U-46 elementary schools prepare for 2019 Summer Reading Challenge

The weather may not quite reflect it yet, but summer is nearly here, and school doors will soon close for summer break. That does not mean students and staff will take a break from continuing to learn. Elementary principals and teachers are reminding their students to continue reading over the next three months as part of the annual U-46 Summer Reading Challenge.

Summer reading helps improve and maintain academic performance

"Summer is a great time for families to continue to nurture a love of reading among students," said Elgin Area School District U-46 CEO Tony Sanders. "Pick a book to read as a family and make it a topic during dinner conversations. This makes reading social and engaging, and more likely to become a lifelong habit."

In collaboration with local public libraries, the annual friendly competition this year aims to ensure that at least 4,500 students complete the challenge, up from 3,600 last year.

The competition emphasizes that children who read over the break retain the skills they worked so hard to develop during the school year.

Research shows that students who read at least 15 minutes daily over the summer show significant gains in reading achievement. Reading builds students' vocabulary and reinforces the skills they have learned during the school year.

Two of the district's 40 elementary schools will be recognized with a trophy at the end of the 2019 Summer Reading Challenge. One trophy will go to the school with the most students who complete the challenge, which Lincoln Elementary in Hoffman Estates won last year. The second trophy will go to the school that demonstrates the largest increase over last year in the number of students who complete the challenge. Washington Elementary School in Elgin received that award for 2018.

During the Summer Reading Challenge, U-46 students are encouraged to visit their local libraries to complete summer reading logs and earn prizes such as T-shirts, books and even gift cards and free passes to pools, sports themed adventures and a membership to Brookfield Zoo.

Librarians across the district's 11 communities have been presenting the various summer reading themes to students, and principals have been driving home the message in newsletters, on building marquees and meetings with parents. Messages, photos and videos will be shared on social media this summer, as well, to encourage parents to keep their children reading and logging their time using the #U46SummerReading hashtag.

Students should visit their local libraries for a copy of the reading log, information about the reading challenge, and how they can earn prizes. Links to each library partner and facts about summer reading will also be posted on the district's website at u-46.org/summerreadingchallenge.

Each local public library offers a variation of the Summer Reading Challenge. Below is a chart with each library, its program name, and the challenge timeline. Some libraries will accept reading logs after their challenge officially ends, and offer electronic logs as well as paper copies, so parents should talk to their local librarian for details.

The theme at Bartlett Public Library, 800 S. Bartlett Road, will be "It's Showtime at Your Library!" from May 28-July 27.

Carol Stream Public Library, 616 Hiawatha Drive, will offer "Camp Hiawatha: Under Construction" from June 1-Aug. 11.

Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin, will be encouraing you to "Get in the Game, READ!" from May 31-Aug. 3.

Poplar Creek Public Library, 1405 S. Park Ave. in Streamwood, will offer "Reading, the True Superpower!" from June 3-July 26.

Summer Library Program, an invite-only elementary-level summer session, is expected to serve more than 1,000 students who will participate in engaging, hands-on STEM activities that promote critical thinking, problem solving and collaborative skills.

The students also will complete their library's particular Summer Reading Challenge during the program.

That program is scheduled to begin June 6 at the Bartlett Public Library, Poplar Creek Public Library and Gail Borden Public Library's main campus and Rakow branch.

Due to building construction, the Summer Library Program for Carol Stream Public Library will take place at Poplar Creek Public Library.