Research / Promoting Literacy| New York State Education Department |
Research / Promoting Literacy |
Public libraries across the State will be providing reading-based activities all summer long with the statewide Statewide Summer Reading Program. Research has shown that children who continue to read during the summer vacation perform better in the fall when school resumes. Summer reading programs make educational reading activities fun and appealing to young people. |
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Children need to keep reading through the summer so they don't have to catch up on their reading skills when they return to school in the fall. When children read throughout the summer, they become better readers and better learners. I urge families to take advantage of the free reading program offered this summer at all of the State's public libraries. -- State Education Commissioner Richard Mills |
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The bibliography below is also available as four-page document in .PDF format. NOTE: Links below will open in a new window.
This article describes a small-scale study in Illinois, comparing results on reading comprehension and vocabulary tests. Both scores increased in those students who participated in the Summer Reading Program and decreased in those who didn't. The number of books read during the summer was not significantly linked to the increase in scores; the students' enrollment in the Summer Reading Program was more important then the amount read.
In this 2001 LSTA-funded report, Drs. Donna Celano and Susan Neuman describe the ways in which public libraries foster literacy skills through summer reading programs and preschool programs. Recent literature they studied showed:
- Libraries continue to play a major role in fostering literacy, especially among those most needing assistance in developing literacy skills (e.g., preschool and elementary school children).
- Children who have been exposed to library preschool programs showed a greater number of emergent literacy behaviors and pre-reading skills than those in a control group.
- Children who participate in summer reading programs benefit from the many literacy-related activities offered, aiding significantly in literacy development.
- Public Library preschool and summer reading programs encourage children to spend a significant amount of time with books.
The research they conducted of summer reading programs in Philadelphia studied four groups of children with low reading scores who came from low-income working families. Two groups attended summer reading programs; the other two attended day camps. After a few weeks in the programs, the children in the summer reading program read significantly better than those who attended camp. This study also highlighted the following benefits:
- Programs encouraged children to spend increased time with books.
- Public Library reading programs played an important role in the reading achievement of children who lack access to books and other reading materials in their daily lives.
- Literacy-related activities and events enriched reading experiences, encouraging children to read themselves, hear stories read aloud and write about what they'd read.
- Public Library programs encouraged parents to become involved in children's reading.
In her definitive and classic study, Summer Learning and the Effects of Schooling (Academic Press, 1978), Barbara Heyns followed sixth and seventh graders in the Atlanta public schools through two school years and the intervening summer. Among the findings of her research:
- The number of books read during the summer is consistently related to academic gains.
- Children in every income group who read six or more books over the summer gained more in reading achievement than children who did not.
- The use of the public library during the summer is more predictive of vocabulary gains than attending summer school is.
- The major factors determining whether a child read over that summer were: 1) whether the child used the public library; 2) the child's sex (girls read more than boys but also watched more TV); 3) socioeconomic status; and 4) the distance from home to a library.
- "More than any other public institution, including the schools, the public library contributed to the intellectual growth of children during the summer. Moreover, unlike summer school programs, the library was used by over half the sample and attracted children from diverse backgrounds." (p.77)
[Above summary from Making the Case for Library Services to Children and Teens, State Library of North Carolina.]
Johnson's report focuses on: 1) Who needs summer programs and 2) Effective ways to reach them. Drawing on research from the Baltimore "Beginning School Study" (Karl Alexander and Doris Entwisle, 1996), he found that "the academic gap between rich and poor children, as measured by test scores, increases throughout the elementary school years." Summer losses in achievement add up year by year and "seem to be the major reason why the academic gap between low- and high-income children grows throughout the elementary school years." Since the losses are largest in the summers of the first three to four years of school, "preventing these losses, particularly over the first few summers, could make the gap much smaller." [Note: This age group, it should be noted, is the primary target audience of public library summer reading programs, having the most attendance and appeal. In New York State's statewide summer reading program, all age groups, from preschool to teenagers are included, but elementary aged children make up the most enthusiastic and easy-to-reach population.]
Suggestions for effective ways to reach the neediest youth include:
- Form partnerships with the schools
- Form partnerships with community groups and services that reach the disadvantaged
- Make programs accessible and convenient for parents
- Involve the parents
- Involve volunteers
- Make learning fun for everyone. [Note: This is one of the greatest strengths of the NYS Library Statewide Summer Reading Program.]
Krashen's book reports on research demonstrating the value of free voluntary reading in the development of reading, writing and spelling skills. He makes a strong statement: "Free voluntary reading (henceforth FVR) is one of the most powerful tools we have in language education, and…is the missing ingredient in first language 'language arts' as well as in intermediate second and foreign language instruction." The book then reviews studies that illustrate how free voluntary reading benefits student achievement, including these highlights:
- Children read more when they see other people reading. Teachers need to be models by reading for pleasure when students are reading.
- The longer free voluntary reading is practiced, the more consistent and positive the results.
- People who read more, write better.
- Reading as a leisure activity is the best predictor of comprehension, vocabulary and reading speed.
- Skill-based reading exercises (in two studies) did not help comprehension levels.
- Outstanding high school writers reported extensive summer reading.
- The relationship between free voluntary reading and literacy is extremely consistent, even when different tests, different methods of reading habits and different definitions of free reading are used.
- If children read one million words a year, at least one thousand words will be added to their vocabulary. (One study found this could easily be accomplished by letting children and teens read any format reading material they wanted, including comic books and teen romances.)
- Studies also showed that spelling improved the more kids read.
- In summary, Krashen found that FVR resulted in better:
- Reading comprehension
- Writing style
- Vocabulary
- Spelling, and
- Grammatical development
These improvements were in contrast to poor results from direct reading instruction! (pp. 13-26) [Note: The NYS Statewide Summer Reading Program directly encourages local libraries to use free voluntary reading.]
Research shows that there is very little difference in reading gains between children from high- and low-income families during the school year. Over the summer, children from high-income families make better progress in reading and the difference is cumulative over time. Increasing access to books and reading over the summer through public library programs is of great benefit to children from low-income families. However, libraries need to improve the quality of materials available to these children for the benefit to occur.
This article focuses on the research underpinning free voluntary reading (or sustained silent reading) rather than on summer reading programs specifically. Summer reading programs, however, facilitate the sort of free reading discussed in this article, so these studies can be used to support the educational value of summer reading programs.
In her dissertation, Jill Locke evaluated previous studies and conducted her own study. The previous studies showed:
- Any summer reading plan is better than no plan, but a library reading program is superior. (Cook, 1952)
- An experimental group that received individual library attention achieved significant gains in reading comprehension, speed and vocabulary when compared to a control group which received no library attention. (Bogensen, 1960)
- An experimental group showed a gain in ability of seven months after a summer of weekly bookmobile visits and completing a reading record log. (Aasen, 1956)
- A significant gain in reading ability was noted among first graders participating in the public library summer reading program. (Howes, 1986)
- The number of books read in the summer is not as important a factor as enrollment in a summer reading program. (Carter, 1988)
Jill Locke's study showed that public libraries successful in reaching more than eight percent of their child population in the summer reading program have:
- Less restrictions in program design
- Stated goals and objectives
- A marketing strategy
- Evaluation methods
- Trained children's specialists
[Note: this dissertation is in the collection of the New York State Library.]
This article looked at research that examined learning losses over the summer, especially for students from lower-income families. Some highlights:
- A 1996 University of Missouri study found "an annual reading achievement gap of about 3 months between students from middle- and lower-income families." The middle-income children's achievement remained stable or increased
- In the elementary grades, "a summer loss of 3 months accumulates to become a gap of 18 months by the end of 6th grade. By middle school, summer reading loss…produces a cumulative lag of two or more years in reading achievement, even when effective instruction during the school year is available."
- Another study illustrated that "children with a history of less successful reading experiences simple aren't as interested in voluntary reading…" and that often "Lower-achieving readers are typically asked to read books that are too difficult." [Note: NYS Statewide Summer Reading Program recommends a self-selection approach and setting individual goals.]
- Building on student interest can stimulate voluntary reading, even among lower-achieving readers.
- According the National Reading Panel's 2000 report, hundreds of correlational studies suggest that "the more children read, the better their fluency, vocabulary and comprehension." (p.12)
Study results included:
- 98% of the participating students reported they liked the program
- 99% stated they liked going to the library.
- There was an 11% increase in the number of parents reading to their children more than 15 hours/week.
- Before the summer, 77% of parents reported their child read 9 hours or less/week. During the summer, there was a 9% increase in the number of children reading 10-14 hours/week and the number of children reading 15 or more books/week rose 11%.
- Teachers reported on over 900 participating and non-participating students.
- 55% who participated had a high enthusiasm for reading versus less than 40% of nonparticipants.
- More of the participants versus the non-participating students performed at or above grade level in: word recognition, reading vocabulary and reading comprehension.
- Student perceptions concurred with teacher reports.
This newsletter from the Alaska State library provides an annotated bibliography of recent research on summer reading, as well as links to web sites with research, project reports, and advice about summer reading and summer reading programs.
In Summary:
Recommendations:
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