Summer Slide

Is your son slipping on the summer slide? Keep him reading while he plays.

The 

Summer Slide

 is a very real phenomenon according to the authors of a report from the National Summer Learning Association:  "A conservative estimate of lost instructional time is approximately two months or roughly 22 percent of the school year.... It's common for teachers to spend at least a month re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer. That month of re-teaching eliminates a month that could have been spent on teaching new information and skills."You can bet your teachers are already thinking about school and how to make up for lost time. Boys not only suffer the most in the 

summer slide

 they also are most challenged in all aspects of schooling as you can see in this video.

Click here to watch

.

Trouble with boys

If this isn’t your son (and we hope it isn’t), chances are it’s the boy down the street, or the boy on your son’s soccer team.It DOES take a village and we’ve got to start by shouting this information to rooftops, raising awareness and advocating for change.  Note that boys of color and boys in poverty are at 

exponentially 

higher risk.We’ve got to work together to stop these trends by advocating and acting locally and nation-wide.Here’s one thing you can do, right now:

Sign the on-line petition

 to create a White House Council for Boys and Men (and note the irony that we’ve had one for girls and women since 2009!)

sign now

Then, look around, how can you reach out and change one boy’s day – at the mall, the grocery store, or on the street?Stay in touch – tell me how you’ve reached out in your neighborhood.

Getting Boys to Read

A Book RecommendationJust For You

Getting Boys to Read

 by Mike McQueenMy friend and colleague Mike McQueen has "been there, done that."  He knows what it is to be a struggling reader and yet he grew up to be a school librarian!He has motivated thousands of boys to read through teaching, motivational speaking, professional development and his book.He’s an inspiration and a reminder to never, never give up!

Click here to order

Click here for your Boys Alive! Free Report: "6 Keys to Parenting Success"

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