More than 180 elementary students from Woodridge School District 68 and St. Scholastica School recently participated in a month-long Summer Reading Clinic at the Meadowview School with one goal in mind: read.

“We don’t necessarily target or measure improvements in reading skills, although that does occur. But what we are trying to do is develop readers through reading,” said Rosemary Turley, program coordinator.

“To become better readers, students need to read every day, and this program provides that opportunity,” she added.

The reading clinic also provides books for students to take home and read throughout the summer, Turley said.

Students are not charged for participating.

Students in grades one through five attended sessions — taught by 31 teachers — from 8:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Monday through Thursday.

“Every classroom had a specific theme, and the children read and did projects related to those themes, Turley said.

Among the themes were “Catching the Reading Wave,” “Reading Safari” and “Going for the Gold.”
Jodi Innes, principal at Meadowview, said the reading clinic sows the seeds for success in the classroom.

“This is a fantastic program that helps children develop important reading skills. It also is important that a student continue to read frequently throughout the summer, so we encourage parents to read out loud to their children every day and encourage reading at home even after the clinic is done,” Innes said.