Making the Leap this Summer

Did you know that singing, reading aloud and turning everyday activities into fun learning games can help young children build a foundation for success in school, work, and life? Research shows that 90% of a child’s brain develops in the first five years of life. That’s why Lubbock Area United Way is working with partners, schools, child care providers, preschools, and afterschool care providers to help children start school ready to succeed.

Early brain development has a lasting impact on a child’s ability to learn and succeed in school and life. The quality of a child’s experiences in the first few years of life helps shape how their brain develops. For example, reading with young children, singing, and having reading material in the home is proven to boost pre-literacy skills. Children who aren’t reading proficiently by 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out.

That’s why we are continue to work with our Community Partners, school districts, local libraries, and others to help students make learning leaps over the summer months. When high-quality summer learning programs are made available and when children have access to books, we can not only curb summer learning loss, we can boost student achievement. When children continue to learn during the summer, they are healthier, safer, and smarter, and their schools and communities are more successful.

Through the Summer Reading Calendar, we're sharing free and low-cost activities to help your students engage in learning this summer. You can also find free at-home activities that you can do with your kids to keep them learning all summer long.

Sign up to get weekly Summer Reading Calendar updates sent directly to your inbox.

But this is just one piece of a much larger puzzle needed. “As a result of the learning disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of students not meeting grade-level increased from 2019 across all subject areas and grade levels, with English I and English II being the only exceptions.” (Texas Education Agency) We continue to work to bring our community around the table to ensure all children have the best opportunity to be successful in school and in life.

Learn more about our Start Smart initiative. Share the Summer Reading Calendar with families you know. And give to be part of the solution for children on the South Plains.