Aldine ISD Works to Fight Students’ ‘Summer Slide,’ School Libraries to Be Open in June
Summer reading is vital to students’ academic growth. It also prevents loss of skills and strategies.
[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]T[/dropcap]he end of the school year is fast approaching. Summer is looming on everyone’s mind. There is one thing parents may not be thinking about: the dreaded “summer slide.”
All children experience a learning loss during the summer. Experts call this the summer learning loss the “summer slide.” This occurs when students don’t read during the summer. Students who experience the summer slide are more likely to struggle when they return to school in the fall.
Check with your child’s campus or the district website for summer reading requirements for each grade level.
A [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]report estimates lost instructional time to be nearly two months. This translated roughly 22 percent of the school year. According to Cindy Buchanan, reading is crucial. The stakes are high for students who don’t read over summer vacation. Buchanan serves as Aldine ISD’s program director for library services.
“Research shows that the summer slide affects more students from low-income families,” said Buchanan. “These students fall far behind their peers if they don’t read over the summer. These students don’t just suffer greater loss during the summer. They also experience cumulative effects of greater learning loss each summer.”
The few months of loss in reading skills compounds over the years. Let’s take a child in elementary school. Let’s say this child doesn’t spend every summer reading. By the time this child reaches middle school, he or she may have lost as much two years worth of achievement.
Sociologists [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Karl Alexander and Doris Entwisle studied the summer loss and its cumulative effect. Their research showed this to be a primary cause of widening achievement gaps. [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Donald Hayes and Judith Grether also studied this effect. Data showed a clear difference between rich and poor students. 
There was a seven-month difference in scores at the beginning of second grade. But the learning loss mounted during four summers. It led to an achievement difference of 80 percent between rich and poor students by the end of sixth grade.
More than 40 AISD campuses will be open during summer school held June 6-24.
[icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Summer slide affects millions of students each year in the U.S. — but it doesn’t have to. Summer is a great time to help children fall in love with reading. Experts agree that children who read during the summer gain reading skills. They also do better in school.
“We encourage children to read just six books over summer vacation,” said Buchanan. “This can help ward off setbacks in language skills. We want to prevent a reading decline in achievement when students return in the fall.
Aldine ISD is doing its part to encourage summer reading. The district will open campus libraries this June to make books accessible to students. Reading during the summer is a great way to help close the achievement gap. It helps students succeed.”
Students will have the opportunity to check out books at more than 40 Aldine ISD school libraries that will open on certain days of the week. This is the third year that AISD school libraries provide the summer service to students. AISD students can go to any school library that is open during the summer to check out books. They can go to a school library even if they are not zoned to attend that campus. Each campus library will open one day a week (see list below).
“Making books accessible to children is the best antidote for the summer slide,” Buchanan said. “Access to books and libraries results in more reading, which, in turn, results in improved reading skills. We want to create a culture of reading. Parents can take an active role. With their involvement, they can encourage reading at home. This will make a difference. Students will return to school in the fall better prepared for academic success.”
Did You Know …
[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Summer reading habits are critical in developing the foundation for later success.[/li] [li]Students that read more, read better. They also write better, spell better, and have larger vocabularies. They also have better control of complex grammatical constructions. [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Children who enjoy reading will read more and become proficient at the same time.[/li] [li]The amount of reading done out of school consistently relates to gains in reading achievement. [/li][/ul]
Buchanan encourages parents to take part in helping create a reading culture. Children who love to read come from an environment that values reading. Their environment is rich in printed materials. This includes books, magazines, newspapers as well as comic books. That environment also has adults who are reading role models. Studies show that children who come from print-rich environment consistently have higher academic performance. They score better in writing, reading and math skills.
Parents play an important role in creating enthusiastic readers. In one study, researchers examined 21 kindergarten classes. They wanted to see who displayed high interest in reading and who showed low interest. It became clear that the home environment and [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]parents’ reading habits were crucial factors.
Summer is the perfect time to build a reading culture. It is a great time to start new traditions, rituals, and activities. Parents and their children can read together. Parents can also talk with their children about the books they are reading. Visit your child’s school library to learn more about creating a reading culture at home. For questions about summer reading, contact the information literacy specialist at the school library.
District leaders support the Summer Reading Program. It instills the love of reading and expands students’ literacy during the summer. AISD Library Services Department also offers [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]eBooks that families can download and read offline. The eBooks in English and Spanish are available from Tumblebooks and Folletshelf. 
Email Buchanan ([email protected]) for password access to these sites.
Goals of Summer Reading at Aldine ISD Libraries
[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Advance literacy and academic performance by engaging children and teens in reading.[/li] [li]Foster a love of reading through library programs and services. [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Increase successful reading experiences through librarian-supported, self-selected, voluntary reading.[/li] [li]Involve parents and all family members in the library summer reading experience. [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Improve children’s access to library materials and develop lifelong readers.[/li] [li]Increase the number of children and teens participating in library summer reading programs. [/li][/ul]
“We want to develop students’ literacy and their love for reading,” added Buchanan. “There are so many fun, wonderful books for every student’s interest. If students are unsure of what they might like to read, they can talk to the librarian. These information literacy specialists can help find a genre they will enjoy.”
What can parents do after June 24 when school libraries close? Families should consider [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Houston area public libraries.
“The online resources will continue to be available,” said Buchanan. “But I also encourage families to visit their local library. Many public libraries offer summer reading programs and story time sessions. They also offer family literacy and language workshops. Public libraries offer computers and Wi-Fi access too.
“The most important thing is to encourage school age children to read during the summer. It will benefit them now and their future.”
Create a reading culture. Engage children in reading literacy. Motivate them to become lifelong readers. And let books inspire individuals of all ages.
Reading for a Better Future — Lectura para un mejor futuro
Summer AISD Campus Library Schedule From June 6-24. Libraries will have the same hours as summer school on the campus.
(Check the [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Library Services Department website for any updates.)
Aldine Middle School: Open Wednesday
Aldine Ninth Grade School: Open Wednesday
Aldine High School: Open Wednesday
Anderson Academy: Open Tuesday
Bussey Elementary School: Open Friday
Calvert Elementary School: Open Wednesday
Carmichael Elementary School: Open Wednesday
Carroll Academy: Open Wednesday
Carter Academy: Open Wednesday
Conley Elementary School: Open Wednesday
Davis Ninth Grade School: Open Wednesday
Davis High School: Open Monday
Dunn Elementary School: Open Monday
Eckert Intermediate School: Open Wednesday
Eisenhower Ninth Grade School: Open Wednesday
Eisenhower High School: Open Tuesday
Francis Elementary School: Open Wednesday
Goodman Elementary School: Open Wednesday
Gray Elementary School: Open Monday
Hall Center for Education: Open Tuesday
Hambrick Middle School: Open Wednesday
Harris Academy: Open Tuesday
Johnson Elementary School: Open Tuesday
Jones Elementary School: Open Wednesday
Lewis Middle School: Open Monday
MacArthur Ninth Grade School: Open Wednesday
MacArthur High School: Open Wednesday
Magrill Elementary School: Open Tuesday
Marcella Intermediate School: Open Tuesday
Nimitz Ninth Grade School: Open Tuesday
Nimitz High School: Open Wednesday
Odom Elementary School: Open Wednesday
Oleson Elementary School: Open Tuesday
Orange Grove Elementary School: Open Wednesday
Rayford Intermediate School: Open Wednesday
Raymond Academy: Open Tuesday
Shotwell Middle School: Open Tuesday
Smith Academy: Open Wednesday
Stehlik Intermediate School: Open Monday
Stephens Elementary School: Open Wednesday
Stovall Middle School: Open Tuesday
Thompson Elementary School: Open Tuesday
Wilson Intermediate School: Open Tuesday
How are reading skills used in the workplace?
Employees must read and understand written information. Different types of workplace documents include work instructions, emails, memos, policies and reports. Professionals must scan for information and derive meaning. Employees must determine if the information is relevant or how they will use it. They must also be able to integrate information from many sources.
How important are writing skills in the workforce?
The National Commission on Writing conducted a comprehensive study of 120 major American corporations. It concluded that writing is a “threshold skill” for hiring among professional employees. Writing skills also give individuals a leg up on a new job or promotion. Two-thirds of salaried employees in large American companies have some writing responsibility. One HR manager stated that written material must be “crystal clear.”
Employers emphasize the significance of good writing skills for career preparedness. A recent Wall Street Journal article focused on “Must-Have Job Skills.” It identified clear communication, which includes writing, as the #1 skill necessary for success in the job market.
About the Author: Leticia Fehling
