An 'A' for effort
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on July 8, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Daniel Williams, 8, a second-grader at North Drive Elementary School, receives help from his principal, Charlenna Bennett-Carter, to use word blocks and work on his spelling during the first day of summer school on Tuesday.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Rita Vaughn, kindergarten teacher at North Drive Elementary, helps Darian McLaurin, 7, work on a reading computer game.
Daniel Williams scrubbed his face and let out a big yawn.
His feet dragged as he walked through the cafeteria line on Tuesday morning.
He says he is a little sleepy, but he is ready -- ready to learn.
Daniel was one of 93 students at North Drive Elementary on Tuesday morning for the first day of Summer Reading Camp. Director of Elementary Education Carol Artis estimates 500 children are participating in the county.
This is the second year of the summer reading camp, required by the "Read to Achieve" legislation. Third-graders not reading at grade-level, as evidenced by End of Grade test scores, are invited to the camp to receive intensive literacy training. At the end of July, they are tested -- and, if they are successful, promoted to the fourth grade.
"We wanted to do more than the law mandated," Ms. Artis said, adding that Wayne County opened the camp to kindergarten through second grade, as well.
"We're not waiting to see where they are deficient," she said. "We're being productive. We're making literacy a focus for kindergarten, first and second."
She says principals from the elementary school invited the younger students who just needed a little more time.
"You hear teachers say, 'If I had them for one more month, they'd be there,'" she said.
The camp is that extra month.
The program runs from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day and is free.
It even includes free breakfast and lunch.
"We call it the Cadillac, with all the bells and whistles," Ms. Artis said.
There is one teacher to every 15 students. The smaller class sizes allow more focused attention on the students.
At North Drive Elementary, Principal Charlenna Bennett Carter led students to their classroom.
She chatted with them about summer and got them excited for the camp.
"They love it, because of the smaller groups," she said.
In addition to literacy, the camp focuses on technology integration. The students get more time with iPads, computers and Smart Boards to help optimize learning.
Though three hours of literacy-focused learning is required, Ms. Artis says it is not drudgery.
There is recess and 4-H enrichment.
"This is a safe, productive environment," she said. "Everything will be a positive learning experience. ... We have not had one single negative comment from a teacher, parent or student."