Reading Program: Year One

The first year of our summer reading program far exceeded our expectations. There were 87 students who attended at least one session, with the average participant attending 3.1 sessions. We received an abundance of positive feedback from families. For example, one mother sent me an email explaining what a difference the reading program made with her son. Through the program, he discovered a new book and went on to read the rest of the series. She explained this was one of the first times she had ever seen her son sit down to read by choice, and he read five books in a matter of weeks.

In addition to the positive feedback we received from families involved in the program, it was an overall positive experience for Jackie and me too. One additional benefit we had not previously considered was the relationships we were able to build with so many students, including students in classes and grade levels that we do not usually work with. Also, since families were invited, we got to know some of the incoming kindergarteners before the school year started. I was also able to meet one of my students who moved to the United States from the Philippines over the summer. When he started school in September, not only did we already have a relationship built, but he had a head-start on reading in English. These additional benefits further added to the success of the program, and motivated us to extend the program another year.