Cobb schools create reading website to prevent “summer slide”

(Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)

Credit: Allen Eyestone

Credit: Allen Eyestone

(Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)

Cobb County educators have launched a new summer reading website for families aimed at keeping students academically engaged until the start of school in August.

Reading prevents so-called “summer slide” and helps maintain learning gains made throughout the year, and Cobb media specialists say they wanted to make continued reading as easy as possible for families.

The media specialists analyzed data from last year's summer reading program and "brainstormed ways to improve the experience for both students and parents. The website was born as a 'one-stop shopping' for the many resources available to keep kids reading," according to Cobb schools.

The Cobb Summer Reading website highlights include:

• Links to the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge where students log minutes

• Information and FAQ for parents in English and Spanish

• Suggested reading lists and links to award-winning book lists

• Links to reading resources, including the free digital reading program for Georgia through MyON

• Links to Cobb Digital Library, which includes age-appropriate, high-quality learning content for students

• Information about the importance of summer reading and suggestions about how to make it a habit