BPL cracks spine on summer reading
Do kids get dumber in the summer? Some education researchers believe they do. It’s commonly called “the summer slide” and it’s been a hot topic among teachers and parents alike for almost a century.
The theory goes like this: Kids read fewer books and solve fewer math problems over the summer, fall out of practice with these things, and then take a week or two to “warm back up” to the subjects once the school year recommences. Some experts believe our nation’s students lose nearly a year of schooling over the course of their enrollments to these periods of shaking off the rust. They also think millions of dollars might be saved on remedial education if we could figure out a way to keep the youth focused on their books rather the sand and surf while school’s out.
The Baldwin Public Library threw its hat — or should that be thinking cap? — into the ring last week, celebrating the kickoff for its summer reading program. Dozens of young literati congregated in the BPL’s community room to receive reading inspiration and watch Patricia Shih perform her show “One World, Many Songs.”
The kids took home books from the library to read and their parents, teachers and librarians all hoped the effort would help them “turn the page” on the summer slide.
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