Put the Fun Back into Summer: Adolescent Summer Reading

Programs

Presented by:Taylor E. DeYoung

I. Intro:I. My Experience

II. The QuestionIII. The PurposeIV. DefinitionsV. The ResearchVI. The MethodVII. ProgramsVIII. ResultsIX. My Project

I. The Website

X. LimitationsXI. ConclusionXII. Implementations and RecommendationsXIII. Questions

Overview

Let’s take a trip down memory lane…

I love to read, but I dreaded it! Lengthy Never a choice in:

◦ Assignments◦ Books

Teachers never checked in Never felt that I could contact the teacher, if

I needed help. Procrastinated!

My Experience

The Question:

What are other schools across the United States utilizing as Summer Reading Programs?

Why will this benefit the field of education?

what are some of the

most effective summer reading programs available for schools to implement?

Other Questions to Consider:

The Purpose:

The purpose of this research is to provide local schools with program ideas so the school has options when deciding on implementing a new program or updating a current summer reading program.

Summer Reading Loss: A decline in student’s reading development. This occurs during summer vacation while the students are away from the classroom or while he or she is not participating in formal literacy programs. 

Summer Reading Programs: a program implemented in schools in order to provide students with the opportunity to continue reading as well as to decrease the summer reading loss that occurs during the summer vacation.

Definitions:

The Research:

Public Libraries

Web-based & Technology

Roman, S., & Fiore, C. D. (2010). Do Public Library Summer Reading Programs Close the Achievement Gap?. Children & Libraries: The Journal Of The Association For Library Service To Children, 8(3), 27-31.

Lawrence, S. A., McNeal, K., & Yildiz, M. N. (2009). Summer Program Helps Adolescents Merge Technology, Popular Culture, Reading, and Writing for Academic Purposes. Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 52(6), 483-494.

Lu, Y., & Gordon, C. (2007). Reading takes you places: A study  of a web-based summer  reading program. School Library Media Research, 10

Mraz, M., & Rasinski, T. V. (2007). Summer reading loss. Reading Teacher, 60(8), 784-789.

Summer Reading Loss

Voluntary

McGaha, J. M., & Brent Igo, L. L. (2012). Assessing High School Students' Reading Motivation in a Voluntary Summer Reading Program. Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 55(5), 417-427.

Literature Review

Develop a Website

Review of Website

Evaluate Findings

Determine: What is the Next Step?

The Method:

Public Libraries◦ The library provides the programs and

opportunity for assigned reading and/or projects. Voluntary-Based

◦ The students must read, however, the book choice is voluntary.

Web-Based◦ Utilizing the students skills with texting and online

use. Technology

◦ Teaching students computers, to strengthen their multi-literacy skills.

The Programs:

Results: 100% have a summer reading program

implemented into their school.

What Programs?

Voluntary, but Suggested Book ListsGrade Wide Reading, based off of CurriculumRegents, Honors, AP assigned different books.

“Have you heard of the types of programs mentioned in the website, prior to visiting it?

Results Continued:

Responses

AllSomeNone

Questions three and four prompted the participants to choose an answer based off a likert scale.

Question 3◦ Teachers ranged from a 5-10

Question 4◦ Teachers ranged from a 7-10

Results Continued:

Question 5: Out of all the programs, which program would you most likely use and what program would you least likely use?

Results Continued:

Results for Most Likely

Percent

Technology/Web-Based 40%

Voluntary 60%

Public Library 0%

Results for Least Likely

Percent

Technology/Web-Based 60%

Voluntary 20%

Public Library 20%

Results:

•Suggestions included; •add programs as you learn and grow as a specialist, make Weebly accessible to schools, and do research in other districts .

One respondent did an “I wonder” statement, rather than a question. “I wonder why there is not much research for the High School or Middle School. In our county, it is more common to have summer reading in these settings, whereas Elementary students primarily do volunteer like reading or use the public libraries’ summer reading program” (Survey Response, May 2014).

Questions six and seven were open-end questions. Question six asked: “Any Suggestions for the Website?”

Question seven asks: “Any other questions about summer reading programs?”

My Websitewww.summerreadingprograms.weebly.co

m

The Limitations Lack of Adolescent Programs

Only working with one district.

There was a significant lack of information on Adolescent programs.

I should work with more schools, to learn more about what they know or already have.

“Although some of the articles may have studies done at the Elementary level, I believe that the concept of the programs could be transferred to the middle school/junior high and High School settings.”

what are some of the most effective

summer reading programs available for schools to implement?

Programs that can be utilized:◦ Public Library ◦ Voluntary◦ Web-based/◦ Technology

Conclusion

Implications and RecommendationsWhat should schools do?

What can I do as a Literacy Specialist?

Schools; SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE!

Learn from other schools’ mistakes

Don’t be afraid to use a concept from the Elementary suggestions, it can be transferable!

Research what other schools are doing in the county or other counties.

Share/Update data on my website

Ask: “What do students want?”

Any Questions?

Thank you!