Emerson Educators Encourage Summer Reading with "Books, Bikes and Bubbles" Summer Lending Library

One great concern of elementary educators is that students will lose some of the academic gains they have made during the school year when school is out for the summer. Determined to combat the traditional “summer slide,” Emerson staff in District 200 hosted a weekly book lending event called “Books, Bikes, and Bubbles” on Emerson’s front porch on Wednesdays in June and July.

Last spring, reading specialists Kerry Romberg and Andrea Kleve, along with the Emerson literacy committee, collected gently used books of various genres to appeal to all tastes and ages. When summer arrived, Emerson students, who mostly live within walking distance of the school, were invited to walk or ride their bikes to school on Wednesdays, pick up a few fresh titles to read at home, and have fun blowing bubbles while catching up with teachers and friends. Students and their families eagerly set off to school each week, regardless of the weather, to return their old books and choose new ones. Books had no due date, so families didn’t have to worry about turning in books in the midst of summer vacations and activities.

Over the course of the summer, 17 Emerson staff members volunteered to greet students and assist them with book choices. 55 families took advantage of this summer program, with an average of 23 children attending each week.

Thank you, Mrs. Romberg, Mrs. Kleve, and Emerson Elementary staff for working to keep our students reading throughout the summer!