United Way Kicks Off Summer Reading Program
By: Sarah Hatten
Updated: July 5, 2012
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) With the help of volunteers, children are catching up on summer reading in St. Joseph. United Way is inviting the Summer Explorers, a St. Joseph School District program, to spend the month of July reading.
About 15 volunteers showed up at Mark Twain on Thursday to help students sharpen their skills. The reading adventure started as a pilot program last summer and was so successful, this year it's offered at four schools.
"We did see a change over the course of the summer. They increased their reading. We did a pre-survey and a post-survey. We asked how many books did you read? When do you read? And for some of the kids, the answer was no books, never, I never read. By the end of the summer, they were reading," Jodi Bloemker, of United Way said.
"We're trying to help them transition to the next grade so they're keeping up with the same reading level they were at," Melissa Chesnut, volunteer said.
After the hour reading sessions, students get to choose two books to take home. United Way has already signed up 80 volunteers for this program.
About 15 volunteers showed up at Mark Twain on Thursday to help students sharpen their skills. The reading adventure started as a pilot program last summer and was so successful, this year it's offered at four schools.
"We did see a change over the course of the summer. They increased their reading. We did a pre-survey and a post-survey. We asked how many books did you read? When do you read? And for some of the kids, the answer was no books, never, I never read. By the end of the summer, they were reading," Jodi Bloemker, of United Way said.
"We're trying to help them transition to the next grade so they're keeping up with the same reading level they were at," Melissa Chesnut, volunteer said.
After the hour reading sessions, students get to choose two books to take home. United Way has already signed up 80 volunteers for this program.
