Kids spend the summer … reading?

There must be something in the water, or it’s the early stages of zombification, but kids are lining up to read and take tests. Actual paper books, not on a screen. In the summer—what the …?

More than 110 elementary, middle, and high school aged kids have come to the Mammoth Library to read a book for a small prize. Kids have read more than 286 books and taken tests, as many as 35 a day, and the program operates just three days a week. The program ends August 16.

Kids are coming in to read, dragging their parents in with them. Cindy Sprague, the Mammoth Lakes Middle School Librarian running the summer program, said while the kids are taking the test, she’ll talk to the parents and suggest books for them, too.

Even kids who come from homes where English is not spoken often, or at all, are coming in.

One girl, Esmeralda, is going into second grade this fall and is second only to Lila Creasy for reading the most books with the program. Esmeralda reads at a fourth grade level, but her parents don’t speak English.

Sprague said she thinks that the non-English speaking parents are keen to the value of reading and in English and are bringing their kids in. “And they don’t want their kids doing nothing for the summer,” she said.

What’s bringing them in? Rosanne Lampariello, Mammoth Elementary Principal, said she believes it’s a combination of what the teachers left in place at the end of the school year, along with “Phone Blasts,” or robo-calls made to students Sunday nights reminding them about the reading program. And part of it is just Cindy.

Sprague is a firecracker, super stoked to see kids reading and even more excited at the numbers. Her desk is on the second floor next to the staircase. Nearly every child that walked up those stairs was smiling when they saw her, and there were plenty of waves and hellos from parents and kids. She is loved by the public and her colleagues. She buys tools with her own money that become gifts for the kids, including a bag of magnetized alphabet letters she is letting a girl use to learn her ABC’s. She said when the girl learns all the letters, she’ll give the girl the letters.

“It gives me goosebumps,” Jill Orozco, Language Arts teacher at Mammoth Middle School, said when she heard the numbers. Orozco doted accolades on Sprague, explaining how she will decorate the school library with themes matching the students’ projects and how she gets the kids engaged and involved.

“It’s such a blessing you’re here,” Orozco said to Sprague.

This is the inaugural year for the program, and it’s a huge success despite the program’s approval coming in May, leaving little time to advertise.

Mother Jennifer Holmes said she loves the program and hopes it will continue to grow. Holmes’ daughter Lila Creasy, 7 has read more than 50 books since the program started June 15.

The program does not count toward school credit, but the tests are just like the ones the kids will see in the classroom. This is another benefit of the program, getting kids used to taking a test. Holmes said the program offers a “non-threatening environment” to take a test, far away from the anxiety and stigma of test taking.

Sprague said the program is also proof that kids as young as preschool are capable of taking tests. “If they can read the book, they can take the test,” she said.

Tests consist of reading comprehension and some have an added vocabulary element. Creasy was taking the vocab test for her latest read, “Magic School Bus: Hops Home,” one in a series. Her focus intense, singular on the words on the screen, she slowly rubbed her furrowed brow.

“How’s the test, Lila? Is it hard?” asked The Sheet.

“Nah, its pretty easy,” Creasy fired back, not looking away from the screen.

The program is pretty simple. Sprague explained that the library, with help from Mono County Superintendent of Schools, purchased materials from the Collaborative Summer Reading Program. The materials include software that grades books on reading levels and supplies the tests kids take on Sprague’s computer. Holmes said she likes to see the list of books her daughter has read and the progress of her abilities. This helps Holmes find other material that is appropriate and withing Lila’s reading skills.

There’s also a theme to go with the program. This year, it’s superheroes.

The kids pick any book they want to read, Sprague said she just wants them to read.

“I want them to enjoy it, to make reading a lifestyle,” she said. She said she wants to make the books come alive for the kids or introduce the kids to reading for pleasure or comfort.

After a book or three, Sprague will start making suggestions for the kids’ reads. Getting kids to read beyond their comprehension level is not a problem, Sprague said; the kids are naturally drawn toward more complex material.

And reading is on the rise. She explained that Mammoth Middle School sets a goal of 1,000 pages read by each student each year, and that those who read more than 4,000 pages get a prize, a free ticket to the movies on school time. Sprague said for the first time ever, so many kids read more than 4,000 pages that the students filled both theaters.

Holmes added that she thought the program is a great alternative to digital entertainment, and a way to get kids to read, for fun.

Sprague said Stacey Adler, Mono County Superintendent of Schools and Ana Danielson, County Library Director, deserve thanks for putting the program together and approving it. Sprague said she has been asked if she wants to continue the program to after-school and plans for next year.

Sprague has been a librarian for just five years, but has been the accountant for Robertos Restaurant since it opened. She said she loves the kids.

Sprague’s son was recently in town and the two went to the store. She said all these kids were waving hello and saying hi to her. She said her son turned to her, looking concerned and asked, “Did you do something?”