Raising A Reader Summer Newsletter 2010
“…On average, the reading proficiency levels of students from lower income families declined over the summer months…this decline resulted in an estimated three-month achievement gap between more advantaged and less advantaged students.”
-Mraz, M. and Rasinski, T.V. (2007). Summer Reading Loss. The Reading Teacher, 60(8). International Reading Association. 784-789
The summer months can be detrimental to a child’s reading development, as many children are not able to participate in regular book sharing activities that stimulate their brain development and interest in books. One study found that children who are not actively engaged in reading and learning during the summer months can experience achievement gaps totaling one and a half years worth of reading development loss by the time they enter school. Raising A Reader MA is working hard this summer to ensure that the learning continues. On June 15th, Raising A Reader MA kicked off the “Story Time in the Park” series. That day, twenty-five children gathered in the park, and participated in reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar with Program Coordinator Heloisa Micheletti Alvarez, and Program Intern Adrian Morales. The children then made their own paper caterpillars to extend the lessons they learned from the story.
“Story Time in the Park” provides parents an opportunity to learn best practices for sharing stories with their children, while also giving children the chance to gather in a safe environment outside to participate in active reading even in the summer months. At the end of each session, the children will take home a free book, generously donated by Borders Bookstore customers, so that parents can take what they have learned from Raising A Reader and continue applying it through the summer. The “Story Time in the Park” program will continue every Tuesday and Thursday through July 22nd, and children in Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Somerville, and East Boston will be given the chance to enjoy books such as Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?, Good Night Gorilla, Here Are My Hands, and more. Through this program, Raising A Reader will help these parents and children close the achievement gap that builds over the summer months, giving children from low income areas a greater chance of being successful in school.
Sources:
Summer Reading Loss, by Maryann Mraz and Timothy V. Rasinski. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/15218
Cooper, H., Nye, B., Charlton, K., Lindsay, J., & Greathouse, S. (1996). The effects of summer vacation on achievement test scores: A narrative and meta-analytic review. Review of Educational Research, 66, 227-268.