Exploring the Effectiveness of Summer Book Clubs to Improve Children's Reading Motivation

• In Event: 52.085 - Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: 52.085-9 - Out-of-School Time SIG Poster Session

Abstract

National statistics indicate that students in the U.S. continue to be underperforming in reading. These statistics combined with a higher risk of learning loss for economically-disadvantaged students prompted a city-wide agency to initiate 75 book clubs at 23 sites (school and community) to support summer reading. The purpose of this evaluation was two-fold: (a) to examine effectiveness of the summer reading program and (b) to investigate if participating in the summer book clubs impacted children’s reading motivation. Results showed that the students’ mean reading motivation scores are just slightly above average and that their reading motivation did not change over the summer. Observations indicated that there seemed to be some inconsistency in program implementation (i.e., group size, program duration).

Authors

• Susana E Franco-Fuenmayor, University of Saint Thomas

• Kayla Braziel Rollins, Texas A&M University

• Yoheily Cristina Widdison, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Yolanda N. Padron, Texas A&M University

• Hersh C. Waxman, Texas A&M University