Now that many teachers and homeschooling families are entering back to school season, how do we help students overcome learning loss? Well, guest writer Debbie Woodliffe has a clever idea: tap into the power of reading Roald Dahl books! This post shares creative ways that Roald Dahl Day can help to prevent summer learning loss.
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What is Summer Learning Loss and How Can Roald Dahl Day Help?
If you have noticed that your child seems to struggle the first week or two back at school after the summer, youβre not alone.
The phenomenon of Summer Learning Loss results in schoolchildren losing an average of one monthβs worth of learning.
What causes this loss of learning over the summer?
Most studies actually mention numerous factors, such as:
- age
- school year
- family income levels
- trauma and social-emotional distress
Another possible factor could be extended time spent out of school not engaging with learning activities.
One of the easiest ways to maintain learning is to encourage your children to read a wide variety of books.
This is where the wonder of Roald Dahl books come in for teachers and parents!
What is Roald Dahl Day?
Roald Dahl Day honors the beloved childrenβs author each year on his birthday, which is September 13th.
Around the world, children and adults alike, not only enjoy reading Dahl’s books, but they also have fun learning activities that pay tribute to the novelist who wrote so many classics!
The author penned treasured tales such as:
- The BFG
- Matilda
- Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
- James and The Giant Peach
- and many more!
From varied topics, valuable life lessons and relatable characters, Roald Dahl Books are ideal for helping reluctant readers prevent summer learning loss.
Here’s why:
- Stories tell the point of view of a child, which keeps kids invested in their outcome
- Books contain engaging illustrations
- Stories are easy to follow alongside
- Plenty of relatable characters that emerge triumphantly
- Encourages imagination and supports creativity alongside literacy skills
So, why not get involved with Roald Dahl Day this September and get ahead of summer learning loss at the same time!
How to get the most out of Roald Dahl Day 2023
Celebrating Roald Dahl Day is an excellent reason to get the kids reading and continue learning even beyond summer.
Here are 7 tips to help you get the most out of it:
#1 Read The Books
Getting children involved with reading books works wonders in preventing learning loss.
Roald Dahl books also appeal to all different ages and levels of readers.
Not only do many libraries have his books, but some schools even offer guided reading sessions with teachers to boost learning.
Check out the entire box set of Roald Dahl books here! There are 16 amazing books that children will love to dive into during the summer!
#2 Get Baking and Mixing!
Why not head to the kitchen to create your own chocolate treats fit for Willy Wonka himself?
Baking includes lots of measuring and counting β which combine math with literacy.
Another great activity for kids is to try and create some marvelous medicine! Inspired by “George’s Marvellous Medicine”, let kids mix non-toxic kitchen ingredients to create their own “medicines” (for fun, not consumption!). Always ensure safety and adult supervision.
#3 Get Creative
When you think of Roald Dahl, youβll likely be reminded of the illustrations from watercolor artist Quentin Blake, famous for illustrating 18 of Dahlβs books.
This is ideal for children that are visual storytellers: ask them to draw or paint their favorite characters (or even create their own).
Alternatively, children can get crafting and create crafts based on Dahl’s stories.
For example, paper plate Twits, fox masks for “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, or DIY golden tickets.
#4 Dress-Up
Encourage your childβs creative side by dressing up as their favorite Roald Dahl character.
Allow him or her to re-enact parts of the book or film. Or you could hold a dress-up competition or even host a themed costume party!
#5 Compare and Contrast the Books with the Movies
Many of Dahlβs books have been adapted into box office hits.
Some examples are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starring Johnny Depp or Fantastic Mr Fox starring George Clooney.
Why not read the book and then watch the film and ask your child to explain the differences?
This simple graphic organizer not only guides students through the activity, but it also gives them some needed writing practice!
#6 Create a Dream Jar
Based on “The BFG”, get your kids to write down their dreams (or goals) and put them inside a decorated jar!
They can set up the jar in their room to remind them every day to try as hard as they can to reach their goals.
#7 Poetry Writing
Roald Dahl loves all forms of poetry so why not give children a chance to write some fun poetry?
Try hosting a ‘Revolting Rhymes Competition.’ Dahl is known for his quirky rhymes, so you can hold a competition where children come up with their own Dahl-inspired poems.
Alternatively, you can hold a Limerick Contest because Dahl loved limericks! Hold a limerick-writing contest and see who can come up with the most whimsical or hilarious one.
More Tips to Prevent Summer Learning Loss
There are plenty of easy, fun, and inexpensive ways to combat summer learning loss to prevent anxieties around returning to school.
The key is to keep it creative, engaging, and experiment with what works best for your child!
In addition to using Roald Dahl Day to ignite motivation to learn, you can also use the tips featured in these posts:
- 8 Easy Ways to Keep Kids Learning Over the Summer
- How to Help Kids Who Struggle with Reading
- Teaching Strategies for Reading Comprehension in Upper Elementary Classrooms
Do you have a favorite Roald Dahl book? Please share it in the comments below!
-Debbie Woodliffe, Author
Post Update: Was Roald Dahl Anti-Semantic?
Hey teacher friends, this is Tanya! I am popping in to update this post with new information I’ve received about Roald Dahl.
Although he wrote many beloved children’s books, he also has a dark history riddled with racist comments and actions towards Jews.
Debbie did a good job sharing ways that teachers can use his books to engage students with reading.
However, I personally believe in also teaching elementary students the truth about hard history.
We are all learning and growing together.
No one knows everything about everything.
But as we learn the truth, we must do better. I include myself in this, because I was ignorant of Dahl’s past.
I am very grateful for an email subscriber who informed me once she saw this post, which encouraged me to research more about Dahl’s life.
So as you plan your Roald Dahl reading, prepare to include honest reflection about why his actions towards Jewish people were wrong.
You may even be in interested in seeing the public apology issued by his family in December 2020 here.
Anti-Racist Teaching Content
If you feel uncomfortable mentioning the disparaging remarks made by Dahl, you may need more tips on being an anti-racist teacher.
Here you go friend:
Thank you π
