Our History
In 2012, the Read to Succeed Program was introduced to engage students in literacy over the Summer months. The program aims to promote literacy and prevent the phenomenon known as “Summer Slide.”
Studies prove that children who do not read during the Summer can lose up to three months of reading progress and that has a cumulative, long-term effect. Summer reading loss during the elementary grades accumulates to an achievement gap of 18 months by the end of sixth grade, and accumulating to two or more years in reading achievement by the end of middle school.
Providing a solution, The Read to Succeed Summer Program (R2S), is a comprehensive, and intentional reading program that provides PreK-3rd grade students and their families with year round opportunities to engage with and have access to reading materials and instruction.
What is "Summer Slide"?
The "summer slide," also known as "summer learning loss," refers to the decline in academic skills and knowledge that some students experience during the summer break from school. This phenomenon is particularly relevant to reading skills, as it pertains to a decline in a child's reading abilities over the summer months.
Here's an explanation of the summer slide in the context of reading:
-
Lack of Practice: During the school year, students are regularly engaged in reading activities as part of their curriculum. They read books, complete assignments, and participate in literacy-focused lessons. However, when summer vacation arrives, many students may not engage in regular reading activities, leading to a decrease in their reading practice.
-
Forgetting and Regression: Reading skills, like any other skills, require consistent practice to maintain and improve. When children don't read during the summer, they may forget some of the vocabulary, comprehension strategies, and decoding skills they acquired during the school year. This regression can result in a decline in their reading proficiency.
-
Achievement Gap Widening: The summer slide tends to affect students from lower-income backgrounds more severely. This is because they often have limited access to books and educational resources during the summer, exacerbating the achievement gap between them and their peers from more privileged backgrounds.
-
Impact on School Performance: When students return to school in the fall after experiencing the summer slide, they may struggle to catch up with their peers who maintained their reading skills over the break. This can affect their overall academic performance and lead to difficulties in the upcoming school year.
How To Beat "Summer Slide"?
To combat the summer slide in reading, educators, parents, and caregivers can take several proactive steps:
-
Encourage Summer Reading: Promote a culture of reading at home during the summer. Encourage children to choose books that interest them and set aside time for daily reading.
-
Access to Books: Make sure children have access to a variety of reading materials, including books, magazines, and e-books. Public libraries often offer summer reading programs that can motivate children to read.
-
Keep a Reading Log: Have children keep a log of the books they read during the summer. This can provide a sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue reading.
-
Reading Challenges: Create fun reading challenges or incentives to motivate children to read. For example, you can set goals for the number of books they read over the summer and reward their achievements.
-
Family Reading Time: Set aside time for family reading, where everyone in the family reads together or discusses what they're reading. This can create a positive reading environment at home.
By taking these proactive measures, parents and educators can help mitigate the summer slide and ensure that children maintain and even improve their reading skills over the summer break.