BookSpring Summer Success effectively addresses the widespread drop in reading skills that occurs in economically disadvantaged elementary students over the summer. During COVID, we have been able to pivot the program so that the remarkable impact of this program can continue empowering young readers at home with a modified, non-group distribution model in partnership with Literacy First.
Research has shown that over 80% of students from economically disadvantaged communities lose reading skills over the summer. Having access to books makes a significant difference. Our results show that up to 36% of children participating in our program perform better in reading scores after the summer than a matched comparison group. STEAM (Science, Technology, Education, Arts, and Math) themes, teacher lesson plans for K, 1, & 2 grades, parent support text messaging, and student choice of book selection encourages students to explore the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Summer Success partners with kindergarten, first, and second-grade teachers. It offers online teacher training and curriculum resources for ten read aloud from popular trade books that are TEKS aligned and support exploring a wide range of professional careers. BookSpring provides the classroom books on loan and access to the whole curriculum online and in print format on request. An online or in-person teacher training preps Pre-K, First, and Second-grade teachers to support Librarians or Reading Specialists in coordinating the program in partner schools and centers. Then, we work with each teacher to curate a selection of 10 books to be distributed in classes during the last ten weeks of the school year, thereby scaffolding summer reading at home. Enrollment is now open.
BookSpring is currently accepting applications for a program fee of $7.90 per child. Additional spaces are available for the coming year but limited, so be sure to contact us as soon as possible if your school or childcare center is interested.
Read the BookSpring Summer Success White Paper 2018, the Summer Success Evaluation 2020, and Summer Success Progress Report 2021 about the program’s remarkable impact.
Program Coordinator Alejandro Torres can be reached at alejandro.torres@bookspring.org or (512) 472-1791 x 103 to give your students Summer Success for home reading improvement.