Plymouth Creek Elementary Keeps Kids Reading

The summer brain drain.

It’s a problem every school, every teacher and every classroom deals with this time of year. Students can lose at least three months worth of knowledge during the summer.

“Research shows students that don’t read over the summer are behind when they come back to school in the fall,” said Plymouth Creek Elementary Literacy Specialist Laurel Johns.

So Johns and others with and the partnered to do something about it.

With the help of grant money, Johns started a new program this year at Plymouth Creek to stop the summer set back experienced at the school. Part of this initiative was to give away free books to keep students reading while they’re away from the classroom. 

Wednesday night about 30 families gathered at the school for book night, where each child was given a gift bag full of age appropriate books. 

“The kids get so excited to get new books,” Johns said.  “It’s like Christmas, it’s great to see.” 

For Mary Howard, it’s a program she’s thrilled her grandchildren are a part of. 

“Reading is a priority when it comes to my grandkids,” Howard said. 

The retired grandmother of 23 said she believes reading will unlock a lot of doors for Enihia, 7, and Jordayn, 5. 

“They are at the age where they soak up everything, which is why this program is so perfect,” she said.

All of the families, including Howard’s, came to a book night in June where kids took home their first round of free books, then came back Wednesday for round two. In all, kids took home nine to 17 books this summer.

“The price of books can really add up,” Howard said.  “I try to buy them on sale for the girls and, of course, we go to the library often, but having their own books is different, it gives them more incentive to read.”

A study done by Johns Hopkins, shows teachers typically have to spend four to six weeks recapping lessons from the previous year to bring students back up to speed after the long summer break, but Howard believes her girls won’t miss a beat. 

“This school does a lot to encourage reading,” she said.  “I think every child here will come back to school in September eager and ready to learn.”

Book night is just one of many things the school is doing to this summer to encourage reading.  On the school's website they are asking parents and kids to log the hours they read over the summer to help set a world record for reading.

Along with these efforts, Plymouth Creek will have a "Get Together" 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Plymouth Library, in which teachers from the school will read stories and help students find books that are a good fit for each child. Story readings are at 10:30, 10:50 and 11:10 a.m.