FIRST LADY SUZANNE CARCIERI JOINS OVER 30 U.S. GUBERNATORIAL SPOUSES IN SERVING AS A “READING AMBASSADOR” FOR SCHOLASTIC BOOKS CHALLENGE

First Lady Suzanne Carcieri read to fourth grade and fifth grade students at Hamilton Elementary School in North Kingstown this afternoon to promote the importance and fun of summer reading, to encourage students to read at least four books over the summer months, and to urge them to participate in local summer library programs. Studies show that children’s reading drops dramatically when they reach the fourth and fifth grades.

“Reading and visiting local library programs over the summer months are fun, free activities that families can do together,” said Rhode Island First Lady Suzanne Carcieri, who is serving as a Reading Ambassador for the Scholastic Summer Challenge. “Children can visit exotic and exciting places through reading.”

The Scholastic Summer Challenge is a four month global literacy campaign encouraging children to read four or more books over the summer months to combat “summer slide”, the learning loss that occurs from simply being out of school. Scholastic was prompted to develop the challenge as a response to research showing that:

• Children who don’t read four or more age-appropriate books over the summer are more vulnerable to the summer slide, and more likely to score lower on tests in the fall
• Low income students experience an average two month loss in reading achievement
• Children’s frequency of reading for fun drops dramatically after age eight

This summer, children can log onto www.scholastic.com/summer to join the free Scholastic Summer Challenge and join others in recording their minutes spent reading, earn points for their team, play games, and read for a cause – with a donation going to support Save the Children. The site also allows parents and educators to engage in the Scholastic Summer Challenge by logging on to explore new multi-media content about children and reading, get advice from educational experts, and find summer book lists and articles in English and Spanish.

The First Lady also encouraged students and their families to visit public libraries and join a summer reading program. Sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS), Rhode Island’s Summer Reading Program is in its 32nd year and will have a “Be Creative @ Your Library” theme for 2009.

“Children who maintain their reading skills over the summer months have a tremendous advantage when they return to school in the fall,” said Mrs. Carcieri. “They start the school year on target rather than needing to make up for lost time and reading skill.”

The Rhode Island Summer Reading Program specifics vary in each community in response to local needs and to allow for the creativity of local children’s librarians. Programs typically run from five to eight weeks, during which time children read a certain number of books or a certain amount of time, and then report on the books either orally or through projects. The children’s reading is recorded in a reading record and through theme-related displays and materials. Families should contact their local public library for more information about the 2009 program.

Rhode Island’s state program was based on Barbara Heyns’ 1978 study, Summer Learning and the Effects of Schooling. Her research found that the number of books read during the summer is consistently related to academic gains; that children in every income group who read six or more books over the summer gained more in reading achievement than children who did not; and that the use of the public library during the summer is more predictive of vocabulary gains than attending summer school.

To further the message to children and families nationally about the importance of summer reading, over 30 U.S. gubernatorial spouses have signed on as “Reading Ambassadors,” encouraging children in their states to read this summer. As part of the Scholastic Summer Challenge™ literacy campaign, the Reading Ambassadors will raise awareness about summer reading to children, families, teachers and librarians throughout the country. In support of their role as Reading Ambassadors, Scholastic will donate 500 books to fourth and fifth grade students in each of the First Spouses’ states. The majority of the Reading Ambassadors will also be hosting summer reading kick-off events at local schools, libraries, or the governors’ residences.

To learn more about the Rhode Island Summer Reading Program, contact librarian Susan Lepore at (401) 739-5440

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