Why do summer reading newsletters often fail to reach ELL families?

Most summer reading newsletters assume families have access to English-language books, can read with their child in English, and know how the public library works. ELL families who do not have books in English at home, who are not comfortable reading in English, or who have never used the local library are excluded by newsletters that do not address these gaps.

What should a summer reading newsletter for ELL families include?

Include: books available in the family's home language, how to get a library card (with a note that it does not require proof of citizenship), specific library branches with multilingual collections, free summer reading programs at local libraries, audiobook and digital resources available in multiple languages, and a clear statement that reading in any language counts as summer reading.

How should ELL teachers address the summer slide in newsletters to multilingual families?

Explain the summer slide in plain terms: students who do not read during summer lose some of what they learned during the year, and ELL students are particularly affected because they lose English exposure along with academic vocabulary. Then immediately follow that with concrete, accessible ways to prevent it that work in any language, including the home language.

What should ELL teachers tell families about reading in the home language over summer?

Tell families directly that reading in the home language over summer is valuable and supports English literacy. A child who reads in Spanish over the summer develops reading skills that transfer directly to English reading in the fall. Families should not feel that reading in their home language is a consolation prize. It is a genuine literacy investment.

Can Daystage help ELL teachers send personalized summer reading newsletters to families?

ELL teachers use Daystage to send their end-of-year summer reading newsletter with targeted resource sections for different home language groups, so Spanish-speaking families receive Spanish library resources and Somali-speaking families receive resources relevant to their community.

Summer Reading Newsletter for ELL Families

The summer reading newsletter is one of the last communications ELL teachers send before the school year ends, and it is one of the most consequential. ELL students who do not maintain language exposure over summer lose ground in English that can take months to recover in fall. The newsletter cannot prevent all of that. But it can connect families to resources that make summer reading realistic for their household.

Lead With Any Language Counts

Many ELL families assume summer reading means English reading. It does not. Begin your newsletter with this statement directly. "Reading over summer in any language, your home language, English, or both, builds the reading habit and literacy skills that carry over into the school year. Your child does not need to read in English to benefit from summer reading."

That sentence alone changes how ELL families approach the newsletter. Instead of reading the rest as a list of things they cannot do, they read it as a list of options that includes them.

Name the Library and Explain How to Use It

Public libraries are one of the most valuable and underused resources for ELL families. Many families do not know that library cards are free, that most libraries do not require proof of citizenship or legal status for a card, and that most library collections include books in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other major community languages.

"The [Name] Public Library offers free library cards to all residents. To get a card, bring your name and your home address. You do not need to show a social security number or immigration documents. With a library card, your child can borrow books, audiobooks, and e-books in many languages for free."

For families who have hesitated to use the library because they were uncertain about the documentation requirement, that sentence opens a resource they have been avoiding.

List Multilingual Book Resources Specifically

Give families a short list of resources for books in their home language. This can include: the local library's multilingual collection (and whether it includes their language), Libby or OverDrive for digital library books, Duolingo Stories for language learning through reading, Epic for bilingual children's books, and the World Language section of local bookstores.

Include links where possible. A resource with a URL or QR code is more accessible than one a family has to search for on their own. If the newsletter will be printed, include the QR codes and the written URLs so both formats work.

Explain the Summer Reading Program

If your school or district has a summer reading program, explain it the way you would to a family who has never heard of one. "Our school has a summer reading challenge. Students who read [number] books or [number] minutes over summer receive [reward] in the fall. Reading in any language counts. To participate, just keep track of what your child reads and bring the list back in September."

Remove every barrier you can from the tracking process. A simple paper log that can be filled in by hand, in any language, is more accessible than an online portal that requires a login.

Give Families Three Conversation Starters in Any Language

For families who do not have access to books in their home language, oral storytelling and conversation are legitimate literacy practices. Include three questions families can ask their child about anything they read, watch, or experience over the summer.

"Ask your child: What happened first? What happened at the end? Was there anything that surprised you? These questions work for books, movies, TV shows, and even stories from the day. Telling stories in any language is reading practice."

Families who leave for the summer knowing these three questions have a tool they can use every day without any materials, in any language, at any literacy level.

Summer Reading Newsletter for ELL Families: Making It Accessible