Glenwood Elementary School was one of 12 schools statewide who were selected to participate in the Read to be Ready grant, and students at Glenwood have just completed their inaugural summer program. The grant aims to eliminate the effect of “summer slide,” or the decrease in reading proficiency often observed when students do not actively engage in reading activities during the summer months.
Read to be Ready is a coordinated approach to move third grade reading proficiency in Tennessee to 75 percent by 2025. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the importance of reading, unite efforts to address the reading gap, highlight best practices, and build partnerships. Read to be Ready summer grants are designed to support students even after the last day of school.
Earlier this year, in conjunction with the launch of the statewide Read to be Ready Campaign, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation gave a $1 million gift to the Tennessee Department of Education to award for summer reading programs over the next three years. This spring, the department received over two hundred proposals and has selected 12 summer programs from across the state to receive funding.
“With less than half of the state’s third graders currently reading on grade level, we must approach reading in new and innovative ways,” Commissioner McQueen said. “Read to be Ready summer grants will support individual communities as they tailor their approach to reading to meet the needs of the families they serve.”
Glenwood Elementary School’s new Administrative Assistant, Amelia Bell led the program this summer, and reports, “While some of our students are still not on grade level with their skills, the results are encouraging. Only one student experienced ‘summer slide,’ and her loss was only equal to one month. Most of our students maintained or even grew in their reading skills. We are eager to apply for the Read to be Ready grant for next summer.”
The Fountas and Pinnell reading assessment was given during the first 2 weeks of school to all students who participated in our summer Read Like a Pro camp. Their August score was then compared to their end-of-year score in May. Results are shown in the table below.
Glenwood Read to be Ready assessment data report
Prepared by Amelia Bell, August 16, 2016
| Number of students participating | 36 |
| Number of students demonstrating reading growth during the summer | 16 |
| Number of students maintaining reading level during the summer | 19 |
| Number of students demonstrating “summer slide” | 1 |
