Summer Reading Program Makes a Difference
A large number of elementary school youngsters were able to start classes this past September on a more secure footing than they probably would have if it wasn’t for the Huntington School District’s summer reading programs.
In all, 175 boys and girls took a daily break from traditional summer activities to strengthen their language arts and literacy skills. Classes ran from August 4-22 at Jefferson Primary School and Woodhull Intermediate School.
The programs were led by veteran faculty members Joan Balsari and Silvia Gilbert. “Both programs ran smoothly and students found success both academically and socially,” said Barbara Lacey, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “Both Joan and Siliva did an exceptional job.”
Mrs. Balsari led the traditional summer reading program, which this year was staffed by 14 teachers and enrolled 90 students ranging from incoming kindergarteners to eighth graders. “Teachers focused on such ELA skills as decoding, letter recognition, comprehension, vocabulary, oral fluency, writing, grammar, story elements, sentence structure, prediction, editing and planning using graphic organizers,” Dr. Lacey said. “On my visits to each school the students were happily involved in learning.”
Teachers amassed data on their students and then prepared an individual summary report for each student’s teacher this year. The information has allowed teachers across the district to get an immediate snapshot of the strengths and weaknesses of each student so they can be provided with the assistance they need to excel.
The district continues to be aggressive in searching for opportunities to improve student performance levels and officials have been pleased with the support this particular program has received. “Students, teachers and parents were very enthusiastic and engaged in this program,” Dr. Lacey said.
The English-as-a-Second Language reading program consisted of seven teachers and 85 students from kindergarten through middle school. There was an emphasis on reading skills, including letter identification, vocabulary, comprehension skills, story elements, journal writing, oral language, sentence structure, word attack and listening skills and grammar and punctuation.
No real problems arose during the programs, but when the first day bus ride lasted longer than expected, officials worked to address the issue. “After the first day, a bus aide was assigned to each bus for the remainder of the program,” Dr. Lacey said. “Bus aides were necessary due to the age of the incoming kindergarteners and their inability to recognize their bus stops.”
“Students were fortunate to have such dedicated teachers and aides as their instructors,” said Mrs. Balsari, who is a second grade teacher at Washington Primary School. “Thanks go to all the parents and students for getting up early each summer day to attend this program.”
Officials are considering numerous recommendations to make the program even more effective, including consolidating it into one building, lengthening daily sessions to two or three hours per day for four weeks, moving classes from August to July, finalizing arrangements for the program in May instead of June in order to improve efficiency and increase participation and various other changes.
“It was a wonderful program,” Mrs. Balsari said. The feedback offered by parents and students seconded that sentiment many times over.
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