Boosting Teen Literacy Over the Summer: A Guide for Families.

By Maggie O’Shea

Summer often brings a well-deserved break from the classroom, but without regular opportunities to read and write, teens can lose ground, especially in literacy.

This phenomenon, known as summer learning loss, can affect reading fluency, comprehension, and motivation once the school year begins again.

Fortunately, keeping teens connected to reading and writing over the summer doesn’t have to be complicated or feel like schoolwork. With a bit of creativity, families can use tools teens already love, like podcasts, apps, social media, and digital storytelling to keep literacy skills strong.

1. Reading Looks Different Today (and That’s a Good Thing)

When we think of reading, we might picture traditional novels. But today’s teens read across many formats, including online articles, video captions, interactive graphics, blogs, and even fan-fiction.

These formats are part of how teens consume and create meaning every day. When reading is relatable, engagement grows (Li, Snow, & White, 2015).

Try this:

• Encourage your teen to read something daily that they choose, such as a comic, biography, blog post, or podcast transcript.

• Invite them to share what they learned at dinner or in the car.

  
  

2. Writing Doesn’t Have to Be Formal

Summer is perfect for exploring informal, creative writing, personal journals, YouTube scripts, song lyrics, or short stories.

Authentic writing tasks help teens connect to literacy and express ideas clearly (Kosanovich, Reed, & Miller, 2010).

Try this:

• Start a summer blog, digital scrapbook, or “day in the life” journal.

• Use Canva or Google Docs to add images, quotes, or voice recordings.

  
  

3. Make Reading and Writing Social

Teens engage more when literacy is shared through book clubs, texting about what they’re reading, or posting reviews.

Family involvement makes literacy meaningful and fun (Elish-Piper, 2024).

Try this:

• Pick a book or podcast to enjoy as a family.

• Set aside one night a week to discuss it over snacks, during a walk, or even on a road trip.

  
  

4. Technology Can Be a Literacy Tool

Screens can support literacy if used well. Digital tools can boost vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking.

Digital literacy also builds 21st-century skills (Yilmaz, Yilmaz Özelçi, & Çelebi, 2025).

Try this:

• Explore news apps, vocabulary games, or writing challenge websites together.

• Ask your teen to reflect on what they read or learned briefly.

  
  

5. Build a Lifelong Reading Identity

Help your teen see themselves as a reader. Choice and ownership make reading more enjoyable and sustainable.

When teens connect to what they’re reading, the experience is more powerful (Hakemulder & Mangen, 2024).

Try this:

• Let your teen design a summer reading challenge based on topics they love.

• Track progress and celebrate wins, big or small.

  
  

Supporting All Learners: Differentiation Matters

Teens with Learning Differences

• Use audiobooks and text-to-speech apps.

• Break tasks into smaller steps; use visuals or graphic organizers.

• Allow typing, dictation, or drawing instead of handwriting.

English Language Learners

• Use bilingual books or translations.

• Pair new vocabulary with images, videos, or objects.

• Practice speaking by summarizing aloud or recording short videos.

Gifted and Advanced Students

• Encourage independent research or multimedia presentations.

• Introduce critical analysis or author studies.

• Invite them to mentor younger readers or lead discussions.

Differentiated strategies ensure all teens can grow, no matter their learning style (Pitcock, 2018).

Summer is a time for teens to explore stories, ideas, and self-expression in ways that feel fresh and personal. When families make space for reading and writing in daily life, skills stay strong and the experiences become part of the season’s best memories.

References

Elish-Piper, L. (2024). Summer ideas to promote family engagement in literacy education. Illinois Reading Council Journal, 52(3), 46–49. https://doi.org/10.33600/IRCJ.52.3.2024.46

Hakemulder, F., & Mangen, A. (2024). Literary reading on paper and screens: Associations between reading habits and preferences and experiencing meaningfulness. Reading Research Quarterly, 59(1), 57–78. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.527

Kosanovich, M. L., Reed, D. K., & Miller, D. H. (2010). Bringing literacy strategies into content instruction: Professional learning for secondary-level teachers. Center on Instruction.

Li, J., Snow, C., & White, C. (2015). Teen culture, technology and literacy instruction: Urban adolescent students’ perspectives. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 41(3).

Pitcock, S. (2018). The case for summer learning: Why supporting students and families all year is vitally important. American Educator, 42(1), 4–39.

Yilmaz, F., Yilmaz Özelçi, S., & Çelebi, C. (2025). The mediating role of digital literacy between lifelong learning tendency and 21st century skills. Participatory Educational Research, 12(1), 138–156. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.25.8.12.1