By Tricia Goecks Editor POPLAR GROVE – Students from Poplar Grove Elementary school will receive three special envelopes over the summer. In mail that will be addressed to each student will be books that the students chose. Reading specialist Jill Grove purchased over 4,000 books throughout the year through a Title I grant. “I am so excited that you are here. Guess what, you get to pick out three books and then will give them to Mrs. Lee.” Grove told a group of first and second grade students. “And then you will go around and pick out three more books. Then you get to go around and pick out three more books.” The students gasped with excitement. “That’s nine books!” a second grade boy exclaimed. Several of the children told Grove of their vacation plans. The children varied between being concerned that they would be on vacation when the books arrived to being excited to have some summer reading with them on their family vacations. Other children wanted to make sure that Grove had their correct mailing address. In addition to receiving the books in the mail, Poplar Grove elementary students will complete a summer reading log. “Three years ago I started sending home a summer reading log with each day of the summer notated. Two years ago I had a big party for the kids in the fall that brought back their reading log if it was at least 80% full. Then they could come to the party,” Grove said. One can imagine the children’s excitement when they could see bounce houses inflating as the morning buses arrived at the school. “The thought is that kids will be motivated in getting their own mail. As it comes in the mail it will remind the parents to keep the kids reading,” Grove explained. “We have them select the books because according to research if they pick out their own books they are more apt to read it than if I pick out a book that I think would be good for them.” “This program is shown to be more effective than summer school. Something like this is more targeted and really effective. We have been delighted with our response so far,” Grove added. The summer reading program is in its third year at Poplar Grove. “In the research that I read said it can take up to three years before you see results. When we tested kids when they came back in the fall, we had a couple of kids that severely regressed. We had a couple dozen who fell back just slightly. The rest were either on level or had gained over the summer,” Grove said beaming with pride. Along with the books, Grove is mailing Bingo cards to the students with their books. The students can mark off the Bingo cards for things such as reading under a tree or in the bathtub. The children giggled at the thought of reading a book in the tub. Grove told the students that their parents might give them a reward such as ice cream for getting Bingo on their summer reading program card. (Hint, hint to the Poplar Grove Elementary parents who are reading this article.) “That is the other thing, when they did studies on this they kept track of which books the students would select. They aren’t the great literature books that we would think of. It was the hot wheels books, the Barbie books, the Lego books,” Grove continued. “As much as I can, I purchase them. And those go fast.” The Barbie and Lego books were quickly selected by the children. Curious George was left largely ignored. “If it keeps them reading that is what is building their skills and it doesn’t matter that it isn’t wonderful literature.” In addition to receiving the books in the mail, the students and their families will be able to visit the school library during the summer. “A couple of years ago Jane Lenser (librarian) got a grant to have our libraries open one morning a week. Last year in Poplar Grove we got it open for one evening a week also,” Grove explained. “She had a real steady group of families that would come to the library.” Having access to the school library is important in communities that do not have a public library.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 19:42:54 +0000
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