TheNewMexicoSummer Reading Program is designed to help students in kindergarten through the end of eighth grade in their literacy skills.
This is a free program that takes place in the summer, with the goal of preventing what is known as the “summer slide,” which is when students lose reading skills during the break from school.
The data from the 2024 summer reading program shows that the students who participated in this program were able to maintain their literacy skills or improve them, which proves the effectiveness of this program.
This Summer Reading Program ensures that students have access to high-interest books for their grade level. Choosing books they are excited to read helps motivate children and help them develop a love for reading.
Sessions
This program is committed to small group instruction. Each session includes only four students, ensuring that every participant receives the focused attention they need to succeed. Trained literacy instructors guide the sessions, providing instruction that helps students catch up on their reading skills and identify any gaps in their knowledge. This personalized approach to learning is crucial, particularly during the summer months when academic engagement decreases.
This program lasts for four weeks, from June 7th to June 27th, with daily sessions lasting four hours. During this time, students receive not only instruction but also meals or snacks and breaks.
To assess growth and learning, each student takes pre-session and post-session assessments. These evaluations will help determine if the students have made progress in their literacy skills over the course of the program.
The curriculum covers a wide range of essential reading elements, including phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, writing, reading comprehension, and fluency. This well-rounded approach ensures that students receive instruction that is both comprehensive and engaging.
Additional Online Program
This year’s program will be incorporating Amira, an adaptable learning tool that allows students to continue improving their literacy skills at home. Using Amira means that even after the in person sessions end, students have the resources they need to practice and enhance their reading abilities on their own. Being able to learn at home can improve the child’s engagement with reading.
The program is partnered with various libraries and community organizations throughout the state that are willing to support literacy in New Mexico.
Sponsored by the Public Education Department, the New Mexico Summer Reading Program is provided free of charge for all participants, including the county.
This program ensures that every child has the opportunity to receive dedicated reading support during their summer break.
For those interested in enrolling their children or learning more about the Summer Reading Program, more information is available on the program's website: https://www.literacy.nm.gov/ “This program is being offered free to New Mexico families because this is dedicated literacy time that students will be able to have to receive targeted reading support that they may or may not have the opportunity to experience during the school year,” says a program representative. “Our goals are simple: enhance literacy, track reading progress, and boost confidence and skills in literacy.”
Through its structured sessions and supportive learning environment, the New Mexico Summer Reading Program is an important and easy-access resource for families who want to keep their children from the “summer slide” and reading throughout the summer months.