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learning
Preventing the Summer Slide Making Summer Reading a Priority By Heather Green
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f you think the “summer slide” has something to do with a water park, then you’ve got some catching up to do. And so do your children. Statistics show that children who don’t participate in some kind of reading program can lose a month of academic progress over the summer — and the slide increases with lower-income children to up to two months.
Librarians and educators agree, and promote programs to help keep K-12 students on track through the long, hot summer. Ellen Stringer, Lexington County Public Library’s Youth Services Coordinator, expects its summer program to grow beyond its 10,000 participants from last year. Valerie Byrd Fort, a teacher librarian at New Providence Elementary in the Lexington One school district, collaborates with the Lexington Public Library throughout the school year. Fort says students are always excited about the summer program and always brag about the reading medals they earn. The medals are provided to libraries across the state by the South Carolina State Library. When her students come back to school in August, Valerie recognizes summer reading participants with small prizes and praise. “We want kids to be lifelong readers, not just summer readers or reading because they have to,” Fort says. Parents also believe that summer reading makes a big difference. Jane Miller of Ballentine signs the whole family up for Richland Library Friends’ Summer Reading Challenge each year. The program had more than 22,000 participants last year. “My children love the summer reading program,” says Miller. “They are encouraged to read by getting little prizes along the way and they love filling up their reading log.” Miller says her children were very excited to see Mom was also reading and completing her log. Miller promotes an interest in literature with her children in many ways. Developing what she hopes will be a lifelong love of reading, last summer she started listening to audiobooks in the car. “I was amazed by how intently they listened and truly enjoyed listening to books,” she says. It is not surprising that parents and educators support summer reading, but what about children? The Davis brothers — Caleb, 10, and Ben, 9 — attend CBS Academy Homeschool and participated in Barnes & Noble’s summer
reading program last year. Ben says he enjoyed reading outside on summer mornings and Caleb is excited that he can read any book he chooses. Barnes and Noble gave free incentive books to participants. “I got to pick the book George Brown, Class Clown,” says Ben. “I loved it and read lots of other books in that series.” Ready to sign up? No matter where you live in the Midlands, a summer reading program is available to you. Here are a few free ones in the area. Programs are open to all ages.
Storyfest Saturday, June 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Carolina State Museum Storyfest began three years ago and kicks off all summer reading programs in the state. Public librarians, storytellers and authors come together to entertain families and to spread the word about summer reading. Denise Lyons, director of library development at the South Carolina State Library, scouts out storytellers and authors who are passionate about children’s literacy. Authors Pete Brown and Will Hillenbrand headline this year and each child leaves with free books. For a full schedule: statelibrary. sc.gov/storyfestsc-2013.
Kershaw County Library June 1 – Aug. 1 Earn incentives for reading throughout the summer. One child will win a $50 gift certificate to Books on Broad and one teenager will win an eReader. Other prizes include free books and reading medals. The band Lunch Money will kick off summer reading on June 8 at the Camden Farmers Market at 9:30 a.m.
Lexington County Public Library May 28 – Aug. 10 Visit any Lexington County Library location to join their Summer Reading program.
Photo courtesy Richland Library
Visit www.lex.lib.sc.us/ for information and special summer reading events. Medals and prizes are awarded throughout the summer.
Richland Library Friends’ Summer Reading Challenge June 1– Aug. 17 Readers have the option of completing 25 hours of reading or creating their own reading challenge. Infants and preschoolers complete 25 reading moments with caregivers. Prizes are awarded for each age group. Also, this year, participants can sign up and log their progress online at richlandlibrary. com/summer. Visit any branch to sign up. Other reading programs are offered through the summer at different branches. Visit richlandlibrary.com/events for information.
Barnes and Noble May 21 – Sept. 3 Ages: 1st grade – 6th grade Barnes & Noble even has a free summer reading program for grades 1 – 6. Students print off a reading journal from bn.com, read any eight books (no purchase necessary), and bring their completed reading journal to a Barnes & Noble store. Once completed, children can choose any free book from Barnes & Noble’s Reading Journal List.