HIGH POINT, N.C., July 24, 2015 – They left with grins on their faces and books in their arms, ready to tackle the coming school year.
Like Jaahir Contreas-Cuervas, who carried home a stack of new books in a blue plastic bin.
He picked each one at a book fair that was part of the conclusion of High Point University’s Summer Reading Institute.
“I love that I am able to pick out books to take home with me and call my own,” said Cuervas. “I learned so much more about reading because of this Reading Institute at HPU, and I am ready to get back to school and show my teachers what I have learned.”
The book fair on Tuesday gave each child the selection of 10 books, and a family night on Wednesday brought more than 150 moms, dads and siblings to the School of Education to discuss this summer’s progress with HPU’s education majors who led the program. Thursday was the last day of the one-month institute.
Cuervas is one of the rising third graders from Montlieu Academy who participated in the program, which received funding from the Molly Millis Foundation. At the institute, education majors and professors from HPU sought to improve students’ abilities to be efficient and effective readers, deter summer reading loss, and raise the reading proficiency of the children.
“This program has been great for my child,” says Channelle Parker, parent of a Montlieu Academy student. “She is able to come home every day and tell me in detail exactly what she read. She was never able to do this before coming to the Reading Institute. It has made her want to pick up a book more, because she understands and comprehends what she is reading. This is an excellent program, and I am thankful and grateful to HPU and everyone who made it possible.”
“It has been such a joy working with the Montlieu Academy students every day,” says HPU student Elizabeth Mendelson. “To see their reading skills progress throughout the summer is very fulfilling, and I have loved making a positive impact on them.”