King County Library System (KCLS) will highlight the importance of summer learning with numerous educational, creative and healthy programs throughout its 48 King County community libraries.
Led by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), National Summer Learning Day is an advocacy day aimed at elevating the importance of keeping all kids learning, safe and healthy during the summer. Held July 12 each year, the country unites in efforts to promote awareness of the importance of keeping kids engaged during the summer. Literacy will be the focus of this year’s National Summer Learning Day with a National Read-Aloud of the award-winning book, Trombone Shorty, the true story of a boy in New Orleans who follows his passion to become a professional musician. The book’s acclaimed illustrator and Caldecott Honor recipient, Bryan Collier, will serve as this year’s National Summer Learning Ambassador, while KCLS will serve as one of seven flagship Summer Learning Day sites nationwide for the National Read-Aloud.
“National Summer Learning Day is an annual reminder that summers are important times for our school children to continue learning and growing,” said Tess Mayer, Director of Outreach, Programs and Services for King County Library System. “KCLS is committed to supporting student achievement through a number of summer programs and services held at KCLS Libraries to help them prepare for the school year ahead.”
Research shows that summers without quality learning opportunities put our nation’s youth at risk for falling behind, year after year, in core subjects like math and reading. The math and reading skills students lose each summer are cumulative and contribute significantly to the achievement gap between lower and higher-income kids. A survey conducted by NSLA, indicated that two-thirds of teachers said they spend at least a month re-teaching students material from the previous year when they return from summer vacation.
“When children read over the summer they keep their skills sharp and prevent summer learning loss,” said Maren Ostergard, KCLS Children’s Services Librarian. “The more children read, the better readers they become. This is why KCLS’s Summer Reading Program offer fun and engaging activities to promote thinking, creativity and teamwork to prevent the summer slide when school is out.”
KCLS’ Summer Reading Program includes literary events, free summer meals, educational activities and services, all of which support the mission of National Summer Learning Day. Search for National Read-Along details at www.KCLS.org and other participating events at www.summerlearning.org/summer-learning-day-events.
Learning at its best requires children and teens to eat nutritiously, so they can focus on building their healthy minds. Free summer meals for all youth are available at select KCLS libraries to help nurture children’s minds and bodies. Find details at KCLS summer meals.
Children and teens may also add additional adventures to their summer enrichment by exploring museums for free. Go on a summer field trip and “check out” art exhibitions, travel through time and space, discover the Puget Sound’s marine environment, find out what makes culture “pop,” and attend events at local museums and the aquarium. Visit KCLS Museum Passes for details and to reserve free passes online.
For more information on KCLS’ Summer Reading Program, visit your local KCLS library or http://www.kcls.org/summer.
