Let’s be real about Summer reading.
Unfortunately, to many kids, those two words, “Summer” and “reading,” don’t go together.
But don’t forget, mom and dad, that Summer slide is a real thing, according to countless studies, and Summer reading is the cure. L
ast July, “Psychology Today” magazine published an article about Summer slide, defined as learning loss that happens when children do not engage in educational activities during the Summer months. One sentence in the article was especially enlightening:
“A 2007 study by researchers at John Hopkins University examined data from a nationally representative sample. They found the achievement gap at ninth grade mainly traces to differences in Summer learning during the elementary school years.”
A 2011 study found students can lose up to two grade levels of reading skills due to Summer reading loss by the time they r
each sixth grade.
A Dominican University study determined that young people who participate in Summer reading programs and read a minimum of six books over the Summer score higher in reading and math when they return to school.
The evidence is clear: Children do forget skills and knowledge learned in the previous school year. But if families and educators encourage kids to stay engaged in learning throughout the Summer, students may not only maintain, but improve their knowledge.
That’s where the library comes in. Aurora Public Library’s (APL) Summer Reading Challenge is all about keeping educational activities going through the warm months. It’s about visiting the Santori Lib
rary Makerspace or checking out a gadget to as an experiment. It’s about visiting a museum or hopping on the Bookmobile at the Farmers Market. There is a bonus sheet for those who want to experience even more reading.
The theme of the Summer Reading Challenge this year is “Reading Takes You Everywhere.” Online registration will start Monday, May 21.
The challenge allows customers of all ages, not just kids, to earn rewards for reading, visiting the library, and participating in a
ctivities.
Speaking of activities, there will be a party to celebrate the Summer challenge from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 2. There will be a live animal exhibit, face-painting, live music and tech demos. Everything you need to know is listed below.Take the Summer challenge along with your kids! You’ll all be happy to learn that “Summer” and “reading” go together after all.
Registration:
• Online registration and online program will begin May 21. Go to aurorapubliclibrary.beanstack.org
• Paper logs and in-person signup will begin June 2;
• Students can begin collecting prizes June 2;
• The last day of the program will be July 31;
• Students will have the option of completing a digital or physical log.
How the challenge works:
• For children birth to 12, read five hours to receive: Choice of book, coupon, or small prize, and one entry into the grand prize raffle.
Complete five activities to receive: Choice of book, coupon, or small prize, and one entry into the grand prize raffle;
• For every additional five hours of reading, student gets one entry into the grand prize raffle.
For teens and adults:
• Read five books to receive: Choice of book, coupon, or small prize, and one entry into the grand prize raffle.
• Complete five activities to receive: Choice of book, coupon, or small prize, and one entry into the grand prize raffle.
• For every additional five hours, or books, of reading, participant gets one entry into the grand prize raffle.
• Grand Prizes:
Each time a student completes a reading portion or activities, he/she will receive an entry for one of our grand prizes. Grand prizes include a Nintendo Switch, a family pass to Brookfield Zoo, a ukulele, or tickets to APL Foundation’s BBQ.