The summer reading activities for 2023 have concluded. Two programs were active in Northwest Philadelphia: The Reading Revolution operated by Mt Airy CDC, sponsored by Senator Art Haywood, and Read to Succeed, sponsored by Senator Vincent Hughes. Children lose months of learning every summer without reading activities. This is known as the summer slide. Both programs are intended to combat the summer slide and promote literacy among children in K to 3rd grade so that they can read at proficiency by 4th grade. These programs are part of Philadelphia Free Library’s Read by 4th initiative.
Reading Revolution
- Mallory Recreation Center: 5 participants
- Lonnie Young Recreation Center: 6 participants
- Simon’s Recreation Center: 30 participants
- Pleasant Playground Recreation Center: 25 participants
- Finley Recreation Center: 30 participants
- Holman Field Reading: 25 participants
- Dorothy Emmanuel Recreation Center: 20 participants
- Belfield Recreation Center: 20 participants
Total: 161
These numbers reflect the participation at Northwest recreation centers, which are part of the free summer reading camp initiative. The program offers reading instruction four days a week for 90 minutes each day over a six-week period in July and early August. This approach aims to help students in grades K – 3 maintain and improve their reading skills during the summer break.
Read to Succeed
- McCloskey Elementary School: 45 participants
- Berachah Baptist Church: 10 participants
Total: 55
These number reflect the participation at two sites that hosted the Read to Succeed summer reading program. The Berachah Baptist Church is a new site for the program. The program offers reading instruction four to five days a week for four hours a day., for a four-week period in July. This approach aims to help students in grades K – 3 maintain and improve their reading skills during the summer break.
Both programs improved the literacy of the youth and reduced or eliminated the summer slide.
