60+ participate in Summer Reading Challenge
By Tannika King - Faculty
Throughout the months of June, July and August, over 60 Upper School students participated in the Summer Reading Challenge, a new program designed by Learning Specialist Jean Bonnyman to motivate and encourage students to become lifelong readers.
“I am constantly asked by parents how their child can improve his or her SAT verbal scores, and my answer is usually a big disappointment to them,” Bonnyman said. “You see, there’s no quick fix to raise the verbal score or make up for reading deficits. The hard fact is children who don’t read regularly simply do not perform as well as those who do. But the good news is it’s never too late to become a better reader, and summer is a prime time to do it.”
Participants in the Summer Reading Challenge chose four books each to read during the summer months from a list of over 25 age-appropriate titles on a broad range of topics. Selections included “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” by Ann Brashares, “Blink” by Malcomb Gladwell, “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson, and “Life is not a Game of Perfect” by Bob Rotella and Robert Cullen, to name a few. After reading each book, students met one on one with Bonnyman to talk about it, much like two adults in a book club might do.
“They could also read a book not on the list and teach me about it,” Bonnyman said. “I met with students in person or by Skype or phone to discuss vocabulary and comprehension, as well as other reading-related topics geared toward the idea that reading is interesting and not a chore. I can’t force this opinion, but I can certainly model it, encourage it and facilitate it.”
Senior Sierra Shamblin said she participated in the challenge with the goal of improving her SAT score. “I love to read but can never find the time to read for fun during the school year,” she said. “The Summer Reading Challenge helped me read more books this summer than I have in the past year, besides what was required for class. Many of my friends participated, too. We would talk often about what we were reading and suggest different books to each other. When I met with Mrs. Bonnyman, we talked about the stories but also about what colleges I was applying to and what classes I would be taking this year. She also went over a list of vocabulary words that I will most likely see on the SAT. I am really glad I did the challenge; reading helps keep your mind busy and it made going back to school a lot easier.”
The initial success of the program has inspired Bonnyman to dream big. Next year, she hopes to offer the Summer Reading Challenge at all three divisions.
“The bottom line is, students do like to read if we, as adults, give them an opportunity, ownership and the support to enjoy it,” Bonnyman said.
The Summer Reading Challenge is separate from Darlington’s Upper School summer reading program, which requires all students to read one book during the summer and complete a project on that selection prior to the start of school in August. Click here to read a July 22 article in Science Daily about the effect of summer reading on literacy.
