughout the summer. This is equally as important for students in high school, especially when it comes to reading.
Summer reading is important for students and we encourage them to spend time each day reading a book, magazine, or other material. A goal of the English department is to emphasize with students the value of reading in developing background vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and communications skills. Regular summer reading helps students to achieve these goals and they will find the transition back into the learning mode easier in the fall. The high school has developed summer reading requirements for students enrolled in the AP English classes. Through the summer reading requirements, students in Advance Placement English classes will be exposed to some of the required material in the AP program and associated writing requirements. Summer reading will help underclassmen to expand their vocabulary and reading comprehension which will help in improving their scores on the ACT or SAT tests. An improvement of even a few points on the exams can mean a significant difference in scholarship offerings.
If you have a reluctant reader then I would suggest that you work with them to find a book or other reading material that is of interest to them. Even 15 minutes of reading per day has been shown to have a positive impact on student learning and vocabulary development. As you enter into the summer season, I hope you find rest, relaxation and a good book to stimulate your mind. As stated in a quote by Joseph Addison, 'reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." I hope all students have a great summer break.
Alan Robbins is the principal of Columbia Falls High School.