As we transition into summer, I would like to encourage parents and guardians to provide students with additional opportunities in reading. When students in our district return to school in August, they are substantially below the state average in the beginning-of-year reading when compared to other districts across the state. In an effort to address the substantial “summer slide” in reading, the Kane County School District has partnered with Kanab City Library to offer reading incentive prizes to encourage students to continue reading over the summer. This year, Kanab families have two excellent opportunities to help students maintain and grow their reading skills throughout the summer months. The Kanab City Library invites readers of all ages to participate in its Summer Reading Program. Registration began on May 26, and reading for prizes started on June 1. The program is open to everyone, even young children who are not yet reading independently, can participate by having books read to them and earning prizes. Participants set a weekly reading goal with their parents. Goals can be based on either the amount of time spent reading or the number of pages read. Each week that readers meet their goal, they can visit the library to claim a prize. In addition, every weekly prize earned comes with a ticket for a chance to win one of several grand prizes provided by Kane County School District.
The program runs through August 3, giving families plenty of opportunities to stay engaged in reading all summer long. Best of all, readers can choose any type of reading material they enjoy—library books, books from home, magazines, graphic novels, or audiobooks. The goal is simple: read and enjoy it!
This year’s theme, “Unearth a Story,” encourages readers to discover new adventures and ideas through books.
In addition to the city library program, the Kanab Elementary School Library will be open every Thursday during June and July from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Students and families are invited to stop by to check out books, find new reading materials, earn an Otter Pop for completing Lexia units at home and keep their reading momentum going throughout the summer. Access to books is one of the best ways to prevent the “summer slide” and help students return to school ready to learn in the fall. There will be a read-a-thon at the KES library in July. Watch for more information.
Research consistently shows that students who read regularly during the summer maintain stronger reading skills and are better prepared for the next school year. Whether families participate in the Kanab City Library Summer Reading Program, visit the Kanab Elementary Library, or simply make reading part of their daily routine, every page helps.