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Email Story to a Friend May 30, 2006 Head to the library to prevent summer reading loss By MEGHAN O'FLAHERTY for the Mail Tribune Hey parents! Want something fun, free and entertaining to do with the kids this summer? And don't tell — but it's good for them, too. Beginning on the last day of school you can bring your kids down to any Jackson County Library branch to sign up for PAWS, CLAWS, SCALES and TALES, the 2006 Summer Reading Program. Enjoy performances by fabulous storytellers Debra Zaslow and Alton Chung; learn about insects, spiders and worms from the experts at the OSU Extension Center; see the Oregon Shadow Theatre's production of the classic fairy tale Thumbelina; and attend family friendly movies at the Central Library's Saturday Matinees. But wait, there's more: Learn to play the hot new puzzle game Sudoku and choose from a variety of animal activities. Kids can earn prizes and enter drawings all summer long. And here's the secret "good-for-them" part: Did you know that kids who participate in library and summer reading programs significantly improve their reading, spelling, writing style, vocabulary and grammar? What's more, a 1996 study by the University of Missouri found that in the elementary grades, "a summer loss of three months reading accumulates to become a gap of 18 months by the end of sixth grade. By middle school, summer reading loss produces a cumulative lag of two or more years in reading achievement, even when effective instruction during the school year is available." Study after study shows the importance of summer reading to maintain and improve school performance. You don't need to take my word for it. See the research at: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/summer/research.html . It's never too late to learn to love reading. If you have a teen at home, encourage him or her to sign up for CREATURE FEATURE, our special program for teens. They can win drink coupons from Mellelo's, see classic horror flicks, even enter a drawing for a free iPod! Oh, and by the way, improve their reading, vocabulary, spelling — well, you get the picture. Learn more at www.jcls.org or at any one of your 15 local branch libraries. Meghan O'Flaherty is headquarters library manager for Jackson County Library Services. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s Advertisement