Summertime, and the Reading's Easy
Enroll your kids in a summer reading program for educational, entertaining and free summer fun.
By Barry Wise Smith
For kids, summer is for splashing in the pool, playing on the beach—generally forgetting about school. And according to statistics, that's precisely what happens. During summer breaks, children can lose up to one month of instructional information, and for disadvantaged children, this number can go even higher. To keep your children on the right academic track (and for some serious fun), enroll your kids in a summer reading program.
"Summer reading is very important academically so that students don't lose reading skills from the school year," says Fran Woodruff, librarian at Homewood's Edgewood Elementary School. Woodruff sends students home for summer with lists of suggested authors and books by grade level. But she stresses that children should be given some freedom in making their summer reading selections. "Summer should be an opportunity for students to make their own reading choices based on their interests," she says. "Kids should use summer to enjoy books (new novels, old favorites, comics, magazines) that feed their love of story."
The most common summer reading programs are at local public library branches, with each branch developing age-appropriate activities around a central theme. (This year, Jefferson County Library Cooperative's theme is Make a Splash Read!). Going beyond simply keeping track of books read, libraries offer story time, games, arts and crafts, puppet shows, movies and more. At Mountain Brook's Emmet O'Neal Library, children's department head Carol Melton develops activities for kids from infants to sixth grade, with three goals in mind: "We want kids to develop a habit and a love of reading; we want children to love coming to the library; and we want children to learn more about the library," she says. Each summer Emmet O'Neal averages 2,400 children in its summer reading program, with free books given as rewards for fi lling out reading logs.
Dona Smith, head of children's services at the Homewood Public Library, also stresses the value of summer reading. "Children who participate in summer reading programs on average score higher on reading comprehension and vocabulary tests and are better prepared for school in the fall," she says. "And studies show that babies have better language acquisition when parents read aloud to them." Last year more than 965 children registered for Homewood Public Library's summer reading program, with a goal of 1,000 this summer.
Learning the Basics
As an alternative to library reading programs, Camp Hope is the summer camp of Better Basics, a non-profit United Way agency founded in 1994 to advance literacy through enrichment and intervention programs. Two years ago, after years of providing in-school and after-school literacy programs, Better Basics started Camp Hope at Robinson Elementary in Fairfi eld to continue its work throughout the summer. Funded by a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant as part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act administered by the State Department of Education, Camp Hope is a nine-week day camp for kids who have completed kindergarten through eighth grade.
With literature at its core, Camp Hope uses unique enrichment opportunities, from music and arts to computer technology and health and fi tness to sports and science, to expand campers' worldviews. Karen Kapp, executive director of Better Basics, says, "For most at-risk children, building background information is critical. We have to build a broader framework for understanding new information. By involving these kids in enriching, engaging activities, we build this broader framework, which will translate to success in the classroom."
The camp has weekly themes and includes activities and fi eld trips to local attractions that reinforce themes. For example, a week of theater camp, held in conjunction with the Red Mountain Theatre Company, culminates with campers seeing a musical production—for most, their fi rst. "The looks on the children's faces are indescribable," says Kapp. "They are thoroughly enthralled." Children also learn about healthy living and good nutrition and work in a local community garden to understand where their food comes from.
Another major component of Camp Hope is providing campers with literature to take and read at home. During camp, parents (books for adults are available) and kids are encouraged to take books home to read and keep. "We want our families to understand the importance of having books in the home," says Kapp. "Through all we do, literature is always at the core. It's a part of everything we do."
DETAILS
For more information on Better Basics' programs, to volunteer, or to make a financial contribution, visit betterbasics.org. And for a complete calendar of JCLC summer reading events, visit jclc.org.
