The summer and its lack of structure can contribute to children’s resistance to reading, exploring academic topics and generally exercising their brains. A certain amount of structure is a good thing according to Richard Selznick, Ph.D., Director of The Cooper Learning Center, and author of The Shut-Down  Learner: Helping Your Academically Discouraged Child.

“You may want to try and make learning part of your routine. Taking your children to the libraryat a set time, for example: 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., three or four days a week may help get them into the mindset and routine of learning in the summer,” Dr. Selznick said in answer to a question during his Health eTalk last week on cooperhealth.org.

Libraries are wonderful locations to get all of us into the mood to stretch our minds.  Dr. Selznick suggests that you talk to the librarians who are experts in identifying just what topics a child might be interested in reading. Is it sports?  Is it babysitting?  Is it animal stories? The librarians can help find just the right books.

Did you also know that taking your child outside can improve their reading  comprehension?  “Anything that builds their knowledge base leads to improved comprehension and understanding,” said Dr. Selznick.

Reading isn’t the only way for children to keep their brains active. You might ask your child to do some task related to planning an outing or family vacation. For example, a youngster might help map out the route you use when planning a driving trip. Taking photographs and/or writing a journal or postcard messages while on a trip can also help stimulate learning this summer.

If your children seem hooked on TV or electronic games, Dr. Selznick recommends using those activities (e.g., going to the library, nature hikes, etc.) to negotiate with your child.

“It should be give and take.  For example, the child reads for an hour, four days a week, and you take them somewhere fun,” he suggests.  “Really it’s not a lot to ask that they spend some time reading,  especially if they are just laying around watching TV or playing video games.”

Most important, Dr. Selznick says, “Be strong!  If they whine, and complain, don’t be so willing to cater to their demands.  Help them  see the “give and you get” mentality.”

Space Still Available at the Summer Reading Camp

Here’s an excellent way to encourage children’s reading skills.  Available for children ages 5 to 12, the Cooper Learning Center provides a four-week camp in Voorhees from Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon. There is still space available in our August camp which begins July 27 to August 20.

The children are organized in small groups according to age and ability. For 5- to 6-year-olds we have the Rookie Readers program.  This addresses emerging reading skills in young children. This program enhances young readers’ ability to read in a whole language or phonics-based program targeting: phonemic awareness, letter and sound knowledge, auditory discrimination, sound blending and segmentation, and listening skills.

For 7- to 12-year-olds there is Beginning and Advanced Decoders. The decoders’ program uses multi-sensory instruction emphasizing phonemic awareness, phonological decoding, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension strategies.  This program focuses on building decoding, fluency, and reading comprehension skills.

Click here for more information on these reading camps or to make an appointment, please call 856.673.4900.

About the Summer Reading Camp

• For children ages 5 to 12
• Small groups, organized by age and ability
• Two four-week sessions: June 25 to July 19 and July 23 to August 16
• Children can attend one or both sessions
• Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Optional extended camp day, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“We utilize the best components of the best methods,” says Richard Selznick, Ph.D., Director of the Cooper Learning Center and a psychologist. “Children love coming to our summer camp because of the relationship they develop with their teachers and the other children.”

A range of activities, including weekly visits from the Garden State Discovery Museum, provides supplemental reinforcement. The Garden State Discovery Museum will focus on science with hands-on learning. Other surprise visits are planned as well.

“The program focuses on developing adequate decoding skills within the foundation of early reading development,” said Pamela Goldberger, Director of the Summer Reading Camp and an Educational Coordinator at the Cooper Learning Center. “The program is especially beneficial for children whose skills are in need of more intensive development.”

Building Reading Proficiency through Summer Reading Camp Programs

For 5-year-olds and 6 year-olds — Rookie Readers: Rookie Readers addresses emerging reading skills in young children. This program enhances their ability to read in a whole language or phonics-based program targeting: phonemic awareness, letter and sound knowledge, auditory discrimination, sound blending and segmentation, and listening skills.

For 7-year-olds through12-year-olds — Beginning and Advanced Decoders: The decoders program uses multi-sensory instruction emphasizing phonemic awareness, phonological decoding, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension strategies. This program focuses on building decoding, fluency, and reading comprehension skills.

Dr. Selznick teaching a summer reading camp student
The Summer Reading Camp, located in Voorhees, New Jersey, offers two sessions: June 25, 2007 to July 19, 2007 and July 23, 2007 to August 16, 2007. Children can attend one or both sessions. Camp runs Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. To accommodate the needs of parents who are looking for a full day program, the Summer Reading Camp is excited to be offering an extended camp day option following the morning program, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The extended program will incorporate more language arts activities, including Readers Theatre and writing, as well as language arts games and arts and crafts.

All children receive highly individualized attention, with a teacher/student ratio of no more than 5 to 1. Children are grouped both by age and ability. In order to provide individual attention, enrollment is strictly limited.

Each four-week session provides 48 hours of intensive learning—basically a year’s worth of learning (based on one hour of tutoring for a year). “Parents who send their children to our camp are giving them a gift of learning, and are helping to strengthen their reading foundation. Everything revolves around reading,” said Goldberger. At the end of the session, parents receive a progress report on their child.

For more information about the Cooper Learning Center’s Summer Reading Camp, or other programs, please call (856) 673-4900.