Looking for a way to keep your child’s learning sharp over the summer break? Kamloops has you covered

The long, hot days of summer are the break kids and parents alike have wait for all year long. We often associate summer with farmers’ markets, splash parks, swimming and relaxing on the beach. However, balancing the much-needed break from the school and the importance of maintaining what your children have learned in their classes is crucial.

Sierra Cook, Children’s and Teens Services Coordinator for the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library (TNRL), explains how many students struggle with retaining their learning over the break. 

“Kids can lose so much learning over the summer,” she says. “Some call this the ‘summer slide. [It’s] a recorded phenomenon.”

The Summer Slide can result in the loss of up to  34 per cent of the knowledge acquired in the previous academic year. This decline can be even more significant for children who experience a setback for one summer, as they may fall increasingly behind in subsequent years. 

“We know that parents don’t always have time to really structure learning over the summer, but doing something as simple as reading daily can really make an impact on a child’s summer retention and their success in the fall,” Cook says.

Those largely affected are children in younger elementary grades, as well as children from lower-income homes, highlighting the need for accessibility to learning programs and resources throughout communities.

In Kamloops (Tk’emlúps), various engaging programs are designed to help children maintain their learning over the summer break. These include reading clubs and The Bright Red Book Bus, catering to various interests and learning needs.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional Library 2024 Summer Reading Club 

The Thompson-Nicola Regional Library (TNRL) has a multitude of programs offerend all summer long, including those geared towards robotics, art and more. A schedule of all the programs provided can be found here.

The TNRL had 3,891 attendees in its children’s programs during the winter, which runs from December to March, and 30,000 books were circulated within the Kamloops area in May alone. 

One of the most prominent programs at the library this year is the Summer Reading Club 2024!  The 2024 Summer Reading Club theme is World of Curiosities and runs from July 1 to Aug. 24. The program will officially kick off on July 4 at the Northshore branch with a band, face painting and fun activities for kids.

To participate in the Summer Reading Club, register at your local library by picking up a reading record. 

Throughout the seven weeks of the program, children are encouraged to read or be read to every day. They have the freedom to choose what, when and for how long they read. All types of reading including audiobook, graphic novel, comic book or magazines are welcome and count towards their progress.

“Graphic novels have a bad rep with some parents, but it’s more important to keep your kid reading than trying to make sure they are reading something that you consider a ‘real book,” Cook tells The Wren. 

Children earn stickers and entries into the Grand Prize draw for every seven days of reading. Those who read every day for the entire seven weeks will also receive a medal and certificate.

The Summer Reading Club gives children eight weeks to complete their reading. If they miss a few days, they can catch up. The deadline to enter the prize draw is Aug. 31, so be sure to visit the library before then.

Those looking for an additional challenge can visit the library each week to pick up an optional challenge bookmark and earn more entries into the grand prize draw.

The Summer Reading Club also have different programs geared towards teens and adults, as well as a group program for childcare centres where childcare facilities can register kids to read together as a group and earn prizes for their centre.

The library has already had interest from excited children ready to start the summer fun with their reading program this year. 

“We had one girl come in after receiving a presentation at her school about the reading club, and she was crushed to learn that registration wasn’t until Monday [June 17]. How could we make her wait so long!” Cook tells The WrenFor more information on the TNRL Summer Reading Club visit their website.

SD73 Summer Learning

SD73 offers face-to-face educational sessions for elementary and secondary scholars this July. These complimentary classes are available to young learners in the Kamloops-Thompson region who are under the age of 19 and have not completed their high school education.

Elementary Summer Learning

Elementary Summer Learning will run daily on weekdays  from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The program will start on Tuesday, July 2 and end Friday, July 19, at the following schools:

• Barriere Elementary – 4475 Airfield Rd.
• Haldane Elementary (Chase) – 530 Cottonwood Ave.
• Heffley Creek Elementary –  7020 Old Highway 5
• Raft River Elementary –  801 Clearwater Village Rd.

• AE Perry Elementary –  1380 Sherbrooke Ave.
• Logan Lake Secondary –  50 Ponderosa Ave.
• South Sa-Hali Elementary –  1585 Summit Dr.

Primary Summer Reading is for students in grades one through three  who are referred by their teachers. The focus is on comprehensive whole-class literacy instruction and personal reading conferences. 

To inquire about registering your child for Elementary Summer School programs, please speak directly with your child’s teacher or principal.

Secondary Academic Enrichment is tailored for students in grades eight and nine seeking to enhance their academic mastery and those in grades 10 through 12 who aim to avoid retaking a foundational course in the subsequent academic year. The program also offers comprehensive courses for students in grades 10 through 12 interested in undertaking a new subject through an immersive, in-person experience spanning three weeks in July.

The program will be operational from Tuesday, July 2 through Monday, July 22, on weekdays at Sa-Hali Secondary School. Presenting three distinct course categories:

• Enrichment Review (grades 8 and 9) – Designed for students who have demonstrated initial or intermediate proficiency in a grade 8 or 9 subject and could prosper from further educational engagement to prepare them for future coursework.
• Enhancement Courses (grades 10 through 12)—These courses are aimed at students who have secured a minimum of 40 per cent in a subject and are looking to elevate their academic standing. They entail 40 hours of instruction, culminating in a guaranteed grade of C upon successful completion. For a grade higher than C, enrollment in a comprehensive course is recommended. Instructional hours are scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Comprehensive Courses (grades 10 through 12) – Intended for students who have obtained less than 40 per cent in a subject or have not previously enrolled in the subject. These courses encompass 80 hours of instruction, with class times from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.  For the July Educational Advancement, students in grades 10 through 12 may enroll in either one comprehensive course or a maximum of two enhancement courses. Meanwhile, students in grades 8 and 9 participating in enrichment review can register for up to two subjects.

Email or call the Summer Education team at 250-318-5970 or visit the website for more information.

The Bright Red Book Bus

Finally, the yearly family favourite run by the BGC Kamloops (formerly The Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops), The Bright Red Book Bus returns.

On weekdays through July and August, families can find The Bright Red Book Bus at various schools and parks throughout the city. The program’s mission is “to enhance literacy skills and encourage a love of reading.” Roughly 8,271 children have visited the bus, and more than 10,000 books have been taken home! Find the Bright Red Book Bus here. 

Summer reading lists and online at-home learning

For at home learning, Nicole Baldwin, Learning Assistance Resource Teacher  at The Kamloops School of the Arts, suggests a website called Nessy.  

“Nessy is a research-based program designed for kids with dyslexia,” she explains.  “It is the one I recommend the most. Nessy also has iPad apps for younger kids.”

Grade two teacher Charmaine Norman suggests families organize an event out of finding as many of the Little Free Libraries around the city as possible. A map of locations can be found here.  

A personal favourite of Norman’s is a Facebook page called Book Hunters of Kamloops. The page gives clues on how to find hidden books around the city, like geocaching but with books. Families can join the page, get the clue and go on a hunt for a new book to read.

Limited schedules aside, Cook shares this advice for avoiding the summer slide: “Read to or with your kids! It is that simple..Kids are also always mirroring what they see, so if you want your kid to read more, maybe try picking up a new book yourself! Reading doesn’t have to be a mandated chore, so try and follow their interests and let them discover their own new favorite book.”

Whether through SD73, BGC Kamloops, TNRD Library, a local bookstore, or online, families have an abundance of options to help keep their children reading throughout the summer months.