Summer Literacy Enrichment Experiences for Struggling Middle School Students

• In Event: 52.075 - Toward Justice: An Illustrative Example of a University–School Partnership Designed to Advance an Agenda for Transforming Black Education

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe a pilot program- developed as a result of partnership between the School of Education and the South Bend Community School Corporation – that was designed by Prof. Davis to advance the literacy development of mostly African American middle school students who were struggling readers. This presentation will share data and findings from a summer literacy program we created for middle school students in conjunction with the local school corporation.

Perspectives
Middle school students from low socioeconomic backgrounds are often underserved when it comes to organized reading and literacy activities in the summer. Yet these are the some of the students who are often most negatively affected by summer reading loss (What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), 2010; Willard & Kulinna, 2012) Often programs that are available focus on elementary students, or provide activities that are not expressly designed for adolescent interests or literacy needs (for example, Luffig, 2003). Although not necessarily evenly credited with helping students with low SES make reading gains over the summer, well-designed summer reading programs have been shown to prevent reading loss, especially those that extend over a period of multiple summers (Wilkins, Gersten, Decker, Grunden, Brasiel, Brunnert, & Jayanthi, M, 2012; WWC, 2010).

Results/Implications
Data on reading comprehension for participating students will be analyzed this fall in a pre-/post design, and compared with peers who did not participate in the program. A second summer series, focusing on different themes and literacy strategies will be developed based on the analysis of the data from this summer.

Author

• Hope Smith Davis, Indiana University - South Bend