Biggest item at the Monday, June 27, 2011 Rock Hill School Business meeting will be a decision on the 2011-12 operating budget. Also up for discussion will be a decision on raising school lunch prices by $0.05. Terry Plumb, retired editor of the Rock Hill Herald will address the board about avoiding summer reading slumps. A recent article of his is below:
Parents can help children avoid summer slump
By TERRY C. PLUMB
Guest Columnist
By TERRY C. PLUMB
Guest Columnist
Teachers have known for years that children’s reading skills decline during the summer break. Learning to read is like riding a bicycle, teachers say. Skills needed to read must be repeated continuously over
an extended period.
an extended period.
Estimates of reading loss vary, but they typically range from nine to 12 weeks. That lost time must be made up during the next school year, which means valuable time is spent regaining lapsed skills.
Although the summer slump affects children at all levels, the problem is particularly vexing for struggling readers. Teachers worry about a child who isn’t reading at grade level by third grade; that’s when reading becomes critical to learning other subjects, including math.
Numerous studies have shown that the problem can be minimized or reversed if students both have access to books during the summer and actually read them.
What is being done to counter the summer slump? Around the country, schools have come up with creative ways to get books into children’s hands. In Green Bay, Wisc., the staff of one elementary school converted a recreational vehicle into a book mobile, which they drove into neighborhoods where children were struggling with literacy. Over
one summer, they reduced the normal summer setback from 12 weeks to two. In other communities, civic clubs have formed partnerships with school districts to provide books to children.
one summer, they reduced the normal summer setback from 12 weeks to two. In other communities, civic clubs have formed partnerships with school districts to provide books to children.
What can families do to prevent or at least offset the summer slump?
The first thing is to make sure your child has a library card, and that you encourage him or her to use it. A weekly or biweekly trip to the public library (or a bookmobile) should become part of your family’s summer schedule. If you need suggestions for suitable books, ask the children’s librarian.
By law, S.C. schools must provide parents with their children’s scores on standardized tests, but scores can be confusing. The person who’s most familiar with your child is his or her teacher. Ask the teacher
to suggest titles.
to suggest titles.
Having access to books is key, but they don’t help if they aren’t read. Ask your children to maintain a simple reading log (title, author, date completed). Also, ask them questions about books they
have read. For example:
have read. For example:
Would you like to read more books by this author? Why?
Did any characters change during the book? What caused the change?
Would you recommend this book to a friend?
If your summer plans include a week at the beach or a visit to grandparents, be sure to include side trips to a children’s museum (such as EdVenture in Columbia) or historic site (e.g., Fort Sumter in Charleston).
Remember: Summer learning should be fun for the entire family. Here are some excellent websites that will allow your child to dump the slump and have a good time doing it:
Scholastic.com/summerreading: Lots of titles for all levels.
Kids-space.org: Stories, poems, etc., written by kids for kids.
Rif.org/readingplanet: Activities, authors, contests and games for every level.
Bookreviewsbykids.com: Allows your children to post their own book reviews.
Funschool.kaboose.com: Fun math, science and language-arts activities.
Funbrain.com: Offers math and reading drill fames to keep skills honed.
Discoverykids.com: Uses games, experiments, etc. to teach about science.
Mr. Plumb, a retired newspaper editor from Rock Hill, wrote this article as part of a project for the S.C. Diversity Leaders Initiative at Furman University. Reach him at terry.plumb@gmail.com.
The proposed agenda for Monday's meeting is below:
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Monday, June 27, 2011
6:00 p.m. – District Office Board Room
A G E N D A
I. Call to Order
Approval of Agenda
(Under consent agenda, all action items will be voted on after one motion and second to approve them without discussion. If a board member wants any action item discussed or voted on separately, the board member, before the agenda is approved, must ask that the action item be moved to the discussion item section.)
II. Executive Session – Personnel Matter
III. Special Business
A. Recognition of Sandy Andrews as S.C. Adult Education Director of the Year
IV. Citizen Participation
V. Consent Action Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes
1. May 23, 2011 business meeting
2. June 13, 2011 work session
B. Approval of Personnel Recommendations
C. Approval of Use of Facilities (Impact Church)
D. Approval of Field Study Requests (6)
E. Approval of Use of Activity Buses
VI. Communications
A. Legislative Update – Mr. Brown
VII. Report of the Superintendent
A. Announcements
B. Shared Vision & Beliefs / Future Focus
C. Ending Summer Reading Loss
VIII. Review of Work Session
IX. Action Agenda
A. Approval of School Lunch Price Increase
B. Approval of Bond Refunding
C. Approval of Funding Flexibility
D. Approval of Policy JLA – 1st Reading
E. Approval of 2011-2012 Budget
X. Other Business
XI. Executive Session – Student Matter
XII. Adjournment
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