What should a ELA teacher include in a parent newsletter?

A summer reading newsletter should include the reading list with synopses, whether reading is required or optional, what students need to do with the reading (project, written response, quiz), when any assignments are due in September, where to get books (library, purchase, digital), and what counts if a student reads additional books beyond the list.

How often should a ELA teacher send a newsletter?

Send the summer reading newsletter in the last two weeks of school so families have the list in hand before summer break begins. A follow-up reminder in late July or early August via email is useful for families who receive their school email through the summer.

How do I explain ELA curriculum to parents who weren't good at it?

For summer reading communication, focus on what students gain from reading over the summer rather than the curriculum rationale. 'Students who read over the summer lose significantly less of what they learned during the school year. The list is designed to be genuinely enjoyable so reading feels like a choice, not an assignment.'

What is the biggest mistake ELA teachers make in newsletters?

Not distinguishing clearly between required reading and optional reading. A vague 'students should read over the summer' creates confusion about what is actually expected in September. Be explicit: 'All students must read one book from List A. Reading from List B is optional but encouraged.'

What is the easiest tool for ELA teachers to send newsletters?

Daystage is used by subject teachers across grade levels to keep parents informed. You set up your class once, write your newsletter, and send. Parents receive it inline in Gmail and Outlook without clicking any links. Most teachers spend 15-20 minutes on their Daystage newsletter each month.

ELA Summer Reading Newsletter

The summer reading newsletter has one job: make sure students and families know exactly what is expected before school lets out, so September does not begin with half the class scrambling to read a book in the last week of August. Every piece of ambiguity in that newsletter becomes a panicked email in late August. Eliminate the ambiguity.

What parents actually want to know about summer reading

Parents want to know: does my child have to do this, what exactly is required, when is it due, where do we get the book, and what happens if they do not do it? Every one of those questions belongs in your newsletter. Do not make families search for the answers.

They also want to know whether the reading is a punishment or an invitation. The way you write about the books affects how families approach them. Enthusiasm is contagious in print. If you write about the books like they are something you are excited to discuss in September, students and parents respond differently than if you write about it like compliance.

What to include every month

The summer reading newsletter is a seasonal piece, not a monthly one. Send it in the last two weeks of school and follow up in late July. Include the complete reading list with enough description to help families choose wisely.

Summer reading newsletter content

The list. Name every book. For each required title, include a one-sentence description that sounds genuinely appealing. "The Giver by Lois Lowry: a compelling and unsettling story about a society that has eliminated pain and conflict, and one boy who discovers what has been lost." That description does more for reading motivation than a genre label.
Required versus recommended. Crystal clear distinction. "Students in grade 7 must read one of the three titles on List A. List B titles are optional but any student who reads from List B will receive extra credit on the September reading response."
What to do with the reading. Exactly what is expected in September: a one-page written response, a quiz, a class discussion? Give the assignment details now so students who need to take notes or do any written work while reading know before they start.
Where to get books. Public library (free), school library checkout (if available), used bookstore options, digital options through the library system. Give families multiple paths. Not every family can buy new books.
What happens if they do not read. Be honest. Is there a September assessment? A grade penalty? No official consequence but a class discussion they will not be prepared for? Parents and students need to know this to take the requirement seriously.
A note on reading choice. "If your child finds the required reading genuinely unenjoyable, contact me before the summer. I can sometimes make substitutions for students who have strong reasons."

How to write about summer reading so families actually do it

Motivation matters. The teacher's energy in a summer reading newsletter directly affects student compliance. Write about the books as if you genuinely cannot wait to discuss them: "I first read Esperanza Rising when I was about your age and I still think about it. I want to hear what you think of the ending."

For parents of reluctant readers, give practical guidance: "Start early, before the end-of-summer rush. Read aloud together if that makes it more enjoyable. Twenty minutes before bed is enough."

When to reach out beyond the newsletter

Students with IEPs that include reading accommodations need to know what accommodations apply to summer reading. Audiobooks, extended time, alternative formats: clarify those individually before school ends, not in September when it is too late to make a difference.

Daystage makes it easy to send this newsletter in the last week of school and schedule the late-July reminder at the same time. Parents receive the reminder in their inbox without you having to remember to send it. That automation alone is worth the setup.

A summer reading newsletter that answers every question, makes the books sound worth reading, and removes every excuse not to read is the best version of this communication. Write it that way.

ELA Summer Reading Newsletter: How to Communicate the List and Expectations