HARRINGTON, Wash. — As summer vacation begins for many children, educators hope the break doesn’t mark the end of learning. With numerous students struggling with literacy and reading, schools are encouraging kids to continue reading throughout the summer. In an effort to support this, KREM Cares and its partners distributed approximately 2,000 free books over the month of May. This initiative highlights the importance of literacy and its role in a child’s success.
Nancy Ingham, a dedicated volunteer, spends her free time reading to children at Harrington Elementary School. She believes that books offer more than just stories; they provide pathways to success. Ingham drives an hour from Spokane each week to the small, rural school, which has about 100 students from preschool through sixth grade. Her storytelling sessions are a hit among the students, and she hopes they carry this love of literature home with them this summer.
“Coming from a small town, that’s how I got to know the world—through books. It got me excited about traveling and sharing my love of reading,” Ingham said.
Educators at Harrington Elementary, like those across the region and the country, are working hard to promote reading and literacy. According to the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, approximately 36% of students from kindergarten to fourth grade are reading below grade level. Although the numbers are improving, the challenge remains significant.
“Just putting books in their hands, putting books in their parents' hands, and giving them the opportunity to read or be read to is huge. That’s what they need,” said one educator.
The struggle with literacy is complex, involving various challenges for children, families and schools. The pandemic has exacerbated the issue, particularly for students now in the third to fifth grades, who were in their early learning stages of reading when access to school libraries and books was limited.
“Yes, sometimes we call it the ‘COVID hangover.’ It’s a real thing,” one teacher explained.
Another significant issue is attendance. Nationally, the White House has called on communities and schools to establish a better culture for attendance, emphasizing the importance of regular school attendance. Principal Tiffany Klaus of Harrington Elementary highlighted this as a daily focus.
“Another thing we are still dealing with post-pandemic is attendance. That’s probably one of the biggest things we fight—getting kids to school every day. Our research shows the more they attend school, the higher their academic performance,” Klaus stated.
Despite these challenges, there is positive news. Some schools are seeing improvements in reading scores, and many children are excited to read during the summer. One student expressed, “When I start reading, I want to know what happens next.”
Teachers stress the importance of patience in the learning process. “Maybe their number isn’t where you want it to be, but they made growth, and that’s huge. Every student learns to read at different times and in different ways. It’s important to realize that every student is an individual making progress,” a teacher explained.
For Ingham, the effort is worth it. “If I can get kids to read, and if I made that much of a difference in their love of reading, it’s worth every mile,” she said.
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