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U-46 Elementary Schools Participate in 2018 Summer Reading Challenge
May 24, 2018
ELGIN – School buildings may soon be closing for the summer, but elementary principals and teachers are reminding their students to continue opening the books. In collaboration with local libraries, the District challenges elementary schools to encourage summer reading through an annual friendly competition that emphasizes how children who read over the break retain the skills they worked so hard to develop during the school year.
“Reading every day over summer helps children maintain their reading abilities, of course, but also grow in knowledge and critical thinking skills,” said U-46 CEO Tony Sanders. “Plus, reading is fun! It broadens our imagination and opens our mind to new possibilities and new worlds.”
Summer reading can help students maintain or improve academic performance and avoid the dreaded “summer slide,” which refers to students losing up to two months of learning during the summer months. National research has demonstrated that students who participate in summer reading programs score higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the next school year.
Two of the District’s 40 elementary schools will be recognized with a trophy at the end of the Summer Reading Challenge. One trophy will go to the school with the most students who complete the challenge, which Sycamore Trails Elementary School in Bartlett won last year. The second trophy will go to the school that demonstrates the largest increase over last year in the number of students who complete the challenge. Otter Creek Elementary School in Elgin received that award for 2017, and its students got a special treat on Tuesday as a reward for their work in last summer’s challenge - a performance by the Jesse White Tumblers. The students exclaimed with “oohs” and “aaahs!” after each stunt, and the performers high-fived students and signed autographs for their young fans.
“The tumblers shared a positive message that resonated with the students,” said Otter Creek Principal David Aleman. “They also showed the impact of hard work, practice, and passion in meeting one's goals."
During the 2018 Summer Reading Challenge, U-46 students are encouraged to visit their local libraries to complete summer reading logs and earn prizes such as t-shirts, books and even gift cards and free passes to pools and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
Librarians across the District’s 11 communities have been presenting the various summer reading themes to students, and principals have been driving home the message in newsletters, on building marquees and meetings with parents. Messages, photos and videos will be shared on social media this summer, as well, to encourage parents to keep their children reading and logging their time.
Students should visit their local libraries for a copy of the reading log, information about the reading challenge and how they can earn prizes. Links to each library partner and facts about summer reading will also be posted on the District’s website at u-46.org/summerreadingchallenge. Last year more than 3,000 students competed in the Summer Reading Challenge.
Principal Charlotte Coleman at Nature Ridge Elementary School in Bartlett is working hard to motivate families to participate with an eye on her school garnering the “most improved” trophy.
“Our students and their teachers work hard during the school year to build language and literacy skills, and it would be a shame to lose that progress during the summer,” Coleman said. “The Summer Reading Challenge is a fun way to remind families that reading is a free, enriching activity with long-term benefits. Reading really does open up the world for children.”
Each local public library offers a variation of the Summer Reading Challenge. Below is a chart with each library, its program name and the challenge timeline. Some libraries will accept reading logs after their challenge officially ends, and offer electronic logs as well as paper copies, so parents should talk to their local librarian for details.
Library |
Program |
Dates |
Bartlett Public Library, 800 S. Bartlett Road, Bartlett |
Reading Takes You Everywhere! |
Tuesday, May 29 - Sunday, July 29 |
Carol Stream Public Library, 616 Hiawatha Drive, Carol Stream |
Camp Hiawatha: Once Upon a Time
|
Friday, June 1 – Sunday, August 12 |
Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin |
Dive Into Reading |
Sunday, May 13 - Wednesday, August 8 |
Poplar Creek Public Library, 1405 S. Park Ave., Streamwood |
Feed Your Need to Read |
Monday, June 4 – Friday, July 27 |
Summer Reading Challenge Camp, an invite-only elementary-level summer session, will begin Tuesday, June 5 for Gail Borden at the main campus and the Rakow and South Elgin branches. The Poplar Creek Public Library’s Challenge Camp begins Tuesday, June 5 as well, and Bartlett Public Library’s camp begins Thursday, June 7. The camp is slated to serve more than 1,000 students, who will participate in engaging, hands-on STEM activities that promote critical thinking, problem solving and collaborative skills. The students will also complete their library’s particular Summer Reading Challenge during camp, and through the program, their families will be reminded what amazing, free resources area libraries provide, said U-46'ss Literacy K-6 Coordinator Celia Banks.
“Reading is the building block for any kind of success, in academics but also later in a career,” said Banks, citing research that shows that children who read 20 minutes a day over six years are exposed to 1.8 million words. They’re also likely to score better than 90 percent of their classmates on standardized tests, she said. “The dividends are huge.”