Why schools are ditching summer reading assignments
Julie Steinhauser, 11, holds books from her favorite series, “The Land of Stories,” at the Glen Cove Public Library. Credit: Dawn McCormick
"Fahrenheit 451"
"Magic Kingdom for Sale-Sold!"
"Things Fall Apart"
"The Bean Trees"
Though its been more than 20 years since I was a student at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville, those summer reading book titles are seared into my brain — along with the memories of summer days and nights spent binge-reading because I procrastinated.
But this right of passage — these mandatory summer reading assignments — are becoming a thing of the past.
More and more schools are opting instead to allow students to select any books they find appealing to read over the break. Find out why.
My son's middle school gave an optional reading assignment with a list of suggested books to select from, but since he already started reading the second "Harry Potter" book, I told him to stick with that instead.
My son has been reading a book of his choosing from the Harry Potter series this summer. Credit: Newsday/Tara Conry
Even then, I have to nudge him to read — by taking away his iPad at night and telling him he can only stay up a bit longer if he's reading in his bed. I don't think he's developed a love of reading quite yet, but it's encouraging to hear him say, "Let me finish this chapter" when I tell him to go to sleep.
$200 checks in the mail
You could be getting a couple hundred dollars back from the state, arriving in your mailbox as early as next month, as part of a one-time, $1 billion tax rebate program.
The checks are part of the Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate program that was included in the state budget along with changes to how utility rates are set to help lower costs for consumers.
The checks, which are expected to help 8.2 million taxpayers, are based on residents’ 2024 tax returns and are expected to be mailed starting next month and through December, according to the governor's office.
Labor Day weekend plans
Many of you sent your kids off to college last week, but my elementary and middle school kids start classes on Sept. 1. And most of Long Island is headed back before Labor Day this year.
It feels way too early to be starting this process. Didn't summer just start? But at least once we get through that first week of school, there's a three-day holiday weekend waiting for us.
You can walk through LuminoCity Dino Safari at Walt Whitman Shops in Melville for a fun outing close to home this Labor Day weekend. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
We just returned from a four-day family vacation that took us from Agawam, Massachusetts to Boston to Cape Cod. And we are headed to New Jersey this weekend for a travel hockey showcase, so I won't be up for much traveling come Labor Day weekend.
Fortunately, there is plenty to do close to home. Here's a roundup of some of the top events happening on Long Island then.
Enter the moms group chat
Some of the topics we're discussing on Instagram.
The Lindsay Clancy murder trial and postpartum depression. Juggling career and parenthood. Things to do on Long Island. We're discussing all this and more on our Long Island Moms Instagram and Facebook accounts. Follow us to join the conversation or share your thoughts with me by emailing workingmoms@newsday.com.
