Summer reading program invests in kids' academic advancement.
According to Scholastic, the “summer slide” is a regression in academic proficiency due to summer break that slows down kids’ progress when they return to school. Since 2010, Sharon Moody has led the Lots of Hugs Summer Reading Program to soar above this academic gravity. The eight-week summer program is for kids to continue to upgrade their reading and math skills.
“We started this summer reading program 15 years ago because some kids couldn’t read,” Moody recalled. “We thought engaging them during the summer months would keep them from losing what they learned during the school year. Adding to this, feeding them a breakfast, lunch, and a snack each day would help keep those with no supervision at home out of trouble. This is the first year we had a counselor on campus. Also, we added a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program.”
This year, 40 students, ages six to 14, came to Hope Lutheran Church each weekday to be academically challenged by volunteer school teachers. The kids were dropped off at 7:30 a.m. and picked up before 6:00 p.m. Since they are meeting at the church, two women who are members of Hope Lutheran also teach the children in an afternoon Vacation Bible School.
“They have been going to the camp for three years,” parent Eugene Stevens said. “It really helps them, especially teaching them stuff to help them get ready for the next school year. I have seen their improvement. If there are two things you need in life, it is math and reading. Controlling your money is math. And everything you do, you have to read, whether you are signing a contract, or getting a job, or reading on the internet. Information is reading.”
On Fridays, the kids were also taken on field trips to places like ZooTampa, Medieval Times, Topgolf, and Fun Spot. The lesson for each week centered on the field trip. The students could work on things like writing a story about jousting, or a letter to the zookeeper about saving habitat. The teachers used these projects to help the students identify and analyze some of the things they saw, and learn things like the difference between nouns, pronouns, verbs, and different sentence structures. Making use of topics connected to the field trips made learning more engaging for the children. The group added 125 academic words to their vocabularies.
“I really enjoyed this program,” parent Stephanie Ruth said. “They helped my children so they wouldn’t be home being bored all day. It gave them something to do. The teachers aided with reading and math. With what they learned here, they can take it on to the next level.”
These young students had the chance to blossom during the eight weeks. For example, the longest book read by one of the students was 295 pages. Also, Heaven Martinez, initially quiet, stood out by jumping in to assist other students.
“I think this is an awesome program,” Chastity Jackson said. “I was just made aware of it this summer. I think it is awesome how they have the sponsors and the community support for this program for our youth here in Plant City. I provided my daughter’s FAST results at the beginning of the program, so the teachers and the instructors could work with her with learning gains.” FAST stands for the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking. It is standardized testing on English and math three times each school year to measure academic progress. If students do not pass these tests, they are held back from progressing grades. “It proved to be successful because she ended up with the Most Improved Reader Award and the Most Outstanding Math Award.”
Lots of Hugs gave awards to the students at a luncheon and ceremony at the end of the program. The Most Outstanding Reader Award for ages eight and nine went to Charish Jackson; for ages 10 and up, Tyhrese Levison. The Most Improved Reader Award for the ages eight and nine group was Heaven Martinez; for ages 10 and up, it was Zavion Johnson.
For the Most Outstanding in Math Award, Charish Jackson topped ages eight and nine; Jahloni Connaday took home the plaque for the 10 and up category. The Most Improved in Math Award for the eight and nine year olds was Heaven Martinez; Alijah Reid earned the award for ages 10 and above. Scoop scholars who read the most book chapters were Princeton James, Jahloni Connaday, Justice Robinson, Heaven Martinez, Ayden Diggs, and Tyhrese Levison. They got cards for a free frozen custard at Culver’s.
“I see the fruit of your efforts,” Kristie McCarter, the on-site counselor with Lutheran Services, said when speaking to parents and guardians at the awards luncheon. “Your kids work hard, they show up, they are willing to learn, they are kind and considerate….You are still showing up, and pouring love, and time, and patience, and prayers into your children, and that matters more than you realize. Galatians 6:9 says. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
At the end of the program, the kids are given backpacks filled with school supplies for the upcoming school year. The sponsors of Lots of Hugs were Unity In The Community, Lazy Days Employee Foundation, Hope Lutheran Church, and Gregg Anne AME Church. Feeding Tampa Bay, United Food Bank of Plant City, Lutheran Charities Services, East Hillsborough Historical Society, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1464 in Tampa, and Turkey Creek Middle School also partnered with Lots of Hugs to make the summer a success.
