Project Read - Summer Reading Academy

The 2010 Session will be held in
Columbus, Ohio!

Please forward your email address and we will email you more information.

Project Read started as an effort to promote summer reading, improve academic achievement and encourage students to aspire to high academic standards. 

The goals of Project Read are:

• Encourage students to read throughout the summer months
• Help change cultural attitudes towards education
• Foster and introduce entrepreneurial skills and concepts
• Prepare students for the upcoming school year by teaching them various study skills through out the year
• Introduce participants to positive role models
• Provide nutritious meals and encourage a healthy lifestyle

Project Read’s Summer Reading Academy is open to all the children in the community. 

Project Read administers the Summer Reading Academy which is entering its sixth year promoting summer reading and tutoring area youth aged 6-13.   The Reading Academy typically serves 25-50 students each summer during its eight-week session.

The Summer Reading Academy meets six hours a day, three times a week.   This equates to over 100 hours of supplemental instruction over the idle summer months.  This supplemental reading allows students to sharpen and better develop their reading skills at their leisure.

The Summer Reading Academy incorporates four components to assist students.  They include:  tutoring/mentoring, guest readers, computer technology, and a nutrition program. 

Tutoring/Mentoring Module

Reading is the most important module in the Project Read program. One successful component of the Summer Reading Academy is the tutoring/mentoring program.  We have partnered with students from area colleges  The students serve as mentors, individual reading buddies and group activity leaders.  Positive reinforcement is the key in helping students engages in an ongoing meaningful educational experience.

Students, who are not receiving individualized tutoring, read books provided by the Newark Public Library system.   The students maintain a reading log, which allows program administrators to track their progress and to discuss their goals and objectives during parent meetings.  In three summers, Project Read students have read over 1,000 books.  In our first summer, 25 students read 525 books over a 6-week period.    We reserve 45 minutes each session for individual silent reading or tutoring with a mentor. 

Guest Reader Program

COMBA and our outreach coordinator identify members of the Central Ohio community who are willing to visit our site and emphasize the importance of reading to our students.  Community members read their favorite book to the group. They also discuss the importance of working hard and achieving high marks academically in school. 

The weekly Guest Reader Program also allows participants to describe their job and the paths taken to achieve success.  Guest readers have included a university provost, mayor, state senator, city council members, police officer, school district superintendents, school board members and numerous local corporate representatives.  The exposure to community leaders reinforces the importance of reading and how it equates to success.  The guest readers also show images of how academic achievement can positively contribute to our community. If you are interested in being a guest reader, please contact Averi Frost

 Computer/Technology

Project Read operates a computer lab to address issues associated with the digital divide.  Students rotate from different activities during the daily sessions to participate in the computer lab component of the program.  In the computer center, our computer technician supervises students as they interactively access computer reading enrichment programs.  Students have the opportunity to work at their own pace. Moreover, the computer center and its associated activities help to close the digital divide as the students are exposed to educational software and technology. 

Nutrition and Health Awareness Program

In the Newark City School district, the largest public school system in Licking County (pop. 145,491), 30.1 percent of enrolled children receive free or reduced priced lunch.  During the summer months there often isn’t a summer lunch program.  Project Read, partnered with the Salvation Army, who prepares a nutritious lunch for each participant.  A staple of each meal is milk, fresh fruit and vegetables. 

In addition, we offer workshops and health screenings to educate our families on the benefits of healthy food and exercise and how this helps students improve their academic performance.