SUMMER LITERACY AND RECREATION PROGRAM

Our summer literacy and recreation program operates 7.5 hours each weekday at 18 schools for six weeks in June and July. For the morning literacy instruction, students are divided into classes of 25 students, two teachers, one teacher aide, one teen intern, parents and other volunteers. Summer Principals supervise each individual school site. Summer Scholars’ Director of Program Operations provides overall coordination of the summer program.

Instructional techniques are tailored to the needs of each grade level, and activities for each child are guided by comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis of reading and learning challenges as determined by formal reading and cognitive assessments at the beginning of the summer program. Teachers utilize proven methods, including reading aloud, shared reading, guided reading, demonstrated writing, and independent reading and writing. All Summer Scholars instructional staff receives training in reading instruction strategies and cultural competency via pre-service and weekly in-service sessions.

The summer afternoon recreation component is a licensed child care program that incorporates games, arts and crafts, field trips and other activities designed to be safe, fun and enriching for participants. Activities such as swimming and other athletic lessons, music lessons and character education act as an incentive for participation in the morning literacy component and promote skill-building and the development of youth protective factors.

Summer Scholars’ parent involvement efforts are multi-faceted. During the summer, parent involvement is promoted through family visits, which are conducted one-on-one between teachers and parents at the parent’s home, the local library or a park. During the family visits, teachers share information about the student’s progress and provide tools parents can use at home to reinforce reading instruction. In addition to family visits, each summer site will hold one or more family events over the summer, where parents come to the school to learn more about how to help their child succeed in reading. At nine partner schools, Summer Scholars also offers a year-round family literacy program emphasizing adult skill development and parent-child interactions that promote reading