Davie County Schools – Give Five, Read Five Book Drive ends This Friday, June 2

Is summer brain drain a reality? Studies show that teachers spend an average of 4-6 weeks re-teaching material that students have lost during the summer, but summer reading can help diminish these loses. Reading just 4-5 books during the summer can prevent a decline in a child’s fall reading scores.

To help get reading materials in the hands of its students, Davie County Schools is participating in the NC Department of Instruction’s 5th annual statewide summer reading book drive– NC Reads.

The goal is for each elementary school student to leave for the summer with five books of their own to read over the summer break. Cooleemee, Pinebrook, Shady Grove and William R. Davie elementary schools are participating this year.

Donations from the community of new and gently-used books are GREATLY appreciated and will be accepted through Friday, June 2nd at the participating schools and at the Administrative Offices at 220 Cherry Street, Mocksville.

“Reading is extremely important for maintaining and even continuing academic growth over the summer,” said Jinda Haynes, assistant superintendent for academic services for Davie County Schools.  “Students are excited to have new books, and access to books of interest and appropriate reading level is key.  Donating books for the “Give Five–Read Five” Campaign is a wonderful way for the community to support students locally.”

Without these books, many students would not have a selection of reading materials at home. A study (in the Handbook of Early Literacy Research, Volume 2, edited by Susan Neuman and David Dickinson) shared that in middle income neighborhoods the ratio of books per child is 13 to 1, while in low-income neighborhoods that ratio is a staggering 1 age appropriate book for every 300 children.

Summer Reading Statistics

• Students experience significant learning loss when they do not participate in educational activities during the summer months. Research shows that students on average score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer than they do on the same tests at the end of the school year. Low-income students experience greater summer learning losses than their higher income peers. On average, middle-income students experience slight gains in reading performance during summer vacation. Low-income students experience about a two month loss in reading achievement.
• The achievement gap in reading scores between higher and lower income students increases over summer vacation. The research shows that achievement for both middle-and lower-income students improves at a similar rate during the school year.
• Reading just 4-5 books during the summer can prevent a decline in a child’s fall reading scores.

Book drive ends this Friday, June 2.  Books are being accepted at the participating schools and at the Administrative Offices located at 220 Cherry Street, Mocksville.