Hinks Elementary launches summer reading program to stop literacy regression this summer

One of kids’ favorite times of the year, summer break, is right around the corner. It’s a perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy the sun, but literacy sometimes suffers with the extended time away from academics. Alpena Public Schools is working to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Students at Hink’s Elementary participated in a summer reading kick–off today, just before break starts. Instructional coach, Jennifer Marceau, says this is the perfect way to get parents involved, and kids interested in reading.

“So what we did today is we just kind of introduced parents to ideas they can utilize at home while they’re working with their students. Just some ideas. Some are water coloring, getting out chalk to play on a sidewalk, write their sight words or their fry words. We also had in there just showing them how to read with their kids, explaining how to read with them. We also had sand to play with different activities that you can incorporate into just simply playing in the sand.”

Students from junior kindergarten through first grade will be sent home with a packet containing all the books they’ll need, as well as an interactive app to track progress and engage parents. The school hopes the children will return in the fall ready to pick up right where they left off.

“Our major goal here is to try to stop the summer slide because many kids, if they’re not picking up a book or they’re not reading, summer slide happens and we’re hoping to close that gap and not have kids come in having summer slide. So encourage them to read as much as they can throughout the summer.”