Why reading matters
May 20, 2010
in today’s Cincinnati Enquirer I saw a small column about a recently released special report entitled Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters, a KIDS COUNT Special Report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Of course any report that talks about the importance of reading catches my attention so I quickly looked up the report online to get more infomration. You may want to take a look too. Here’s the link to the Summary:
This fascinating study reports that 67% of 4th graders who take the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) score below proficient. That number jumps to 83% for low income students. The Summary states that several factors contribute to low reading proficiency including children not prepared to succeed when they enter school, absenteeism, and the lack of high-quality learning opportunities beginning at birth and continuing in school and including summers and other out-of-school time. To address these issues the report makes four recommendations including one that mentions libraries. Recommendation number 4 states:
“Find, develop, and deploy practical and scalable solutions for two of the most significant contributors to the under-achievement of children from low income families – chronic absence from school and summer learning loss. ” It goes on to say “We may need to recruit schools, libraries, and community-based program to help more children and their families combat summer learning loss”.
Libraries should absolutely be a part of the solution to this terrible problem. This report comes just as we are preparing to launch our annual Summer Reading Program. We know that participation in a Summer Reading Program helps stop summer learning loss. This program is fun and entertaining but it’s also a crucila part of retaining reading ability over the summer. With online registration available for the first time this year, it’s easier than ever to participate. We must all encourage the children and parents visiting our branches this summer to participate in summer reading. Here’s the link to sign up and learn more:
http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/SummerRead/src2010/default.aspx
The fun programs, exciting theme and great prizes make summer reading appealing. Not just for kids, preschool children, teens and adults can also participate.
This summer we’re also offering Brain Camps. These programs are usually offered only at the Main Library but this year four branch libraries will also be hosting Brain Camps. During Brain Camp, students will enjoy books, group lessons, computer activities, outdoor play, and crafts centered on a weekly theme. Students are encouraged to bring their summer homework if they have any. For more information, visit the website at:
http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/news/2010/braincamp.html
Thanks to the generosity of the Library Foundation, the Dater Foundation and the Anderson Township Library Association, the Main Library and 13 branch libraries will be adding a new resource for young learners. Early Literacy Stations, standalone computers loaded with 46 educational software programs have been purchased and will soon become available. Designed for children as young as toddlers and extending through early elementary grades the software spans 7 curricular areas and is correlated to major educational standards. We want to thank the many generous donors who made the purchase of the Early Literacy Stations possible. We know the children of our community will put them to good use.
