To help his students “get better” and prevent the so-called “summer slide,” Martin, along with Helke Elementary School principal Brian Tregoning, is taking advantage of the Kids Read Now program.
The program, which began in 2010, provides nine free books during the summer to kindergarten through third grade students. The students receive three books in May to start and additional books are mailed to them throughout the summer. The program not only provides summer reading but enables children to begin their personal book collections.
This summer, 98 percent of the students at Demmitt and nearly 80 percent at Helke registered for this free opportunity.
“They enjoy getting the three books in the beginning. Some of the kids will come up to me that first week and say, ‘I read all three books.’ They are just excited to read at that age,” Tregoning said.
Registration for the program takes place at schools with students choosing the books they want to receive based on their reading level and teacher recommendations. This year, Martin provided incentives to his students to sign up for the summer program. Classrooms having 100 percent participation earned a pizza party. Six classrooms reached the 100 percent mark.
At Helke, first grade teacher Amy Heis says she encourages her students to join by showing a video, emailing parents and sending out reminders. She met with her students to help them pick books that would “enhance their reading.”
Heis has taught first grade at Helke for 12 years and says she sees the difference putting an emphasis on reading can make with young students.
“Those who participate in the program aren’t as likely to have the ‘summer slide.’ They are ready to go when they come back,” Heis said.
As a third grade teacher and a mother of three, Jennifer Strehle says she sees the excitement the children have when they receive their books. She encourages her students and children to try books they might not have thought they were ready for or would interest them. Having the chance to read nine new books for free provides a special opportunity.
“Reading is huge. It’s fundamental in all the other aspects of their learning. It gives them a really good base in everything they do now and later on,” Strehle said.
Martin says the Kids Read Now program helps his staff achieve their main goal with their students.
“What we do at elementary school is we teach (students) to read,” he said.
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