Kids in Lane County participate in Summer Reading Spots.
Today is National Summer Learning Day! Here are some updates on what Oregon’s Campaign for Grade-Level Reading communities are doing to keep families and students engaged throughout the summer.
In Yoncalla, Early Works is partnering with the local library to supplement their summer reading program, which targets kids age birth to five and their parents. North Douglas P-3 Alignment (?) is also offering summer Play to Learn Community Playgroups – providing the community with activities like free swimming, summer learning activities, free books and early literacy activities.
In Lane County, 12 school districts are offering the Kids in Transition to School (KITS) Program, designed to provide a boost to children’s literacy, numeracy, self-regulation, and social skills just prior to kindergarten entry. KITS also supports families through the transition to kindergarten, sharing successful strategies for encouraging their young learners. The United Way of Lane County is also organizing a volunteer project called Summer Reading Spots to provide literacy-building reading experiences for young children and to encourage parents to actively participate in reading with their kids. Volunteer readers spend one hour in the park reading with children, three days a week. Each time a child attends, they are given a free book to take home with them so that they can begin their own library at home.
This summer Earl Boyles Elementary is hosting an early kinder transitions program for students and families, summer school with an enhanced reading program for rising second and third graders, a weekly food pantry, and housing justice leadership trainings for parents of color.
Children playing during a summer activity in Wallowa.
In Wallowa County, the non-profit Building Health Families is hosting a Day of Summer Learning Celebration. The open house is providing a number of activities in science, art, reading and more. There are six partners coming to do activities with kids, and healthy snacks, take-home ideas, and prizes will be provided to all participants.
The newest Oregon GLR community, West Medford, is supporting an eight-week Read and Feed program at two food sites this summer. Kids Unlimited camp counselors read at lunch time to the kindergarten population as well as anyone from the community who would like to join. Each site has been provided 25 books to take home after the program. West Medford is also hosting a gently used book giveaway at their local (very popular) pool, and is continuing their food bank on Tuesday mornings for families.